Remember that "The Milky Way" was released in 1940, and that the likes of Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, and Bob Clampett were just beginning to develop a new style of cartoon that would catch on during the war years and basically bring an end to the cutesy genre that includes this film. Indeed, if a panel in 2010 had to pick the Oscar-winner from among this film, "A Wild Hare," and "Puss Gets the Boot," this one would definitely come in third. But the panel that awarded the Oscar to "The Milky Way" was doing so in 1940, so it's not fair to condemn them when that particular style of cartoon was still popular. Having said that, I will admit that parts of the film are a bit saccharine by today's standards, particularly the narration in song. But anyone who can look at those kittens and not find them appealing has a cold, cold heart in my opinion. In fact, anyone who says the artwork is Disneyesque is paying the film the highest compliment, given that Walt Disney is the gold standard of animation. Dreadful? Hardly. I'm as big a Bugs Bunny fan as they come, and I know that even edgier cartoons like "The Simpsons" and "South Park" have pushed the envelope even more. But I can take the eight minutes of "The Milky Way" and see it as a pleasant alternative to much of today's stuff.
15 Reviews
While a decent cartoon, it probably shouldn't have won the Oscar.
llltdesq6 March 2001
This cartoon is done reasonably well, is enjoyable enough and worth seeing, but, although I can understand why it won (monumentally cute with well-drawn backgrounds and the closest thing to a Disney style short that was nominated), I don't think it should have. It's competition included the very first Tom and Jerry and a Bugs Bunny directed by Tex Avery. The Tom and Jerry should have won hands down. The Milky Way has some nice touches, but the other two were more interesting and more novel for the time. Oh, well. The Academy has got more right than wrong in Animated Short over the years. This one shows on The Cartoon Network from time to time.
People who are lactose intolerant probably should not . . .
tadpole-596-91825613 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . consume THE MILKY WAY. Seeing this picture would be equivalent to someone with a peanut allergy consuming a case of one-pound peanut butter jars at a single sitting. THE MILKY WAY is pretty much a case of "Milk, milk everywhere, filling gas pumps and the sink." In these times of high inflation, many parents are trying to think up ways to wean their older children off high-priced milk, and turn them on to cheaper Kirkland beverages. They can probably accomplish this goal by tricking their toddlers into viewing THE MILKY WAY.
Okay, But Oscar-Worthy? No
ccthemovieman-12 June 2007
This is dated, big-time, with most of the "narration" done is song and in the old-fashioned harmony of the '30s singers. It's a trip through space by three little kittens in a makeshift air balloon.
The three little kittens had lost their mittens, so it was no milk and an early bedtime for them. They gaze at the stars, see the Milky Way, and figure if they could get up there, they'd have all the milk they want. So, with the aid of a basket and three balloons, they head up into the heavens.
Where the film must have impressed Oscar voters was the depiction of the cheese-filled moon, comets, shooting stars from Mars, the big and small dippers, and all the variations of milk products in the Milky Way. All of those were portrayed fairly cleverly, but nothing exceptional. In fact, the whole thing looks pretty primitive and one wonders what kind of competition there was for the award that year. To have this win an Oscar is very puzzling. It's okay, but that's it.....just okay. I mean, it's a "cute" cartoon but not funny.
I saw this as part of a Marx Brothers DVD which a double-bill with "Go West" and "The Big Store."
The three little kittens had lost their mittens, so it was no milk and an early bedtime for them. They gaze at the stars, see the Milky Way, and figure if they could get up there, they'd have all the milk they want. So, with the aid of a basket and three balloons, they head up into the heavens.
Where the film must have impressed Oscar voters was the depiction of the cheese-filled moon, comets, shooting stars from Mars, the big and small dippers, and all the variations of milk products in the Milky Way. All of those were portrayed fairly cleverly, but nothing exceptional. In fact, the whole thing looks pretty primitive and one wonders what kind of competition there was for the award that year. To have this win an Oscar is very puzzling. It's okay, but that's it.....just okay. I mean, it's a "cute" cartoon but not funny.
I saw this as part of a Marx Brothers DVD which a double-bill with "Go West" and "The Big Store."
