Goofy Goat Antics

Back in the days before Technicolor and computer generated animation, there was Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, Steam Boat Willie, and Goofy Goat and his goofy goat antics. Black and white cartoons ruled the theater long before previews were the norm. Something had to capture a child’s interest, because we all know Birth of a Nation certainly couldn’t do it by itself.

Here’s a quick synopsis for those of you who have not see this cartoon (Goofy Goat Antics, 1931). There is a goat in an old, rickety car, who decides to go for a joy ride through town. On his crazy adventure to the glee club, he runs into a cow that can pick his own nose with is tongue and a road hog whose butt makes up the rear of his car (driven by an ape chauffer). Once at the glee club, goat decides to try and ruin everyone’s talent show experience through a series of goofy goat antics, and in the end gets the cute girl animal (could be a goat, but not sure). The moral of the story? Goats are bullies and being a bully is good, because you’ll get laid.

Now this goat short is merely the beginning of goat oriented cartoons to pass by our viewing eyes. All of which perpetuate goat stereotypes. Another of these is the Popeye short, “The Hungry Goat.” The title should be glaringly obvious. And the first thing the goat eats…tin cans. But beyond that, this cartoon revolves around the notion that the goat needs to eat (which is true, everything needs food). However, this goat wants to eat tin cans, but cannot do it, so decides to try and ends its life. The poor goat then runs into a giant battleship (full of metal, which is good for goats, apparently). This wonderful gingerbread palace is open to the goats taking, and he begins to eat and eat and eat…until he runs into Popeye.

I understand the idea behind this cartoon. It takes place during World War II, and metal is important to build ships and stop both the Nazis and the Japanese from winning the war. This short cannot stand for 2 reasons: The first being that it depicts officers as chumps. Well, on second thought, the idea of parodying authority was probably helpful in keeping moral up… The second reason (now the 1 and only) is that the goat is depicted as the enemy. Let us compare here for a second the true enemy (the Nazis) and goats. Goats chew things and look like this (see picture to the left). Nazis butchered millions of people and looked like this (see picture to the right). Any resemblance? (it was the only picture I could find, so just pretend with me for a minute). Comparing goats to Nazis is like comparing glow worms to the Soviets (it doesn’t make sense to me either).

I can understand wanting to prevent the goat from eating metal, which is essential in building large boats from which to smash the Nazis (everyone likes killing them, and if you don’t believe me, play Wolfenstein). However, beating up the goat is not necessary. Give him something else to eat. Like perhaps Nazis. That way, everyone wins. Think about it.