Aquamania

Disney have many classics under its belt, shorts and feature films, and Goofy- the funniest and most well developed of the popular re-occurring characters- has been in some of them. Aquamania is interesting for the use of Xeroroxing(the first use of it in a Disney short) and that it was Goofy's first short since 1953. However, while watchable it's not up there with the classics. The animation is not very appealing here, the Xeroroxing technique worked very well in the 1960s feature films but here it was such a departure from the usual Goofy animation style that if it weren't for Goofy being in it and the documentation format that the How to...series adopted you wouldn't be sure whether it was a Goofy short or not. Instead of bright, colourful and bouncy, it is rather flat, scratchy and not as careful. The story doesn't generate that much spark, it is rather routine and not as crisply paced and doesn't quite seem to sustain its 8 minutes(or so) length. And there does seem to be too much of a re-hash feel to it, yes. The music is lively and characterful with luscious orchestration and a great ability to be in sync with the gags and such. The documentary-like narration entertains and teaches, still delighting in how Goofy manages to do the opposite of what the narrator is saying, it's a very familiar format but one that works. The gags are at least amusing if not particularly exceptional, Goofy is still a likable and funny character and the vocals are done with enthusiasm at least though they've had more inspired material. In conclusion, disappointing for Goofy but as an overall short it is still watchable. 6/10 Bethany Cox

In a town where almost a third of the population are "aquamaniacs" we are introduced to "Mr X" ("Goofy/George"). Now a while back, he was just a normal working man, but after he espies a boat shop, his head turns to maritime mush. Water on the brain perhaps? Anyway, he decides that he has to have one for him and his family, and so with water-skiing lessons in mind for "Junior", these land-lubbers head for the nearest lake (along with the rest of his seagoing neighbours) and some daft regatta-style antics ensue. I'm not sure this does the US car industry many favours but there are some fun facial expressions as the water-borne activities become more like a perilous form of water-jogging. We get our own version of a chariot race where even the octopuses aren't safe - but can they win the race?! It goes on a bit long, but is good fun, this.

Disney Plus's short film section appears to have had a bit of a revamp, so there are some new shorts that have appeared nearer the top. One such film is "Aquamania" a 1961 cartoon starring Goofy as a man involved with some water-based entertainment.

Having indulged in the very familiar American pastime of owning a boat, Mr X (Goofy) (Pinto Colvig) heads to the open water with his son to engage in some water skiing. Goofy Jnr (Kevin Corcoran) though is a little over enthusiastic and enters a race. Having gone underwater, Goofy collects an innocent Octopus who ends up participating in the race with them.

Definite and obvious change in visual style here from the classic era cartoons from twenty years earlier. I'd describe it as being 60's style, rather than having that enduring look. Wikipedia tells me that this is the first Goofy cartoon to use Xerography as a technique, which I think makes the dark black lines stand out a little more. The same technique would be used on "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" that was also released this year.

I often find it tough to review these cartoons, as I can remember when access to these was rare, so they were delightful additions to a TV schedule. It doesn't work like that now though, and I'm looking for things that my forty-year-old brain appreciatse, rather than the six-year-old one. It's not much fun though, despite the wild ride that Goofy ends up going on and certainly once the analogy to alcoholism is done.

Too much quality to dislike it, but not enough going on to really like it.

This cartoon, nominated for an Oscar, is one of the sports-oriented cartons Disney made featuring that graceful soul, Goofy. While this is a good cartoon and is well worth seeking out, there truly isn't anything exceptionally special about this cartoon. It is typical of the series-a narrator talks about the actions, and the consequences rising from those actions, of your "average man" (Goofy) while Goofy goes through sight gag after sight gag. This runs on The Ink and Paint Club periodically. Recommended.

A Walt Disney GOOFY Cartoon.

Although happily suffering from AQUAMANIA, `Mr. X' (Goofy) is about to enter the water for the scariest experience of his life...

This little film is a friendly poke in the ribs of anyone who's ever been consumed with water sports. The quality of the animation is not up to the standard of the classics of earlier decades, but the story is whimsical & amusing. Both Goofy, Jr and the terrified Octopus add to the fun.

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew comic figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a blizzard of doomsayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.