The Milky Way is still a pretty charming cartoon for any little kids out there
tavm8 June 2015
This cartoon was notable as the first not from the Disney studio to win the Academy Award. It depicts three kittens who are sent to bed without supper because they lost their mittens. One of them sees the Milky Way up in the stars and decides to go up there to get some milk with the other two coming along. I'll just now say this was quite charming and imaginative and if you were a child who loved cartoons, this one was probably one of the cutest shown on afternoon TV during the '70s when one came home from elementary school. Rudolf Ising was the producer/director of this one and it doesn't look that much different from what his former employer Walt Disney was still making along this time. So on that note, I recommend The Milky Way for any animation buff out there.
Kitty Heaven
slymusic4 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"The Milky Way" is an enjoyable, but not hilarious, MGM cartoon with good visual jokes, a narrative female singing trio, and some cute little speaking voices for a trio of young felines (all voiced by Bernice Hansen, apparently). Not to be confused with the Harold Lloyd talkie of the same name from the mid-1930s, this cartoon boasts having Rudolf Ising as its producer. (Ising, among other things, helped to create Bosko, a Warner Bros. offshoot of Mickey Mouse from the late twenties/early thirties.)
Here are my few favorite moments from "The Milky Way": The kitty in light blue pajamas (having the funniest voice) grumbles about being too skinny while trying to fit his fat belly in his pj's. Another kitten emerges from a slot machine almost totally encased in a pat of butter.
I forgot to mention the plot for "The Milky Way", but there is really no need. You can predict the ending, too.
Here are my few favorite moments from "The Milky Way": The kitty in light blue pajamas (having the funniest voice) grumbles about being too skinny while trying to fit his fat belly in his pj's. Another kitten emerges from a slot machine almost totally encased in a pat of butter.
I forgot to mention the plot for "The Milky Way", but there is really no need. You can predict the ending, too.
Bit of a bizarre concept but they ran with it, and the result was undeniably cute and charming.
Foreverisacastironmess12317 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I had completely forgot about that silly old rhyme until I saw this! So the little plot is about these three rambunctious kitten siblings who get sent to bed without any milk for being naughty and losing their mittens, and instead of going to sleep they instead decide to play and let their imaginations run wild and soon find themselves flying up into the stratosphere and then into the starry heavens beyond until they get to a strange fantasy land of cosmic milk-based tasty treats! As a vintage animated short this is quite fun and different but I wouldn't exactly peg it as outstanding enough to deserve an Oscar. There are more than a few Silly Symphonies as well as several marvellous Happy Harmonies that were considerably more deserving than this short.. It's perfectly fine, just shy of being great in my opinion. I don't like the design of the kittens, they look a little goofy and bobbleheaded, they're much more like characters you'd see in a Tom and Jerry cartoon than a Disney one. But the look of it does work for the very cutesy nature of the animation though, and I do love the strong visual style that it has. The rich details and colours that are put into the backgrounds and in particularly the Milky Way sequence is just gorgeous. I especially love everything in that adorable little cat homestead, it looks so cosy, I do greatly miss seeing that classic heartwarming image in animation. The best part of it is the kitten's trip through the stars that humourlessly playing up to their namesakes through sight gags, and of course the Milky Way itself is very impressive and makes clever visual jokes and references to just about every kind of milk you could think of, and to say it isn't toys or candy, the unusual things they built the sight gags around were a lot more visually rich and fascinating than you might expect! I like the way it doesn't go for the old "all-a-dream" twist at the end, for the kittens were never actually sleeping, just playing and getting carried away with their young imaginations! So while it isn't anything heavy or substantial, who cares when a short is this cute! I mean man, it's all so happy-looking - the stars, the kitties, the sheer sweet innocent whimsy of it all is positively delightful! It's definitely one of the most super-adorable old cartoons you're ever likely to come across, the Milky Way is almost too wholesome for this world and I can't help but like it. Not a perfect work but sweet and joyful enough to inject a little cheer into anyone's bad day!! X
very cute
SnoopyStyle27 November 2021
Three little kittens lose their mittens. Their mom punishes them to go to bed without any milk. They tie balloons to a basket and ride up to The Milky Way where milk is everywhere. This is adorable. This is directed by Rudolf Ising. It reminds me of when I was a kid, I didn't understand the phrase, "raining cats and dogs". So I wrote a story for school assignment. The teacher thought that I was imaginative when in reality, I was just dumb.
