Circus Today

Once again, Tex Avery pokes fun at American traditions. The target this time is the circus. For example, the balloon seller violates an essential rule of cartoons: if you're in midair and look down, THAT'S when you fall (it's apparently a case of mind over matter). The supposedly tough gorilla turns out to be a nice guy after all*, and one of the trapeze artists turns out not to be so good at his job. The climax is when a man has to dive from a dizzying height.

"Circus Today" wasn't Avery's best blackout gag cartoon, but I think that if a cartoon makes us laugh, then it's good. This one is worth seeing, if only once.

*Gorillas are in fact really calm creatures.

This short is a mixed bag, some bits working, others not working. There are inside jokes referencing animators, including a caricature of Bob Clampett in a bit that is hilarious if you know who Clampett is and so-so if you don't (Clampett was still primarily part of Avery's animation team, later becoming one of the best directors at the Warner Brothers animation studio). The closing gag will strike some as tasteless, but I think it's typical and vintage Tex Avery. Well worth seeing. Recommended.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. While not among his best cartoons, 'Circus Today' is colourful and very entertaining, capturing the excitement and danger of the setting and containing a lot of what makes Avery's work so good. Okay, his later efforts were wilder, wittier, more daring and more inventive on a visual level, with 'Circus Today' not taking as many risks and not being quite as frenetic as with his best work, but this is not knocking the very good quality of the cartoon.

Will admit to being one of those people that did find the final gag slightly on the tasteless side, but that's just me.

It is no surprise either that the animation is superb, being rich in colour and detail. The character designs are fluid and well drawn, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).

'Circus Today' is very funny and well-timed with some clever, knowing inside jokes that classic animation fans will really enjoy once they recognise them. One of the best ones being the caricature of another great animator/animation director Bob Clampett.

Mel Blanc shows once again his unrivalled ability to voice multiple characters and give each of them an individuality rather than giving them all the same personality and voice.

In summation, another very well done Avery cartoon but he did better since. 8/10 Bethany Cox