You're Not Built That Way

"You're Not Built That Way" is a cartoon from the Fleischer Brothers that features Betty Boop and her dog Pudgy. Pudgy is a really cute character, though I could imagine some folks thinking he's a bit too cute!

The cartoon begins with Pudgy going outside and seeing a mean bulldog walking about--like it owned the neighborhood. This dog is tough and rather scary--and little Pudgy wants to be just like him. However, he's small and adorable and about as scary as a bunny (and I am not talking about the rabbits in "Night of the Lepus" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"!). Eventually, Betty comes to Pudgy's rescue and sings the title song.

The best thing about this short is the animation. While it's in black & white, the details (especially with the exquisite backgrounds) are amazing. A nice little cartoon short--it's slightly above average for the series and is quite fun.

Pudgy is the star and Betty has been relegated to supporting actress. It's sad that Hollywood took the spark out of our foxy heroine. Pudgy meets a nasty bulldog and aspires to be one himself. But he is not "built that way" as Betty sings to him. Soon her little dog is singing a sad tune. Quite typical/quite ordinary.

Pudgy the Pup tries to behave like a big, mean bulldog, but discovers that he's not built that way in this post-Code Betty Boop cartoon.

Although there are few cartoons as good as the Pre-Code Betty Boops, the installation of the Production Code in 1934 wrecked the franchise. Gone were the short skirts, the slipping garter and the air of genial raciness that the Fleischers had built her on. Instead, they tried to extend the franchise by giving her supporting comics: Pudgy, Grampy, Buzzy Boop and, in one cartoon, Henry. Instead, Betty became a supporting character; in this one, she appears only to chide Pudgy with the title song.

The most of interesting aspect of this cartoon is the background art, a gouache affair set on a cyclorama that allowed a real depth and breadth to the cartoon. It's not enough to make this a good cartoon, alas.

A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.

Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that she has not lost her charm, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.

Less good is that, thanks to the production code her sensuality is heavily muted, and it was like she had lost a large part of what made her such a unique character back then and what made her popular. She is also very much a supporting character here and has little to do, the most note-worthy being singing the catchy title song.

While a cute cartoon, 'You're Not Built That Way' is lacking in laughs and because of the lack of surreal and risqué edge thanks to the Production Code toning things down so much it feels a bit tame and bland.

However, the animation is exceptional and easily the best thing about 'You're Not Built That Way', it's beautifully drawn and very rich in detail with the backgrounds being particularly exquisite and quite imaginative. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic, with Betty's song being memorably catchy.

'You're Not Built That Way' is centred around the conflict between Pudgy and the bulldog, which thankfully is compelling enough to carry the cartoon. Pudgy is adorable as ever and the bulldog is a good scary antagonist.

In conclusion, okay but there have been many instances where the Betty Boop cartoons have been significantly more than okay. 5/10 Bethany Cox