Under the Sea, 1929 Style

The Fleischer studio had to give a name to its new series of sound cartoons, so it (or Paramount) came up with “Talkartoons.”

There isn’t a lot of “talk” in the first one, Noah’s Lark, released on October 26, 1929. There’s singing and crowd sounds while the characters’ mouths move. The action is timed to the music.

The studio hadn’t quite developed truly surreal gags yet. The short ends with the ark sinking and a mermaid swimming up to Noah. He chases her underwater into the background to end the picture.



Director Dave Fleischer and Musical Advisor Max M. Manne are the only two people credited on this cartoon.

You’ll have to forgive the horrible digital fuzz on these frames. The Talkartoons are really in need of a full restoration. The Fleischers deserve it.