The Cat That Hated People

Cartoon feature director Tex Avery exalted in a violently slapstick style which still resonates with viewers today. Anvils are often falling from the sky, with animals getting the brunt of his mayhem, and this cult quickie from 1948 is no exception. A put-upon black-and-white cat (looking like a wrung-out version of Sylvester and talking like a grumpy Jimmy Durante) hopes to find solace from people after hijacking a rocket ship and landing on the moon, but finds the inhabitants there even worse. This may be one of Avery's most famous animated shorts, as it takes an old-fashioned visual style and couples it with surreal nonsense (like a runaway pair of lips being chased by a lipstick!). Extremely brief, like most of Avery's output for M-G-M, but very memorable.

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. 'The Cat That Hated People' is another example of an animated masterpiece and one of his all time best. Like the best of Tex Avery, 'The Cat That Hated People' is a cartoon of amazing quality, is very creative and hilarious as one would expect from Avery on top form like he is here. It is a cartoon so rich in visual detail and with impeccably timed slapstick and non-stop laughter. Even when he wasn't at his best, he still delivered, have yet to see a "bad" effort from him.

'The Cat That Hated People' features a titular character who could easily have annoyed with his initial pessimism, but when hearing the reasons one understands where he's coming from and he does go on a journey character-wise. A character that carries the cartoon brilliantly, and the outstanding voice work of veteran Paul Frees helps a lot too as does the witty writing.

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.

Once again there is nothing sadistic or repetitious, instead it's imaginative, wonderfully wild and hilarious throughout from start to finish. The sight gags throughout are an absolute joy and are immaculate in timing.

It is no surprise either that the animation is superb, being rich in colour and detail. 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.

Altogether, another Avery masterpiece, hating 'The Cat That Hated People' is, and would be, impossible. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is truly one of the greatest animated shorts Avery ever did and one of the best of all time. Virtually every corny sight gag Avery could think of was shoehorned in here. The moon was far more loony here than Armstrong, Aldrin or any of the other astronauts found on their visits and the cat here finds the truth in the adage, "Look before you leap" in this cartoon. Hilarious doesn't even begin to describe this one! The crowd goes wild and let there be dancing in the streets! Most emphatically recommended.

Though there are no voice credits in this cartoon, it's obvious that the person who's giving the title cat words is meant to impersonate Jimmy Durante who like this cartoon was a product of M-G-M during this time. Mixed with the usually violent Tex Avery gags, this was one of the funniest of his especially when the cat gets it from a bulldog and when he goes to the moon where he encounters the craziest loonies this side of Bob Clampett when he had Porky visit Wackyland! Also, I must credit Scott Bradley for his scores on many of these Avery and Hanna-Barbera cartoons that complement them so perfectly that he often gives Warner Bros. Carl Stalling a run for his money! So on that note, I highly recommend The Cat That Hated People.

The Cat that Hated People (1948) was a return to the madness that

Tex Avery is known for. A house cat is sick and tired of people and of the planet Earth. He describes the daily hell he goes through. People are the main causes of his grief and headaches. Poor cat can't get a break. One day he passes by a rocket ship lot. Is space the answer for all of

his troubles?

Tex Avery and company must have been on some heavy stuff when they created some of the strange visuals and characters. Great stuff from the true master of slapstick. The animation is hand drawn and it looks great. They don't make them like this anymore.

Highly recommended.

A+

Funny short, don't miss it.