Name: Merlin the Magic Mouse
Genre: Family, Animation, Short
Released: 1967-11-18
Duration: 6 min
Rating: 4.5
Cast: Daws Butler

Towards the end of the classic era of Looney Tunes, during the Warner Bros-Seven Arts period, WB tried to come up with new characters that would catch on with audiences and replace the older characters who had arguably become passé. To this end they created turds like Cool Cat and this gem, Merlin the Magic Mouse. Merlin is a mouse that also happens to be a magician and he sounds like W.C. Fields and has a sidekick named Second Banana. All of those things sound like WB was really in tune with the audiences of the late 1960s, right? This first cartoon in the mercifully short series has Merlin trying to put on his magic routine without tipping off his sole audience member, a cat, that he's a mouse. He does this by putting on...sigh...putting on a fake mustache. This bit is annoying enough but it's made worse by the sidekick character spelling out the "joke" for the audience of presumably bored viewers.

Like other WB cartoons from this period, the quality of the craftsmanship is poor. The animation, writing, music, sound effects are all subpar even for TV of the time. The only thing remotely good about it is the voice work of legend Daws Butler, but he can only do so much. I especially hate the music, which is stock crap and grates on your nerves within the first minute.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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Merlin, a W.C. Fields-like mouse, puts on a magic show in front of an audience of one cat. Merlin does some bad magic tricks for the feline before he realizes he's a mouse.

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Merlin the Magic Mouse

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