While Walter Hoban, the creator of Jerry on the Job was off fighting the First World War, the Hearst syndicate filled in by various means, including this Bray cartoon.

As Jerry and his boss fill in their income tax forms, we see various mechanisms take place. Although comic strips were still learning their way at this time, Hoban was one of the leaders in what serious people would call surrealism, along with Krazy Kat and later, the heights of Smoky Stover. Here we see various bits that indicate the cartoon mentality that would later evolve into what are today called the cartoon laws of physics: the clockwork brain trying to comprehend the tax forms and even the exaggerated leap-and-roll that Jerry does at the end -- a hallmark of the cartoon strip.

It's all very primitive to modern sensibilities in which Chuck Jones' Wile E. Coyote is considered an ur-figure, but this is a remarkably advanced cartoon for 1918 and still quite watchable --- I've spent the last week working on my own taxes and feel the pain.

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 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.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

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)

Jerry struggles to file his income tax report.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

A Tax from the Rear

Photos

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed