Robin Hoodlum (1948)

[@Love1nOther]

I cannot believe that this was made in 1948! It looks more like what Warner bros. and MGM were doing in the 50's and 60's. I've spent two hours looking for this cartoon. Thank you for posting it!

[@brianlevine871]

I actually got to see this cartoon in my animation history class when talking about UPA. My favorite part is when the fox sings "I never give a thing to the middle class."

[@okamijubei]

Never do anything to the middle class, will not do anything against the middle class.

[@The1962driftingaway]

And this was the very first produced for Columbia -- it was sort of an audition. The audition got the UPA folks their first Oscar nomination.

[@fromthesidelines]

Steve Bosustow was told by Columbia executives this cartoon HAD to feature the "Fox and Crow", as a condition for producing it. He agreed- only this wasn't a "typical" Fox and Crow story, nor did they ACT as they usually did in previous cartoons and their comic books of the period. That's why it looked "strange" to most people.............

[@okamijubei]

Funny that Robin Hood is a fox. Suddenly 24 years later after that cartoon was made.

[@TheFoxFromSplashMountain]

Looks like they beat Disney to the punch with this one, lol.

[@stephenholloway6893]

Funny, including this one, 2 of the 3 UPA Fox and Crow pictures were actually nominated for best animated short.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

They were at least getting recognition for basically coming onto the scene when other studios were still doing the same thing.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Well arguably it was UPA that started that for the other studios to latch onto.

[@gmanley1]

I think this cartoon predicted the 1973 Robin Hood movie by Disney.

[@montrelllaw44]

Mel blanc the man of million voices

[@Jeff-gj7ko]

Robs from the rich and gives to the poor, as long as he keeps his 90% cut.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

We outta be thankful it did. I'm sure it was very iffy those first couple years.

[@jimodonnelly7762]

And now I know why the Fox and Crow cartoons have been forgotten. The animation isn't bad, and the color is great, but the story is awful.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Now true in some respects, UPA didn't really want to do Fox & Crow cartoons since they felt it was beneath their interests in pushing animation towards a different point (namely the need for human/relatable topics and less talking animals). Cartoons like Robin Hoodlum (being the first) were merely placeholders to placate the Columbia execs. to give them the greenlight to go further on their own endeavors.

[@meeksanimationstudios]

Jim O'Donnelly Yeah, the teatime people were bland as well. And noting that Fox and Crow have no personalities. They were just stock cartoon animals serving for the purpose of a lame gag. Horrifying, ugh....

[@fzcbh4698]

The early Fox and Crow cartoon have better fun plot, and at least this one happened before Disney Robin Hood.

[@cregi90952]

uhm... Robin Hood is a fox....

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

jasminne mcdonald Technically this cartoon predated Disney's use of a fox in such a role by about a quarter century.

[@jimodonnelly7762]

+cregi90952 Don't read too much into it. The Fox and Crow were UPA staples (DC Comics even published a Fox and Crow comic book in the late 50's early 60's). Robin Hood was the subject of plenty of cartoons. Remember "Robin Hood Daffy"? Disney probably used a fox as Robin because foxes are clever. You've heard of Zorro? Zorro is Spanish for (that's right) fox.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Jim O'Donnelly Yeah I wouldn't read too much into this either.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Jim O'Donnelly Incidentally, DC published Fox & Crow comics from the 1940's into the late 60's.

[@jimodonnelly7762]

Christopher Sobieniak Wow, I'd no idea they ran that long! Thanks.

[@JulianPope]

They left Disney for this? lol

[@okamijubei]

Julian Pope yet you see the irony of that cartoon

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

The reason for that leave was purely out of artistic struggle and for a need to explore other approaches the art form that mirrored what was going on in the art scene (the modern art movement for example). A later cartoon "Rooty Toot Toot" is a good example of what UPA was known for.

[@okamijubei]

Christopher Sobieniak besides, Disney studios then was in a financial crisis. Due with poor marketing mainly due with the war.