Sliphorn King of Polaroo

Beginning with 'Once a Month' and finishing with this, 'Sliphorn King of Polaroo', the Swing Symphony series was very interesting and all the cartoons ranged from decent to great. With only the uneven 'Yankee Doodle Swing Shift' disappointing slightly and that had a lot of fantastic things still. Absolutely love animation, and have been my whole life, and Walter Lantz's cartoons at their best were great and the lesser ones still watchable.

'Sliphorn King of Polaroo' is certainly much more than watchable. Would go as far to call it great and what a way to end this series, a series that started very well indeed and ended even better. Along with 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured', 'Jungle Jive' and 'The Pied Piper of Basin Street', this is one of the best Swing Symphony cartoons to me. With it being one of the funniest, most energetic, most inventive and really loved the concept of swing in the arctic. Something not seen every day in animation.

It's again a slight slow starter, but it does pick up extremely quickly and has so much infectiousness and energy that it is easy to forget that the plot is best forgotten.

The best thing about 'Sliphorn King of Polaroo' is the music, which is the epitome of awesome. Lush and lively with creative arrangements and exuberantly performed all round. Clearly done by someone with a deep love and understanding for the swing and big band style. The animation also impresses, the colours are vibrant and the attention to detail is rich with nothing stiff or static. The Tex Avery like expressions, designs and body language were very inventively done.

Gags are plenty and they are all very amusing to hilarious and a lot more inspired than expected, the use of sound effects surprising and fun. There is a lot of energy throughout which makes up for that the story is thin, while the characters are cute and full of personality, polar bears and penguins always make my day while the titular character is endearing. Hans Conried's narration is energetic and endearing, he was clearly having fun and it was great to see a lighter side to somebody who is more familiar to me as villains.

All in all, great way to end an interesting if not always consistent series. 9/10.

This cartoon seems to have vanished from the radar screens, along with most of the Walter Lantz material, which is a shame. The basic premise is that a trombone player named Jackson falls overboard and washes up on the island of Polaroo. The trombone solos are played by Jack Teagarden, a great jazz trombonist and there is a wonderful song the denizens of the island sing about Jackson, called, naturally enough, "Jackson, Sliphorn King of Polaroo". It's all great fun and a good time is had by all and sundry. Hans Conreid's narration is just perfect and there are sight gags worthy of the master, Tex Avery. I wish I could see this one again. I don't know why so little of the Lantz output is available. If anyone can tell me, I'd appreciate the information.