Outpost

A solid entry in the Private Snafu series made for use by the US Army during World War II. Directed by Chuck Jones, this one focuses on the many outposts the Army had in different places during the war. We find our hero Snafu on a desert island with only a bird for company, complaining as usual. Most of the short builds up to Snafu actually helping out for once, without even realizing it. The message of this one is that there are no unimportant jobs in the service and even a guy stationed on a desert island can contribute. The animation is nice and the voice work is good. It's not as funny or creative as many other Snafu shorts but it's still an enjoyable one.

Out Private is on a tiny island with a radio transmitter. This time I can see his point. Over a hundred days have gone by and nothing. I know that due diligence must have been primordial, but his life is so dull. He dreams most of the time and shouts orders to a bird. Anyway, a lesser effort in these cautionary wartime shorts.

Many of the Private Snafu cartoons are very enjoyable, being very well-made, entertaining and educational with good morals and interesting historical and instructional material. Even lesser ones like 'It's Murder She Says' is still very much watchable. Even when inept, Snafu is still very much endearing and fun for a vast majority of his cartoons, excepting 'The Chow Hound' and his too short appearance in 'In the Aleutians'.

'Outpost' is another good Private Snafu cartoon, but is not one of the best. Those that are among the best, like 'Spies', 'The Goldbrick', 'Infantry Blues', 'Booby Traps' and 'Private Snafu vs. Malaria Mike' were wilder, funnier and more creative.

It is certainly very amusing and has a lot of important things to say about the significance of regular reports being accurate, all in a way without being patronising or preachy. Just that compared to other Private Snafu cartoons it's pretty tame and unoriginal, and anybody who has seen a Snafu cartoon before will not be surprised at how the story unfolds, not much variation from the norm here.

On the other hand, 'Outpost' is very well-animated though with fluid character designs, detailed and not sparse backgrounds and lively colours/shadings. Carl Stalling always did write outstanding music for the many cartoons he scored for and that is true for 'Outpost', the orchestration is very lush and the pacing is characteristically lively.

Snafu is endearing and amusing, even when so hopelessly inept and the narration entertains, resonates and teaches and doesn't fall into the trap of over-explaining or being over-used. The voice work from Mel Blanc and Robert C. Bruce is great.

In summary, a good but not great Private Snafu cartoon. 7/10 Bethany Cox