The Screwy Truant

This is the best of the Screwy Squirrel shorts. I am convinced that Tex Avery wanted to design the prototypical Avery character, did so, then revved it up about 180 RPM faster and Screwy was born! Screwy's motto seems to be,"Let's not push the limits-destroy them instead!" To say he is outside the rules is to mistakenly believe that he admits the rules even exist! Sight gags come fast and furious with Screwy and even the form and nature of conventional cartooning isn't safe! Tex Avery was a mad genius! Actually, that last is a redundancy or there is no such thing! The final frame and it's a strike! A perfect game! Most recommended.

First thing that caught my attention was that my dad was fighting in the Pacific WWII when this was released. Things where not going well over there, but America still has to laugh. Right? The violence and incredibly dizzying speedy scene changes are pure Tex Avery. There is no limit in animation and Tex pushed every limit. The Screwy Truant doesn't push too hard, but I could not hold in the laughs as I watch it today, probably 55yrs since I first saw it. Truant Officer sure had a thick skull. Take my word.

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. Of the five Screwy Squirrel cartoons, it's 'The Screwy Truant' that's my favourite despite loving the previous three cartoons almost as equally. After 'Big-Wheel-Watha', which is the most tame of the Screwy cartoons but still manages to be great, 'The Screwy Truant' is back to being very violent. It's perhaps the most violent Screwy cartoon, and pretty relentless at it, but not in a way that's sadistic or stomach-churning.

Despite being a compelling, much more anarchic than his sweet appearance and funny character, as well as being charismatic enough to carry his cartoons as a lead character (as he does here), it is somewhat easy to see why Screwy didn't click and didn't last long, being a brash character with few sympathetic qualities. As one can guess, while one can see why others find him annoying, he's never been a problem with me. It was great and refreshing to see a dog in a different more authoritative role.

Tex Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it once again.

Furthermore, 'The Screwy Truant' is once again wonderfully over-the-top, very creative in its violent tone and some of it is hilarious, with enough variety to stop it from being repetitious. The box and the Little Red Riding Hood characters getting lost gags are particularly strong.

It's beautifully and brilliantly animated as usual. The character designs are unique, Avery always did have creative character designs, and suitably fluid. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

Voice acting is very good.

Overall, absolutely wonderful and my favourite of the overall truly great and under-appreciated Screwy Squirrel series. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't really care for the character of Screwy Squirrel. Of all of Tex Avery's wonderful cartoon creations, he is the one I could really do without. That being said, The Screwy Truant has to be one of, if not the best cartoon featuring this extremely annoying character. In this one Screwy is chased by a truant officer dog. The result is some very funny gags that remain fresh due to the fact that they have not been over used in other cartoons. My favorite bit involves Red Riding Hood and the Wolf getting lost in the wrong cartoon.

The most interesting character in this cartoon is the truant officer. Tex Avery gave him monumental abilities. But they do him no good against the impish squirrel. He counters every effort the officer makes to drag him off to school. Really, would one like to be in the same room with Screwy? It's a pretty well made little effort.