Release Date:

July 19, 1941

Main Character(s):

Inki, Minah Bird

Summary:

Inki gets stalked by a father lion after Inki attempts to spear the lion’s offspring. The Minah Bird once again steals the show.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. Mendelssohn’s “Ruy Blas Overture” played under the opening credits:

Supervision: Charles M. Jones

Story: Rich Hogan

Animation: Phil Monroe

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

This is the second appearance of Inki and the Minah Bird following “Little Lion Hunter” (1939).

This is also the first time Inki was named.

Like all the other Inki cartoons, this cartoon is no longer shown on television due to racial stereotypes. The main home media release for this one was on the “Politically Incorrect” side of the Golden Age of Looney Tunes Volume 3 laserdisc.

Also like with all the other Inki cartoons, there is no dialogue.

What I Like About This One:

A monkey who was being pursued by Inki throwing a coconut at him. In response, Inki throws his spear at the monkey and a scream is heard. But the monkey then throws Inki’s spear back at him!

Inki getting scared by loud rustling from the bushes only for the Minah Bird to pop out.

As always, the gag of Inki pursuing the Minah Bird and imitating his walk to the tune of Mendelssohn’s “Fingal’s Cave Overture” is always a great one.

When Inki throws his spear, it gets stuck in a tree allowing the Minah Bird to walk into a hollow tree and avoid a bear trap.

Inki reaching into the tree and accidentally pulling out a skunk.

The father lion catching Inki’s spear before Inki can spear his offspring (as if he was like, “Uh uh uh. Don’t you dare hurt my son!”). Inki then sees the lion angrily staring at him (the upside down view in Inki’s perspective is a great shot) before turning right side up and giving him a sheepish grin. The lion gives him a sinister grin, indicating to Inki that he is in big trouble.

After a chase into a hollow log, Inki doesn’t realize he’s on top of the lion’s head until his foot opens the lion’s mouth when climbing down and he feels the lion’s teeth (of course, I’d be really disgusted if I were the lion).

Seeing the Minah Bird atop his head after hiding in a tree stump, Inki goes after him with a club with the lion following him and also imitating the Minah Bird’s walk.

The Minah Bird then walks into a cave to which Inki blocks the entrance of with rocks. He then accidentally picks up the lion’s butt and doesn’t realize who he’s dragging until he sees the lion mockingly wave at him. Inki then removes all of the rocks and enters the cave only to encounter the lion again (with only everyone’s eyes being shown in the dark as well as both characters giving sheepish and sinister grins). He runs out of the cave and puts the rocks back in front of the cave only to find the lion waiting for him outside!

Just as the lion has somehow made Inki start walking into his mouth, the Minah Bird comes out of the cave. The lion makes an angry expression at the Minah Bird before having Inki cornered. When it looks like Inki is about to be done in by the lion, it’s revealed that the Minah Bird has tied the lion’s tail to a tree.

Relieved, Inki attempts to shake hands with the Minah Bird as gratitude, but the Minah Bird just spins him around and slams him to the ground.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