Bedtime for Sniffles

Chuck Jones is widely considered one of animation's finest directors/animators and for very good reason. When he was at his best, his cartoons were masterpieces of animation, comic timing, characterisation and wit.

The Sniffles cartoon series were very early efforts for Jones, and, while they are interesting from a historical perspective, it is safe to say that from personal opinion they really don't see him at his best. There is somewhat of a still finding his feet feel here, with the humour once he became a regular director for the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons becoming much funnier, more constant and wittier and the characterisation far more interesting.

Not all the Sniffles cartoons have worked for me, though none of them are unwatchable. 'Bedtime for Sniffles' is one of his better ones, and it is not just because it is a Christmas-themed cartoon. There is nothing exceptional about the story, in terms of structure and predictability, and the cartoon could have done with more kick in places.

However, 'Bedtime for Sniffles' is charming and heart-warming, although there is a sweetness it's not too saccharine and it doesn't despite the theme try as hard as other Sniffles cartoon to be too cute. The amusing doppelganger stuff and that Sniffles has grown and evolved in personality since especially his first cartoon helps avoid that trap. The Christmas theme is handled with a lot of charm and heart without being too sentimental.

'Bedtime for Sniffles' animation is very good. It is lush and vibrant in colour and meticulous and beautifully drawn in detail. The character designs are fluid, well drawn and distinctive Jones, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).

In summary, lovely cartoon and one of the better Sniffles ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Sniffles was a character who appeared in a dozen Looney Tunes cartoons from the late 1930s to the late 1940s. Considering how the style of these cartoons did not fit in well with the edgier content Looney Tunes was making in the 1940s, it's hard to imagine why the character lasted nearly a decade. He was no Bugs Bunny nor Daffy Duck. Instead, he was ultra -cutesy...to the point of being a bit nauseating. If you see "Bedtime for Sniffles", you'll be able to see what I mean...Sniffles is incredibly cutesy. He sings, he mugs...but he also doesn't particularly induce laughs.

Through the course of "Bedtime for Sniffles", there's quite a bit of singing. This, combined with his cutesy voice will make it tough viewing for many folks.

Like other Sniffles cartoons, the animation is top-notch for Looney Tunes. While not quite as pretty as what Disney was doing at the time, this sort of cartoon is just lovely to watch from a technical standpoint. As for the story...well, it's just okay. Sniffles is trying to stay up all night in order to see Santa and he struggles to stay awake. And, in the end, the fat guy shows up...and that's about it. Overall, about as edgy as a tomato...which is why, despite the animation, the short left me cold.

It's Christmas Eve, and Sniffles the mouse is going to wait up to see Santa Claus making his rounds. Only problem is, the little guy didn't realize just how tired he'd get - or how appealing his bed would look - waiting up that late. For all the hundreds of animated shorts WB put out over the years, this is one of the very few that is Christmas-themed, and I've never figured out just why that is. ("The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives", being black-and-white, doesn't get much air time nowadays.) Sniffles only appeared in about a dozen shorts in the late 1930's and 1940's, and the fact that this little classic is played every year at Christmas time is probably the only reason he didn't fade into obscurity.

This is the best Christmas cartoon short I have ever seen, I have it on tape and watch it over the Christmas holidays along with 'The Night Before Christmas (Tom & Jerry). Sniffles tries his best to stay awake to see Santa but as soon as he's fallen asleep he arrives.

In this short, Sniffles the mouse is trying not to fall asleep so he won't miss the arrival of Santa Claus. Needless to say, he doesn't have much success...and neither did I. I found the images and sounds that made Sniffles droopy eyed had the same effect on me. This isn't a bad short, just don't view it late at night.