A Little Gem of an Animated Film
jimderrick28 February 2004
I had not seen this short before, and it is an overlooked gem. The short is based on the nursery rhyme about the three little kittens who lost their mittens. Their mother sends them to their rooms without dinner. From there, they sail on to the milky way for plenty of milk and other dairy products. Unlike some of cartoons of the era, it is easy to understand the voices of the "characters" and the technicolor hues are still vivid. Walt Disney won the Oscar for Short Subject (Cartoon) for the first eight years it was awarded (1932-39); this cartoon broke his streak and is clearly one of the best cartoons of the era. I saw it on Turner Classic Movies during the annual "31 Days of Oscar" broadcast. Hopefully, it will be distributed on DVD in the near future.
Kittens in space
Horst_In_Translation14 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Cuteness prevails in this 1940 8-minute cartoon. A trio of kittens flies up high to the Mily Way and this play on words is enough for a film with such a runtime. The Academy agreed to and gave this little MGM movie an Academy Award. I can see why. The animation is strong, the kittens look cute and the music is nice too. There is nothing really that oozes greatness from this one here, but it is a very solid watch including a trio of characters that are not too frequent, if they exist at all, in other cartoons from that time. And I guess people also needed a cute distraction from the rough political climate during these days. Pay attention to the shooting star we see here, maybe a war reference? Anyway, overall a funny little movie for young and old audiences. I recommend checking it out.
A transitional film that somehow won the Oscar
planktonrules2 September 2008
THE MILKY WAY is a bit of a transitional film from the schmaltzy cartoons of the 1930s and the more enjoyable and irreverent films of the 40s and 50s. Younger viewers might not know that in the 30s, many (way too many) cartoons were filled with sappy music and cutesy images and in many ways THE MILKY WAY is one of the last of these dreadful films. Considering that it was made by Rudolf Ising (who made a career of this style film), it isn't at all surprising that I hated the film. There's just so much singing and saccharine that I found myself wanting to see it infused with some Tex Avery sensibilities.
On the positive side, the animation was exceptional and showed that even before good writers and directors came to MGM's cartoon division in subsequent years, the animation was already stellar. In many ways, you could see the roots of the upcoming and very successful Tom & Jerry cartoons in this film. If only this film had an edge--it might have been a lot better. As it is, it's only a very pretty bit of treacle with a few nice touches.
Amazingly, it somehow garnered the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Apparently, the Academy were saps for this sort of stuff.
On the positive side, the animation was exceptional and showed that even before good writers and directors came to MGM's cartoon division in subsequent years, the animation was already stellar. In many ways, you could see the roots of the upcoming and very successful Tom & Jerry cartoons in this film. If only this film had an edge--it might have been a lot better. As it is, it's only a very pretty bit of treacle with a few nice touches.
Amazingly, it somehow garnered the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Apparently, the Academy were saps for this sort of stuff.
Space travel with kittens
TheLittleSongbird18 February 2018
Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
'The Milky Way' is fairly typical of Rudolf Ising, leaning towards the cute kind of cartoon with a lot of sentiment in alternative to the laugh a minute and hilarious kind, the latter being the one that a lot seem to prefer (understandably, though am hardly biased against the former). This approach has varied with Ising. In some instances it has been very sweet and charming, in others it can be cloying and too cutesy. Generally 'The Milky Way' belongs in the former category, despite the danger of falling into the latter with the premise.
As to the debate as to whether it deserved to win the Oscar, which some don't agree with, personally do prefer 'Puss Gets the Boot' and 'The Wild Hare' but 'The Milky Way' has a lot to like and far from undeserving of a nomination.
Yes it gets a bit too saccharine in places, like with the lyrics of the narration, and it is best perhaps to not talk about the story because there really isn't much of one.
