Release Date:

January 18, 1941

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A colony of red ants go to war against a colony of black ants over a picnic lunch.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “You’re in the Army Now” played under the opening credits:

Supervision: I. Freleng

Story: Jack Miller

Animation: Gil Turner

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

Freleng would later do two more cartoons with ants: “The Gay Anties” (1947) and “Ant Pasted” (1953).

This is the last cartoon written by Jack Miller.

The title is a play on words for the 1940 movie, “The Fighting 69th”.

A black ant says “Of course, you know this means war!” after a red ant smashes an olive over him.

What I Like About This One:

The argument between a red ant and a black ant over an olive that ends up starting the war: “Oh no, ya don’t!” “Oh, yes I do!” which they repeat over and over until the red ant smashes the olive over the black ant, who declares, “Of course, you know this means war!” (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

The ants’ tanks being jars of insect powder atop two caterpillars and their ambulances being boxes of absorbent cotton.

The red ant general giving his men instructions to steal a hot dog.

The red ant soldiers taking cover in the holes of a piece of Swiss cheese in order to avoid a bomb attack. When avoiding another bomb attack, they take cover in a piece of limburger but immediately run out due to the disgusting smell (animated by Bickenbach).

When the red ants finally get to the hot dog, they are ambushed by the black ants who have beaten them to it.

A Rochester black ant quickly going out to get the mustard.

Another red ant using a safety pin and a toothpick as a bow and arrow to retrieve some olives.

Another black ant wearing a gas mask when tossing limburger cheese over to the red ants’ side. When it lands near them, the red ants quickly bury it with one planting a sign, “Keep in a Cool, Dry Place”.

The animation of the red ants constructing a sandwich. In addition, the “Hold the Onions” gag is also used here.

The ants stopping the war when a woman picks up the leftovers of a picnic but she ends up leaving a piece of cake behind.

In the end, the ants decide to call a peace conference and split the cake between both sides, but a fight breaks out over which side gets the cherry on top! (animated by Gil Turner)

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