Out-Foxed

The fact that Tex Avery directed a magnificent cartoon for MGM shouldn't come as a big surprise. During this time at the studio, he made some of the most enjoyable and iconic cartoon shorts of all time...and "Out-Foxed" is among his best.

The cartoon features Droopy and an incredibly erudite fox, with a Ronald Colman-type manner and voice. Droopy and a bunch of hounds have been sent out on a strange fox hunt....no people, no horses and the dogs are sent out on their own to retrieve the fox. Well, again and again, the fox outwits the dogs....but the manner which he does it is what makes the cartoon as well as how sweet and likable Droopy is. Plus, have no fear...not foxes are hurt in the film...and in fact it ends on a very high note. Lots of fun and well worth seeing.

"Pip, pip" are the last words in this funny Droopy cartoon. Most often in these little dog- makes-good cartoons, it's his foe that provokes most of the laughter, either the wolf or the big dog Spike. Here, it's a fox. Don't get me wrong: Droopy is always good for a few laughs with his "aside" comments to us, the audience.

Here he is one of about 10 dogs off to chase the fox, the winner getting a big juicy steak. While the other dogs race off, Droopy just slowly meanders by and tells us "You know what? Haste makes waste."

Soon after we come to the home of Reginald Fox. He lives in a tree and is inside reading "Fox News," drinking tea and wearing a monocle. He's very British and feels he's one smart cookie. "I am smart as a fox, you know," he tells us. He, too, likes to give the audience "asides."

This is one of few Droopy cartoons in which our main guy even looks stupid, but since the other dogs are dumber, Droopy escapes some bad situations through their stupidity. The fox is just too smart for anyone.

The best drawing was that of the kennel master. Talk about a stereotype of the old British men!

The ending of this is almost guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Droopy is smaller and slower than all the foxhounds. They are chasing Reginald Fox, a smart upper crust fox. This is a classic Droopy cartoon. Every gag is a winner. The Fox is great. He actually has more scenes than Droopy who is more a second banana. There may be ways to make the ending even funnier but this is pretty good. All in all, this is one of the best Droopy around.

This is a rather average Droopy cartoon where he tries to capture a fox to bring back to his owner. The fox happens to be a high-class, pip-pip talking, pompous animal and he outsmarts a hosts of dogs out to catch him.

You'll get some chuckles here and there, but the fox's smug personality is a turn-off and drags the cartoon. Droopy is hardly in it, and you'll be left rooting for the fox's capture.

Grade C-

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. Generally like the Droopy cartoons and the character himself a lot, his best cartoons are classics and among Avery's best. 'Out-Foxed' is another one of Droopy's better cartoons, though not one of the finest. Droopy is more a support character here somewhat, but he is very funny still and his personality and mannerisms have been formed very well by this point.

It is agreed that he is outshone by the smooth-talking but hilarious fox, whose civilised, resourceful and witty personality is a perfect match for Droopy's entertainingly unlikely role as a fox-sound, and his material is also meatier. 'Out-Foxed' is inventive and rich in humour, distinctive of Avery.

Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it as can be expected. It is also very clever, perfectly timed and witty, with sight gags galore with not a misfire among them and some of the best ever lines in a Droopy cartoon.

With 'Out-Foxed' is no surprise either that the animation is superb. 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 from Bill Thompson and particularly Daws Butler.

Overall, even with Droopy outshone this cartoon is excellent. 10/10 Bethany Cox