The Return of Mr. Hook

This is the first cartoon Mckimson directed. It was made for the U.S. Navy and stars a character named Hook. Similar to the Pvt. SNAFU cartoons, it was meant to teach the sailors various lessons of Navy life. In the cartoon we see illustrated Hook's plans about using his war bond savings to fulfill his postwar dreams. These are presented in a rather mainstream and pedestrian manner. Compared to the innovative use of graphics of Chuck Jones' SNAFU cartoons or UPA's industrial films of the same period and you realize how staid Mckimson's approach really is. There is also very little comedy present, the story being told in a straightforward fashion, unlike Clampett who would sugar coat his lessons to the soldiers with outrageous ribald humor. Hook's design is very cartoony, but the animation doesn't reflect this and instead is done in a very literal style. Hook's fellow crewmen are drawn in a realistic manner, which contrasts uncomfortably with Hook. One can see in this cartoon all of the qualities that would later plague Mckimson's cartoons of the fifties. For a first time director this is a polished and professional product, presented without any flair.