Chase in Slo-Mo

The sign says “SLOW,” so that’s what a bird and cat do during a chase in Tex Avery’s The Early Bird Dood It (1942). Then when the next sign says “RESUME SPEED,” that’s what they do.

I like the cat’s expressions.



Scott Bradley plays a slow, wowwing version of “The William Tell Overture” while this is going on.

The animation in this cartoon is by Irv Spence, Preston Blair, Ray Abrams and Ed Love.

Its start and finish are typical Avery. The cartoon opens with a left to right pan of the outdoors, with an overlay in front for added depth, and ends with a sign reading “Sad Ending Ain’t It” as the cat has eaten the bird after the bird ate the “Costello” worm.