Jasper in a Jam

Jasper in a Jam is one of the most entertaining shorts from George Pal Puppetoons to feature a little black boy. Instead of the usual shanty that the Jasper shorts usually take place in, this one's setting is at a big-city apartment that has a pawn shop with various musical instruments. When Jasper finds himself trapped in this pawnshop, many of these instruments come to life. With music by Charlie Barnet and vocals by Peggy Lee, Jasper's in a Jam has some of the most coolest collage of melody and visuals from a doll-animated film. So it is with great enthusiasm that I recommend this short to any fan of Big Band music and to many George Pal completists, bar none!

This short, incorporated into The Puppetoon Movie, features a regular character George Pal used for many shorts, Jasper. There is a wonderful incorporation of stop-motion animation and jazz music and Pal blends them beautifully in this cartoon. The Jasper shorts have almost vanished, probably because people are afraid to run the risk that they might offend someone. There is absolutely nothing in this cartoon in which anyone could reasonably take offense. Marvelously done and well worth the effort to find. Highly recommended.

In the 1940s, George Pal made a series of animated shorts for Looney Tunes. But unlike their typical animation, these were stop-motion films and many featured his character, Jasper, a young black kid. The animation quality is exceptional...though in 2021, many folks would find them politically incorrect and would encourage you not to watch them. Well, they are incredibly well made and a bit offensive...so I'd err on the side of encouraging you to watch them and decide for yourself. Besides, I resent the notion of disposing of the films as they are a part of movie history.

In this film, young Jasper is in a pawn shop after dark and the place comes alive with music and a creepy (and stereotypical) American Indian who chases the kid around the place. There isn't much more plot than this and is mostly a musical.

The animation quality is really amazing for 1946 and is a sight to behold. Well made....and toe-tappingly enjoyable.