I Love to Singa

Everyone knows the story of the Jewish boy, be it Al Jolson or Neil Diamond, who finds his voice, but it is in contrast to the role cut out for him. He is rejected by his father, goes out on his own, and becomes a pop star. This little animated feature adds some really fun stuff. The owl family is waiting for four eggs to hatch. When they do, each of the new chicks has musical talent. The first three have classical talent, but the fourth begins singing a JAZZ song and is thrown out of the nest. From there on it is a delightful romp.

Put together a charming story, a hilarious "Jazz Singer" parody as a plotline, and one of the most catchy, toe-tappin' knee-slappin' ditties ever used in an animated short, and you have "I Love to Singa", probably one of the ten best cartoons of all times. A proud owl concertmaster (who absolutely DETESTS jazz and will not allow it in his house!) anxiously awaits with his wife the hatching of their four eggs. The magical day comes and the owls give birth to an accomplished tenor in a little black tuxedo, a virtuosic violinist, a skillful fluitist, and...what's THIS?!?! The fourth egg cracks open, and a bawdy, free-spirited little scamp in a red cocktail lounge jacket and a blue zootsuit bowtie pops fourth, and this little guy comes out SWINGIN'! He's layin' down that big beat that all the hep-cats dig. He's croonin' a hot little number while doing a haughty Vaudeville strut! This angers his father beyond words, and the way-gone little owl is quickly thrown from his nest. Destitute and down-hearted, our ever-chipper little owl-pal (whose name happens to be Owl Jolson!) finds a radio talent search being held nearby and is overcome with joy. After several disappointing entries at the competition, Owl Jolson shows up and MAN, the kid blows everyone away! But when his folks show up, he thinks his fun is over, so he quickly tries to disguise his red-hot boogie woogie and starts singing some sappy ol' funeral parlor tune or somethin', which really doesn't jive with the deejay. It looks like his chance is lost, but all at once, his father repents of his ignorance, and states his pride in his son, telling him that it's perfectly okay for him to singa about a moona and a June-a and a springa! The kid takes up the number from there, wowing the deejay and the radio audiences, taking home first prize, sealing his bright future in jazz and claiming his place in the sun! This is a really cute little 'toon, even for a guy of my nineteen years who doesn't watch cartoons much. I always get a kick out of our owl hero going for the gusto and learning to always be true to himself. The title song WILL get stuck in your head, there's no avoiding that, but hey, it's a GREAT song to have stuck there! What a loving tribute to Al Jolson, and what a classic, unforgettable cartoon, even to this day! Grownups, do your children a big favor, make sure they see this one! The lesson is timeless, and your kids will love the music. Enjoy!!!

This was and is one of the hippest cartoons I've ever seen. My dad, brother and I would laugh and sing along with Owl Jolson, mimicking the body moves. I think I was about 6 or 7 when I first saw this amazing takeoff on the Jazz Singer. It got me asking questions of my old man and resulted in my being hip on Jolson and his impact on show biz. Pretty heady stuff for a first grader. Thanx Tex Avery for getting a little kid to love jazz and get a little smarter in the process. This isn't just any cartoon. This is a little piece of heaven on earth. Anyone doubting Avery's genius (a word I use very sparingly) should check out this gem and show it to your kids. They can never be too young.

I am an unreserved, unabashed fan of Mr. Avery and do not even try to hide it in the least. While I have other favorites, this is one of the top three or four he did, objectively speaking, and in my opinion, the best, for all that it's not one of my top five favorites. It is a true parody, full of warmth and fondness for its subject, Al Jolson. Splendidly done from the first frame on. Five encores and twenty-seven curtan calls. Most highly Recommended!!!

This is probably the cutest little short I have ever watched - the main star of this Tex Avery episode, a little owl called Owl Jolson (spoof on Al Jolson) is probably the cutest animated character I have seen - apart from WALL.E, perhaps. This is what makes this short so memorable. The singing from Owl Jolson and the rest of the music in this short is very good, another thing that makes this short worth watching.

This animated short starts with two owl parents, the mother sitting on eggs and the father pacing around the nest wearing the carpet out. Finally, the four eggs hatch. Out of the first one comes an beautiful opera singing owl chick, whom his parents adore. Out the second egg comes a very good violin playing owl chick, whom his parents also adore. Out of the third egg hatches a melodious flute playing owl chick. His parents adore him as well. Out of the forth egg - comes the parents' horror, an owl chick who sings jazz! His father does not understand him and ends up throwing the poor chick out...

I recommend this beautiful, entertaining, quite funny and VERY cute short to anyone who has enjoyed Looney Tunes and to anyone who likes music, including jazz. Enjoy "I Love to Singa"! :-)