Fishy Skunk

Even the minor gags in Tex Avery’s Little 'Tinker (1948) are well animated and timed. Unfortunately you won’t get that in the screen grabs below, but you can get an idea of some of the poses.

B.O. Skunk pulls a Romeo and Juliet routine (thanks to an advice manual) and sings opera to his lady-love raccoon as he climbs a balcony. The raccoon is delighted at first, but takes a whiff and realises he’s a skunk. The Disney animation principles of anticipation and follow-through are used. When the raccoon expresses shock, she stops but her cheek ruff follow the principle of gravity and continue to move.

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B.O. is clobbered with a flower pot.



Avery’s timing is excellent here. He doesn’t wait too long or rush his next gag. The horrified fish come out of the lake after just the right amount of footage. The water doesn’t have time to completely settle before the fish leap out of the water and run away.



Bill Shull, Grant Simmons, Walt Clinton and Bob Bentley are the animators.