The SPEAKING OF ANIMALS film short series is among the most unique and entertaining animal shows ever to come out of Hollywood (and the Winner of 2 Academy Awards!).
Created by celebrated cartoon animator Tex Avery and independent Hollywood film producer Jerry Fairbanks, this series was distributed theatrically by Paramount Pictures from 1941 through 1949.
Through the use of cutting-edge special effects, SPEAKING OF ANIMALS married Live Action film with Animation in order to gift a vast array of animal species with the ability to talk, spin yarns, fire off one-liners and sing classic songs.
Some storylines are told with animals in full costumes performing in miniature movie sets. “The Lonesome Stranger” episode is a monkey western fable told through familiar characters - The Lone Ranger & his horse Silver, Snidley Whiplash, Little Orphan Annie - all played by costumed monkeys (except for the part of Silver which is played by a Great Dane!).
The winner of two Academy Awards as Best Entertainment Short Subject, these ten minute mini-movies (originally produced in black & white utilizing the patented Duoplane Process) were paired with Paramount Pictures most important feature films and proved so popular with audiences that they were often advertised on the theater marquee along with the main feature attraction (a very uncommon occurrence for short subjects).
Many of the SPEAKING OF ANIMALS episodes also incorporate learning and educational elements as presented by the talking animals themselves.
To download a PDF listing of the specific subjects,
personalities and stories featured in “Speaking of Animals” Click Here...
