Ko-Ko Plays Pool (1927) User Reviews

What Have I Got in My Pockets?

[boblipton · 8/10 · 1 January 2014]

Max Fleischer and brother David are playing pool when Ko-ko and Fitz force their way out of the ink bottle. They want to play pool too, so Max obligingly draws a table for their use. However, it's not what Max draws that makes trouble for them -- it's the parts he did not.

The Ko-ko cartoons were neck and neck with Felix the Cat for best cartoon series in the silent era. the reasons for the excellence of the Ko-ko series -- and this one -- are many. It's the sense of interaction with the real world -- originally an economy measure -- and the solid and often surprising logic behind the cartoon universe and its mutability.

Here that ability to change is evident not so much in objects transforming into something else -- even though there is a startling example or two here as in the sense that by drawing a pool table, Max has called into existence pool hall loungers and a world outside that drawn room. That sort of "it makes sense after the fact" logic is what makes this one a winner.

It's pool time

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 24 February 2018]

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest and there are other cartoons of his that fit the word gem more. It is impossible to dislike 'Ko-Ko Needles Plays Pool' however as it is so enjoyable to watch and really put a smile on my face and provided plenty of laughs, a perfect antidote for when you're in a not so good mood.

Actually can find very little to fault 'Ko-Ko Plays Pool'. As said many times in other Ko-Ko cartoons, the story is slight and it can get slightly erratic on occasions.

Everything else though is done so brilliantly that any issues had with the story don't stay for long. The delight of the character interplay and how well the animation and live action is handled so seamlessly for so early on, the wild fun and the live action interplay are just a few things to like.

One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality, judging by that it's the early 20s when animation techniques were not as many, as refined, as ambitious and in their infancy. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly good with some nice visual wackiness and wit.

Pacing is lively and the bizarre and wild nature of the humour is done very imaginatively and never less than fun to watch, making the most of a strong concept. Koko as ever is very likeable and amusing. Likewise with Fitz and Max.

In conclusion, very enjoyable as one can expect from the series. 8/10 Bethany Cox