Pudgy is the star and Betty has been relegated to supporting actress. It's sad that Hollywood took the spark out of our foxy heroine. Pudgy meets a nasty bulldog and aspires to be one himself. But he is not "built that way" as Betty sings to him. Soon her little dog is singing a sad tune. Quite typical/quite ordinary.
5 Reviews
Not Built for Betty
boblipton11 October 2013
Pudgy the Pup tries to behave like a big, mean bulldog, but discovers that he's not built that way in this post-Code Betty Boop cartoon.
Although there are few cartoons as good as the Pre-Code Betty Boops, the installation of the Production Code in 1934 wrecked the franchise. Gone were the short skirts, the slipping garter and the air of genial raciness that the Fleischers had built her on. Instead, they tried to extend the franchise by giving her supporting comics: Pudgy, Grampy, Buzzy Boop and, in one cartoon, Henry. Instead, Betty became a supporting character; in this one, she appears only to chide Pudgy with the title song.
The most of interesting aspect of this cartoon is the background art, a gouache affair set on a cyclorama that allowed a real depth and breadth to the cartoon. It's not enough to make this a good cartoon, alas.
Although there are few cartoons as good as the Pre-Code Betty Boops, the installation of the Production Code in 1934 wrecked the franchise. Gone were the short skirts, the slipping garter and the air of genial raciness that the Fleischers had built her on. Instead, they tried to extend the franchise by giving her supporting comics: Pudgy, Grampy, Buzzy Boop and, in one cartoon, Henry. Instead, Betty became a supporting character; in this one, she appears only to chide Pudgy with the title song.
The most of interesting aspect of this cartoon is the background art, a gouache affair set on a cyclorama that allowed a real depth and breadth to the cartoon. It's not enough to make this a good cartoon, alas.
Pudgy versus the bulldog
TheLittleSongbird11 February 2017
A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.
Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that she has not lost her charm, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.
Less good is that, thanks to the production code her sensuality is heavily muted, and it was like she had lost a large part of what made her such a unique character back then and what made her popular. She is also very much a supporting character here and has little to do, the most note-worthy being singing the catchy title song.
While a cute cartoon, 'You're Not Built That Way' is lacking in laughs and because of the lack of surreal and risqué edge thanks to the Production Code toning things down so much it feels a bit tame and bland.
However, the animation is exceptional and easily the best thing about 'You're Not Built That Way', it's beautifully drawn and very rich in detail with the backgrounds being particularly exquisite and quite imaginative. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic, with Betty's song being memorably catchy.
'You're Not Built That Way' is centred around the conflict between Pudgy and the bulldog, which thankfully is compelling enough to carry the cartoon. Pudgy is adorable as ever and the bulldog is a good scary antagonist.
In conclusion, okay but there have been many instances where the Betty Boop cartoons have been significantly more than okay. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The good news is that she has not lost her charm, she is still cute and her comic timing is good.
Less good is that, thanks to the production code her sensuality is heavily muted, and it was like she had lost a large part of what made her such a unique character back then and what made her popular. She is also very much a supporting character here and has little to do, the most note-worthy being singing the catchy title song.
While a cute cartoon, 'You're Not Built That Way' is lacking in laughs and because of the lack of surreal and risqué edge thanks to the Production Code toning things down so much it feels a bit tame and bland.
However, the animation is exceptional and easily the best thing about 'You're Not Built That Way', it's beautifully drawn and very rich in detail with the backgrounds being particularly exquisite and quite imaginative. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic, with Betty's song being memorably catchy.
'You're Not Built That Way' is centred around the conflict between Pudgy and the bulldog, which thankfully is compelling enough to carry the cartoon. Pudgy is adorable as ever and the bulldog is a good scary antagonist.
In conclusion, okay but there have been many instances where the Betty Boop cartoons have been significantly more than okay. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Exceptionally well animated but perhaps a bit too cute for some viewers.
planktonrules12 March 2014
"You're Not Built That Way" is a cartoon from the Fleischer Brothers that features Betty Boop and her dog Pudgy. Pudgy is a really cute character, though I could imagine some folks thinking he's a bit too cute!
The cartoon begins with Pudgy going outside and seeing a mean bulldog walking about--like it owned the neighborhood. This dog is tough and rather scary--and little Pudgy wants to be just like him. However, he's small and adorable and about as scary as a bunny (and I am not talking about the rabbits in "Night of the Lepus" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"!). Eventually, Betty comes to Pudgy's rescue and sings the title song.
The best thing about this short is the animation. While it's in black & white, the details (especially with the exquisite backgrounds) are amazing. A nice little cartoon short--it's slightly above average for the series and is quite fun.
The cartoon begins with Pudgy going outside and seeing a mean bulldog walking about--like it owned the neighborhood. This dog is tough and rather scary--and little Pudgy wants to be just like him. However, he's small and adorable and about as scary as a bunny (and I am not talking about the rabbits in "Night of the Lepus" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"!). Eventually, Betty comes to Pudgy's rescue and sings the title song.
The best thing about this short is the animation. While it's in black & white, the details (especially with the exquisite backgrounds) are amazing. A nice little cartoon short--it's slightly above average for the series and is quite fun.
This animated short perfectly encapsulates all the history anyone needs to know . . .
tadpole-596-91825616 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
. . . about the NBA. During the opening scenes of YOU"RE NOT BUILT THAT WAY, Betty B.'s pet mutt "Pudgy" is revealed to be a White canine with extraordinary basketball skills. Not only does Pudgy dribble the ball with his mouth and snout, but he also can bounce the orb with either ear! Mr. Naismith would be proud. However, as Pudgy is showing off his hoop skills without a care in the world, along comes Trouble in the person of an unnamed Black bulldog. This growling, snarling, ill-tempered beast ridicules the meticulous skill set, work ethic and adherence to the rules of Pudgy, swiftly breaking the smaller dog's jaw with one vicious swipe. This certainly echoes "The Punch Heard Round the World," which occurred on Dec. 9, 1977, when #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers--Kermit Washington--broke virtually EVERY element of Houston Rockets star Rudy Tomjanovich, Jr.'s head, face and skull (including his jaw) with one murderous blow. As any desultory follower of the NBA well knows, the once all-American pastime subsequently degenerated into a ROLLERBALL-styled blood sport, oftentimes labeled "thug ball," in which dribbling, ball-handling skills, finesse and shooting accuracy are virtually extinct, the brow-beaten referees rarely dare call any of the infractions left on the books and the contestants generally behave like combatants of a MMA cage match. To add in salt to injury, the NBA is about to celebrate the advent of Thug Ball by universally retiring Washington's #24! One can almost hear Mr. Naismith yelling in protest from his sarcophagus, "YOU'RE NOT BUILT THAT WAY"!!
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