Elmer Elephant (1936)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Sadly Over-hyped

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

"Elmer Elephant" is an American 8.5-minute cartoon from 1936, so a bit longer than usual and this one had its 80th anniversary last year already and even if it is in color, this means it is certainly among the earlier days of the Golden Age of Animation. But this Disney production nonetheless includes several big names like director Wilfred Jackson and voice actors Nash and Colvig who were really defining for both the genre and the company for many years to come. This one here may not include the ducks and mice and dogs everybody loves until today, but it includes a little elephant. He visits his little tiger friend for her birthday and he brought her flowers. But sadly, the other visitors aren't friendly to him at all and make fun of his nose and ears etc. So he leaves the party, but meets some real friends who give him solace and eventually also help him when a fire puts Tillie's life at risk.That's one thing I liked that it was not some kind of superhero performance, but that the giraffe and pelicans etc. made it a team effort for Elmer. And honestly animation-wise this was way ahead of its time, certainly a contender for best 1936 short film. On a side-note: This was the year that the Olympics were held in Berlin. Anyway, back to the film: I also liked the love to detail, such as the ways in which the animators breathed life even into those little fire creatures and it was also smart as this takes away from the tension and drama and makes sure it's not too serious for younger audiences to watch too as after all most of the characters in here are their age. Many anti-bullying films from recent history can learn a lot from the heart put in this one and maybe if the filmmakers actually would have watched this one, then their work would not have turned into such forgettable mediocrity (in the better cases). And finally, also a word on the really sweet ending that shows us that we should not pay too much attention to what breed everybody is in here. A cute kiss and little Elmer could not be any happier. His ears finally serve a purpose too. A strong cartoon with a slightly superior second half, I very much recommend checking it out to everybody. For cartoon lovers, it is a must-see and such a shame Elmer was forgotten quickly. I would have loved to watch more films starring him, no matter if short or long. Such a cute, charming and likable character.

Elmer Elephant (1936)*** (out of 4) A cute little tiger is having a birthday party and everyone is having a blast. A sweet elephant shows up and gives her flowers, which steals her heart but the rest of the kids there plan on picking on the elephant due to his large nose. This is another good Disney short that falls just short of being a classic but it's still worth watching. There are quite a few good things here with the highlight certainly being the characters who are just downright adorable. Both the tiger and elephant make for a cute couple and there's no question that the ending is extremely sweet. I thought the bullies were all done well and especially the hippo and that wonderful voice. The animation is quite good as you'd expect and overall it's a pretty good movie even if its story isn't all that great.

Elmer Elephant is a great Silly Symphony and a wonderful childhood gem. It does have a beautiful story, and very heartfelt and well meaning, though out of the Silly Symphonies Ugly Duckling gets my vote as the most heart-rending. You do genuinely feel for Elmer, who gets bullied for his unusually long trunk,then ends up saving the day in one of my favourite Silly Symphony moments, and although the other characters aren't as significant, other than Tillie, they do serve purpose to the well thought out story that doesn't preach in any way.The animation is lovely, and so is the music, especially when the theme tune goes into a minor key to portray Elmer's sadness. All in all, if you come across this Silly Symphony, watch it-you won't be sorry! 10/10 Bethany Cox

A Walt Disney SILLY SYMPHONY Cartoon Short.Little ELMER ELEPHANT has a crush on Tillie Tiger & his affection is reciprocated (don't try to figure it out). Trouble is, the pint-sized pachyderm is beset by bullies who ridicule his trunk and make his life miserable. Then a conflagration breaks out at Tillie's tree house...A very cute little film, very nicely drawn, with a sound moral message. It could have been the start of a series of Elmer Elephant shorts, but, alas, that was not to be and Elmer & his friends went into almost immediate cartoon oblivion.The pelicans, for those too young to know, are spoofs of Jimmy Durante.The SILLY SYMPHONIES, which Walt Disney produced for a ten year period beginning in 1929, are among the most interesting of series in the field of animation. Unlike the Mickey Mouse cartoons in which action was paramount, with the Symphonies the action was made to fit the music. There was little plot in the early Symphonies, which featured lively inanimate objects and anthropomorphic plants & animals, all moving frantically to the soundtrack. Gradually, however, the Symphonies became the school where Walt's animators learned to work with color and began to experiment with plot, characterization & photographic special effects. The pages of Fable & Fairy Tale, Myth & Mother Goose were all mined to provide story lines and even Hollywood's musicals & celebrities were effectively spoofed. It was from this rich soil that Disney's feature-length animation was to spring. In 1939, with SNOW WHITE successfully behind him and PINOCCHIO & FANTASIA on the near horizon, Walt phased out the SILLY SYMPHONIES; they had run their course & served their purpose.