'Fair Today' (1941)

Opening thoughts: Fairs are always fun when depicted in animation, which is quite a lot, and it makes for some very colourful fun when done well. It also has a good deal of nostalgic value. 'Fair Today' is good, colourful fun, though it is a cartoon that doesn't end as well as it started. It is not hysterical or a high spot in Lantz's career, but it is well crafted, amusing and nostalgic that should delight enough kids and adults alike (if perhaps more so the former). This viewer doesn't always see fairs lampooned (something that Lantz did a lot with varied but mostly good results), or at least not to this extent, and the lampooning was mostly done well if unevenly later on.

Bad things: Not everything works. It is a little rushed and over-stuffed at times, especially in the over populated final quarter where the content also became not as inspired and instead pretty corny. The gags were plentiful and very well done in most of the cartoon, but as already said those in the first quarter could have been developed more and had more breathing space.

There were occasions where the character designs weren't to my tastes, with moments of stiffness.

Good things: However, a lot is good in 'Fair Today'. The music is lush and characterful throughout and a vast majority of the animation is excellent. Loved the extremely rich attention to detail in the backgrounds and all the character designs when the fair is in action are suitably varied and with a lot of effort and care put into them.

While nothing is hilarious, most of 'Fair Today' is very amusing and the lampooning is mostly witty and sharp, it is not hard to recognise what is being lampooned too (already faring a lot better than most lampooning cartoon in this aspect). The energy is vibrant and lively, which gives an exuberance to the more action oriented parts.

Concluding thoughts: On the whole, nicely done.

7/10.

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.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

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.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Fairs, rides, attractions, and horses at the county fair are all made fun of. Like a world's fair, there are some ultra-modern exhibits. You'll see the Rubber Man, the Fat Lady, the Tattoo Man, the Sword Swallower, elephants, lions and a giraffe... but the real problem is a little old lady looking for her little boy. A "Cream Separator" is operated by a small child with a bowl. A "Crazy Quilt" lives up to its name. Announcer: "Say, this turkey has no neck!" Turkey: "Aw, nobody eats the neck, anyway!" There's a hog-calling contest ("You're a hog!").

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Fair Today

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