Toy Trouble

Directed by Chuck Jones

Release Date:

April 12, 1941

Main Character(s):

Sniffles, Bookworm

Summary:

Sniffles and the Bookworm explore a toy store at night and run afoul of a cat posing as a stuffed animal.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “Iola” played under the opening credits:

Supervision: Charles M. Jones

Story: Rich Hogan

Animation: Robert Cannon

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

A print with the original titles is rumored to exist. Hopefully, that will get found one day.

This is the last appearance of the Bookworm.

This is the first cartoon to use the 1941-1945 Merrie Melodies opening theme and the first cartoon to use the 1941-1955 Merrie Melodies ending theme (the latter would be the longest used ending theme for a Warner cartoon- used for a total of 15 years!).

What I Like About This One:

Sniffles and the Bookworm somehow being able to use the elevator to get to the 15th floor where the toy store is. What’s funny about it is of course how small they are.

Sniffles using a lasso to turn the lights on.

The Bookworm being intrigued by a wind-up jazz band.

The Bookworm getting so distracted by a tall tower of blocks that he unknowingly backs into a toy duck on wheels which starts moving on its own. The Bookworm then ends up getting so spooked by it that he hides in a Jack in the box which pops out with the Bookworm hanging on its nose.

Sniffles getting chased by the toy duck.

When the toy duck comes back in the Bookworm’s direction, it accidentally turns on the switch for an electric train set, causing the Bookworm to get chased by the toy train. Then, after going through a tunnel, the Bookworm is now behind the train.

The animation of Sniffles’ eyes as he watches a “Test Your Strength” toy.

When Sniffles sees the cat posing as a stuffed animal, he is initially fooled. “Gosh, for a minute I thought it was a real cat!” He then realizes that it IS a real cat after he notices that he walks and sounds like one. Sniffles nervously walks off saying, “It sure is marvelous what they can do with machines these days”.

The cat finds Sniffles hiding among a row of Porky Pig squeak toys and fails to notice Sniffles hiding in plain sight, even as he pokes each toy. When he pokes Sniffles, Sniffles says “Mow! Mow!” before correcting himself, “Squeak!” The cat then catches Sniffles trying to squeak away so Sniffles walks back to his position like a wind up toy and again says “Squeak!”

Meanwhile, the Bookworm has finally gotten off the tracks of the train set and unknowingly crawls up on to the cat. Sniffles attempts to warn him by silently mouthing “The cat!” before accidentally yelling it, causing the cat to realize Sniffles’ deception. He also puts the Bookworm in a test tube of a toy chemistry set.

At the right moment, the toy duck arrives and starts chasing the cat. The cat accidentally turns the wind-up band on, rides the train, and crashes into the block tower where four blocks spell out “HELP” (all with one letter each). When the cat runs away when seeing the toy duck continue to chase it, the blocks then spell “ZOOM!” The chase also causes the test your strength toy to rapidly hit the bell multiple times.

After getting rid of the cat, Sniffles then finds the Bookworm crawling out with the test tube stuck on his head, much to Sniffles’ amusement and the Bookworm’s annoyance.

Where Can I Watch It?

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕 ½