OF ALL THE comic strips that have inspired our collective loyalty and devotion in following them in daily and Sunday newsprint, none has done more in garnering the attention of the intelligentsia than did George Herriman's KRAZY KAT. The unusual art style, the non-sequitur type of Panel development art narrative and the unusual fractured English employed by Krazy Kat himself/herself.
WE DARE GIVE that previous complex description of just how K.K.'s sexual identity should be classified with good reason. It never was established as to what was the gender of our feline star. It was a way for Mr.Herriman to explore a lot of avenues to unusual storytelling.
WHEN CONTRASTED WITH the previous animated films from other Studios, this TV series rates very highly. The early silent cartoons were very close to the strip; both in appearance and in storyline. It was as if the Daily and Sunday Comics panels had come to life.
A LOW POINT in Krazy Kat adaptations came in the 1930's as the Columbia Studio's Animation Department ran far and wide from the source material. After some early shorts, which at least had the proper look of the character, things went far afield. Most of those Columbia shorts that we saw in the 1950's on WGN TV's GARFIELD GOOSE & FRIENDS kiddie TV show had only one element of the original; that being the name itself.
BUT, WE DIGRESS! Once again, getting back to our reviewee of the day; we must express a much more positive attitude. The King Features/Famous Studios collaboration had a high satisfaction to impart to any KK aficionado. The artwork mirrored that of the "Old Master", Herriman (Himself). The situations always revolved around the "Eternal Triangle" that existed between Krazy Kat, Ignatz Mouse and the always protective Offisa Pup. Ignatz, hating all (including Krazy) would constantly hurl bricks at Krazy's head. Krazy would always mistake the bricks impact for feelings of affection for Ignatz. Offisa Pup would be there to protect Krazy Kat and always incarcerated the ornery rodent in the Coconino County Jail.
THAT WAS THE premise of the KRAZY KAT Strip and most all of the TV Animated Series. There was a little embellishment to the stories, but then, only a little.
IT WORKED FOR the newspaper comics section for years, so why not for the TV generation. Why not, we ask? Why yes, is the answer!
"Highly Recommended!"
