Ooooooooohhh this is a big fave of mine. I have watched this one dozens of times and it still hasn't lost it's magic. I actually first came across this one through a Looney Tunes sticker album that was published in 1989 and managed to watch it on the Bugs Bunny and Tweety show a year later. It struck me then and eighteen years later it still makes me drop everything.
Why does it work so well? First of all it's a simple story but what saves it from being a maudlin cartoon about love for another is the bulldog Marc Antony. Within 7 mins he pulls off about a dozen facial expressions and goes through a variety of feelings, with his jowls flapping and over dramatic feelings makes you laugh. What more is that Jones directed six more Marc Antony shorts and they are all fantastic. This is the first one.
We kick off with a shot of a can and two little eyes pop up. At first we are lulled into thinking that this may be some grotesque evil cartoon but then we find out when that's it's a harmless, adorable kitten. The camera pans and we are introduced to the second protagfonist. The hulking bulldog Marc Antony, who runs toward the kitten ( called pussyfoot) snarling and barking.
Pussyfoot doesn't show any fear and calmly climbs on Marc Antony and starts to knead his back. Peace his regained and the dog, instantly falls in love with the kitten.
Now that a friendship is established, Jones brings us to the second part of the plot. Marc Antony arrives to his house with Pussyfoot in tow, We find out that he has a bad habit of bringing junk from outside and leaving. So his owner warns him that he cant bring anything else in the house.
from then on the cartoon focuses on Marc Antony trying to hid Pussyfoot, and he does succeed but he ends up looking like a cretin and his owner begins to doubt his sanity.
the third development occurs when Marc Antony decides to hide the kitten in the flour, just when his owner decides to bake some cookies. She scoops up a cupful of flour and those cat eyes shine from the flour cup.
Obviously Marc Antony is terrified and he tries to save the kitten from this rather grisly fate, but ends up being thrown out of the house. Unbeknowst to him Pussyfoot manages to crawl out of the mixing bowl and hide himself. Marc Antony on the other hand watches his owner blend, roll out and bake the dough and he pulls off the finest double takes on this side of Tex Avery.
What is funny here is that Marc Anthony actually thinks the cute kitten is being ground up and us, the audience knows that the kitten left the mixture. The fact that his owner doesn't even know whats happening makes the situation even funnier. It's grotesque but in a restrained way. It also shows how Jones can make something dark seem funny.
After a while Marc Antony's owner feels sorry for punishing him so she gives him a cookie.. in the shape of a kitten. The dog is already red-eyed and bawling and this offering turns him into a snivelling mess. He places the biscuit on his back and bumps into the real pussyfoot. He is overjoyed and his owner lets him keep Pussyfoot. After telling him that he has to take care of the kitten Marc Antony is sort of regretting his decision but Pussyfoot puts him on the right track again by going onto his back and snuggling into Marc Antony's fur. The cartoon ends on a silent wispy note. It's very befitting for this type of story, so the viewer ends up content and satisfied.
In a sense 'Feed the Kitty' is a very serene cartoon. The lulling pinks and yellows of the background create a calm atmosphere and not to mention that the animation and music is superb. Marc anthony is a very versatile character feelings-wise and Jones subtly uses ( well compared to what Tex Avery or Bob Clampett would have done, it is quite tame) his features to convey this. I also like the way Jones captures the Kitten's actions perfectly. As a cat owner for many years I can vouchsafe that some will climb on your back and fall asleep on it.
The cartoon has also been referenced in both Gremlins and Monsters Inc, so it does have a place in popular culture as well and lets face. Such a heartstring puller as this deserves some recognition.
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