Release Date:

October 23, 1943

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

An aquaphobic cat attempts to catch a wise-guy goldfish who wears a derby.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 21-12, the 21st Merrie Melodie in the 12th release season.

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “I’m Ridin’ for a Fall” played under the opening credits and also continues into the start of the cartoon. Additionally, cels of the original title card and credits were found in June 2021.

The cartoon has no dialogue apart from the narration at the beginning and end.

“Twilight in Turkey” plays when the goldfish flees to the shower and fills it with water.

The cartoon is in the public domain.

The cartoon somewhat serves as a precursor to the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons in that it’s a mostly dialogue-free cartoon involving a predator failing to catch his prey. Unlike that series, however, the goldfish is more active in thwarting the cat.

What I Like About This One:

The opening narration pretty much tells us what we’re about to see: “As everyone knows, goldfish must have water in order to exist but goldfish hate cats”. The goldfish uses a squeegee on his bowl and sees the cat watching him. “While on the other hand, cats hate water but must have goldfish in order to exist.” The cat hates water so much that he must run to the paper towels even if he gets a DROP on him (animated by Phil DeLara).

Putting a glove on his hand, the cat imitates the “Filet Brushman”. The goldfish just simply bites his finger, accidentally leaving his dentures there in the process before getting them back (animated by Ben Washam).

To the tune of “It Can’t Be Wrong”, the cat attempts to lure the goldfish out by hypnotizing him with a worm (animated by Robert Cannon). Once out of his bowl, the goldfish squirts the cat with a water pistol (animated by Lloyd Vaughan).

The cat’s next attempt involves him siphoning water out of the goldfish’s bowl and putting it into the other one. The plan works a little too well as the original bowl is completely empty and the goldfish is there in the new one, complete with his reef-like home. Annoyed, the cat attempts to siphon the water out of there, but the goldfish plugs up the other end of the hose with his finger and blows into the hose himself, drenching the cat (animated by Washam).

Trying again, the cat ends up blowing up the goldfish like a pufferfish, to which the goldfish blows back and inflates the cat like a balloon, before he deflates and is knocked unconscious. The goldfish revives him with a little water. The cat gives a “Thanks!” sign, but upon seeing that he was revived with water, runs to the paper towels once more. This time, the goldfish beats him to it and places a piece of flypaper over the next paper towel, resulting in the cat getting into a literally sticky situation where his efforts to get it off result in him wearing it like a turban or being trapped in it like a handbag (animated by Ken Harris).

The goldfish now being unable to get into his bowl due to the cat holding a plate over it. Running around the abstract background paintings like a wall, the goldfish attempts to push the plate off, only to find the cat is sitting on it (animated by Vaughan).

A chase ensues with the goldfish becoming very dehydrated. Seeing a dripping faucet, the goldfish goes under there to cool off. Instead of refreshing drops once he’s under there, however, he gets nothing and gives a hilariously half-confused, half-offended facial expression as if to say “What, no water!?” He looks up and sees that the reason why is because of the cat plugging up the faucet with his finger (animated by Cannon).

The cat then makes the goldfish’s situation look a lot more dire by placing a sunlamp over him as he’s walking past a picture of a desert. The goldfish sees a mirage of a swimming pool and jumps off the “diving board” which is actually the cat’s hand positioned to resemble one and the “pool” being the cat’s wide open mouth (animated by Cannon).

Fleeing out of the cat’s mouth, the goldfish hastily runs to the shower and fills it up with water. The cat follows and goes in with him, locking the shower door, oblivious to the fact that he’s submerged in water. It’s only when he gives a “Come here” gesture and the goldfish points to the bubbles in front of him that he realizes what he’s gotten himself into. The cat’s horror spells out in bubbles, “UNDER WATER!?” Attempting to get out, he realizes this isn’t so bad, and actually likes the anti-gravity feel of being underwater (animated by Harris).

In the last scene, the narrator concludes, “As we were saying, cats hate… uh ahem…, cats love water” where the cat is shown sleeping in the goldfish’s water-filled bowl. But the goldfish’s view on cats hasn’t changed at all. “And goldfish hate cats". The goldfish is seen in an empty glass, much to his annoyance (animated by Washam).

Where Can I Watch It?

At toontales.net!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½