What 'The Milky Way' does so well however eclipses these problems. The animation is rich in detail for design and backgrounds, vibrant in colour and crisp. Composer for the prime-era 'Tom and Jerry' cartoons and regular Tex Avery composer Scott Bradley provides a lush and atmospheric music score.
It is hard not to fall in love with the irresistibly adorable kittens, and they have enough likeability and personality to not be dull. 'The Milky Way' is rich in natural sweet charm and some very imaginative ideas and visuals. There is not much hilarious and the cartoon's hardly laugh a minute, but a good deal of it does raise a smile. The pace avoids being draggy.
Overall, lovely cartoon. 8/10 Bethany Cox
'The Milky Way' is fairly typical of Rudolf Ising, leaning towards the cute kind of cartoon with a lot of sentiment in alternative to the laugh a minute and hilarious kind, the latter being the one that a lot seem to prefer (understandably, though am hardly biased against the former). This approach has varied with Ising. In some instances it has been very sweet and charming, in others it can be cloying and too cutesy. Generally 'The Milky Way' belongs in the former category, despite the danger of falling into the latter with the premise.
As to the debate as to whether it deserved to win the Oscar, which some don't agree with, personally do prefer 'Puss Gets the Boot' and 'The Wild Hare' but 'The Milky Way' has a lot to like and far from undeserving of a nomination.
Yes it gets a bit too saccharine in places, like with the lyrics of the narration, and it is best perhaps to not talk about the story because there really isn't much of one.
What 'The Milky Way' does so well however eclipses these problems. The animation is rich in detail for design and backgrounds, vibrant in colour and crisp. Composer for the prime-era 'Tom and Jerry' cartoons and regular Tex Avery composer Scott Bradley provides a lush and atmospheric music score.
It is hard not to fall in love with the irresistibly adorable kittens, and they have enough likeability and personality to not be dull. 'The Milky Way' is rich in natural sweet charm and some very imaginative ideas and visuals. There is not much hilarious and the cartoon's hardly laugh a minute, but a good deal of it does raise a smile. The pace avoids being draggy.
Overall, lovely cartoon. 8/10 Bethany Cox
I Suppose They Couldn't Have Given It To 'A Wild Hare'
boblipton27 November 2021
Hugh Harman and Rudy Ising wanted to be Walt Disney, and they had the contract with MGM to pay for it. The trouble was, despite their technical proficiency and ability to pay for the best, they persisted in making cartoons of such unremitting puerility that more than eighty years later I can only wonder at their insipidity.
I guess Louis Mayer thought it was time that MGM won an Oscar for animation, and this was the least revolting one the Academy could come up with.
The Technicolor is lovely, and Rudy Ising began to direct cartoons that were amusing. Harman never got the memo.
I guess Louis Mayer thought it was time that MGM won an Oscar for animation, and this was the least revolting one the Academy could come up with.
The Technicolor is lovely, and Rudy Ising began to direct cartoons that were amusing. Harman never got the memo.
The street sign in this animated short claims that . . .
pixrox12 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
. . . Planet Earth is only eight trillion miles away from the title location. Could this actually be True? (Sounds a little off to me.) Our Solar System actually is about 27,000 lightyears away from the Black Hole at THE MILKY WAY's galactic center. Since each lightyear equates to about 5.88 trillion miles, the street sign is incorrect by many magnitudes. IF it were accurate, the entire Solar System would be instantly vaporized by said Black Hole. Bugs and Daffy NEVER scared little kids this way!!
Excellent cartoon
cartoonnewsCP6 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
the three little kittens who lost their mittens get sent to bed without milk and they dream of the milky way and how they can "get" milk. The dream takes them on a long adventure and in the end when they wake up, they don't want milk anymore. Along their adventure, they encounter geyser milk bottles and a milk toast pool.
Wonderfully animated and totally deserved its Oscar, note that the original title was intact in the reissue so you can see the original titles as intended for movie theaters on your Academy Award Warner Bros. DVD collection. Due to the pre-1986 library owned by turner.
10/10
Wonderfully animated and totally deserved its Oscar, note that the original title was intact in the reissue so you can see the original titles as intended for movie theaters on your Academy Award Warner Bros. DVD collection. Due to the pre-1986 library owned by turner.
10/10
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