Curious penguins investigate an abandoned cabin, heedless of their mother's warning that "curiosity killed the cat."Curious penguins investigate an abandoned cabin, heedless of their mother's warning that "curiosity killed the cat."Curious penguins investigate an abandoned cabin, heedless of their mother's warning that "curiosity killed the cat."
Mae Questel
- Mother Penguin
- (voice)
Dorothy Compton
- Title Vocalists
- (uncredited)
Beatrice Hagen
- Title Vocalists
- (uncredited)
Jack Mercer
- Penguins
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Mary Moder
- Title Vocalists
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Dave Fleischer
- Myron Waldman(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsA polar bear, which is a uniquely Northern animal, chases the penguins which are uniquely Southern.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Mother Penguin: [singing] Curiosity killed the cat. / Curiosity did just that. / The little cats had nine lives it's true, / But only one life was given to you. / So it isn't so wise to snoop, / Or you'll finish up in the soup. / You better just stop right where you're at. / Wopple-up-gup, remember that! / Curiosity killed the cat!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Shining Time Station: And the Band Played Off (1989)
- SoundtracksCuriosity Killed a Cat
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Timberg
Lyrics by Bob Rothberg
Sung by the mother penguin and played often throughout the picture
Featured review
The consequences of curiosity
Fleischer Studios' "Color Classics" cartoons were very uneven. There were good to wonderful ones such as 'Somewhere in Dreamland', 'Poor Cinderella', 'Greedy Humpty Dumpty', 'Play Safe' and 'Christmas Comes But Once a Year'. There were also average at best ones such as 'Little Lambkin' and all of the Hunky and Spunky cartoons ('Barnyard Brat' being the worst and one of the series' worst). And there was a good number that were in between, none of which being terrible while still being nothing special.
'Peeping Penguins' is one of the in between "Color Classics" cartoons, despite being made in one of Fleischer's better overall periods (with exceptions such as the later toned down Betty Boop cartoons). It is cute, well made and scored but also somewhat bland and routine with more energy and humour needed, making for a pleasant enough effort but nothing special which as said is the general standard that the in between "Color Classics" cartoons have.
Once again, the animation and music are the stars. The animation is vibrant, atmospheric, meticulously detailed and fluid, the background art being especially good and the snow is very strikingly used. The music is lively in character and the lushness and clever instrumentation is very pleasant on the ear. Oh and the song is very catchy. It is cute without being too saccharine, does have its charm and there are a few inspired and amusing moments. Like with the fire. Part of me was not expecting the ending either.
The penguins could have been more distinct from each other in personality but are pretty adorable and amuse, compelling enough characters. Jack Mercer has done better in the individuality department but still does solidly.
However, the story is very thin and feels rather run-of-the-mill with not enough surprises, making it come over as very predictable as well. More consistent energy wouldn't have gone amiss too. 'Peeping Penguins' is not completely without entertainment value, but the gags could have been more in number and only a couple of them are properly inspired, competent but not much more.
Despite good intentions, the moral could have been handled with much more subtlety, for my tastes it was laid on too thick.
In conclusion, nice but unexceptional. 6/10
'Peeping Penguins' is one of the in between "Color Classics" cartoons, despite being made in one of Fleischer's better overall periods (with exceptions such as the later toned down Betty Boop cartoons). It is cute, well made and scored but also somewhat bland and routine with more energy and humour needed, making for a pleasant enough effort but nothing special which as said is the general standard that the in between "Color Classics" cartoons have.
Once again, the animation and music are the stars. The animation is vibrant, atmospheric, meticulously detailed and fluid, the background art being especially good and the snow is very strikingly used. The music is lively in character and the lushness and clever instrumentation is very pleasant on the ear. Oh and the song is very catchy. It is cute without being too saccharine, does have its charm and there are a few inspired and amusing moments. Like with the fire. Part of me was not expecting the ending either.
The penguins could have been more distinct from each other in personality but are pretty adorable and amuse, compelling enough characters. Jack Mercer has done better in the individuality department but still does solidly.
However, the story is very thin and feels rather run-of-the-mill with not enough surprises, making it come over as very predictable as well. More consistent energy wouldn't have gone amiss too. 'Peeping Penguins' is not completely without entertainment value, but the gags could have been more in number and only a couple of them are properly inspired, competent but not much more.
Despite good intentions, the moral could have been handled with much more subtlety, for my tastes it was laid on too thick.
In conclusion, nice but unexceptional. 6/10
helpful•10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 20, 2019
Details
- Runtime6 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content