The titular song was old-fashioned, but so beautifully heartwarming. This Fleischer short seemed to be a bit of an oddity in that it's completely normal.. A positive and cute little tale of starvation, woe and a dream come true, with no monsters or crazy mayhem whatsoever. I liked the way the elaborately detailed animation reflected the different moods, with the visuals of the first half being very stark and freezing, capturing the desperate poverty of the children's lives. And it stays that way until they go to sleep and escape grim reality and drift away into sweet Dreamland, a sugar-coated fantasy paradise that offers all the limitless cakes, candies and toys they long for in the real world, but really know they can never have. The colouring and richness of the animation at that point becomes much more brighter and cheerful, almost festive in a way. The entire short has a definite Christmassy feel about it, and there's not so much as a Christmas tree. The revolving 3-D-like effects, while looking a bit weird and surreal, are still impressive today and give the short a touch more depth and magic. However, the animation and design of some of the characters was a bit spotty and rough in places, such as in the facial details of the perhaps sickeningly adorable little siblings who have strange plain black dots where expressive eyes should be, and the mother's spaghetti arms looked very poorly done. And sometimes the stubby characters looked almost out of place amidst such gorgeously detailed surroundings. The mother sounded and looked somewhat like an aged Olive Oyl! Not surprising since she was voiced by Mae Questel in a rare softer and more maternal voice role for a change. I found it extraordinarily moving when the boy tells his mother that he's still hungry and her face just crumbles and she cries helplessly. That scene really touched me, I love the way they know why she's upset and tell her that it's okay and that they're not that hungry to comfort her, reassuring her of their love. It even made me tear up a bit the first time I saw it. It's very sad and poignant and makes you feel something a little deeper, as the best kinds of cartoon often do. You feel a little sad, but the more distressing parts of it do set up the ending very well. There's such a warm sense of charity and kindness at the end when the urchins awaken from their idealistic happy dream of satisfied hunger to find a real feast waiting for them. The message is fairly simple but very true and endearing. Be grateful for what you have, appreciate the little things, empathise with the less fortunate... Never stop dreaming, and boy am I hungry!
14 Reviews
A Charming Depression Era Delight
Rainey-Dawn10 May 2021
The story is of a poor woman with two hungry children who pass by a bakery one day to see all the sweets in the window. They drool over the wonderful food. The baker sees them and goes in to get the poor kids a treat but the children are gone when he comes back - luckily the two men know where the kids live. Meanwhile, the kids arrive home where all their mother has is stale, hard bread to feed them. They eat then off to bed where the two kids dream of a wonderland of baked goods, candy, ice cream, popcorn, a carousel and other sweet delights. The next day the children awake a bit depressed but enter into the kitchen where the baker and his friends have brought a feast for the entire poor family.
A colourful and beautiful little heartwarming tale of a better tomorrow.
9/10.
A colourful and beautiful little heartwarming tale of a better tomorrow.
9/10.
How Can One Dismiss Kindness
Hitchcoc13 October 2021
These are really poor children with a mother who is at her wit's end to feed them. They are out in the cold collecting wood for a fire in their little hovel. They live for their dreams which take them out of this for a few hours. But don't underestimate the love of strangers. This is depression era and many found themselves in this type of poverty. Nice color animation.
A truly charming and well-made gem
Mary-1829 July 2001
Somewhere in Dreamland is very typical of the style of Dave Fleischer--two angelic kewpie-like children live in terrible poverty but dream of a world of limitless candy and toys. In spite of the overly cute premise and the fact that these children are interchangeable with the children in every other Fleischer cartoon, Somewhere in Dreamland is an adorable film, which excellent animation, especially in the dream sequence. For such an early cartoon, the level of detail is quite impressive--when the kids go to bed, both their pajamas and their blankets are shabby and ridden with holes. It's a shame that cartoons like this are no longer very popular--it's hard for kids today to relate to a cartoon where every body behaves incredibly saintly, and the only villain they have to face is the ever-looming Depression. But Somewhere in Dreamland is a lovely gem that remains a tribute to the inspiring optimism of the 1930's.
i have seen this cartoon
dreamcicles4me10 November 2004
i feel like this cartoon is a good way to introduce "the way things were " you don't find a lot of cartoons with the quality of a good deed these days it was my favorite growing up i saved the movie and now is my son's fav.... the best 3 dollars my father ever spent, and my son and i sing the song somewhere in dreamland every night,it fills my heart with warmth every time i see the ending when they wake up to see all the food,also is a good way to show how we take things for granted. it makes me happy to know my family can still watch the same shows i grew up on also my parents and grandparents,............overall i think this is one of the best older cartoons,in my opinion it is up there with the wizard of oz
Good Holiday Charm
Michael_Elliott30 November 2012
Somewhere in Dreamland (1936)
*** (out of 4)
Animated short from Dave Fleischer has two poor children crossing in front of a bakery where they see all sorts of great food. They then have to walk home where their mother (voice of Mae Questel) has just hard bread for them to eat. That night they go to bed hungry but dream about a place where there's all sorts of food. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this film as at first I wasn't sure much was going to happen. I thought the storytelling was extremely good and I liked all the little points that Fleischer is able to get across without being preachy or having it in your face. I also thought the title song was quite catchy and done in a very good way. As you'd expect, the animated is quite good from start to finish and I really liked the Dreamland sequence because, well, it really did seem like a real dream. I won't reveal the twist at the end but it's quite charming and makes it easy to see why this short has turned up on many Holiday collections.
*** (out of 4)
Animated short from Dave Fleischer has two poor children crossing in front of a bakery where they see all sorts of great food. They then have to walk home where their mother (voice of Mae Questel) has just hard bread for them to eat. That night they go to bed hungry but dream about a place where there's all sorts of food. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this film as at first I wasn't sure much was going to happen. I thought the storytelling was extremely good and I liked all the little points that Fleischer is able to get across without being preachy or having it in your face. I also thought the title song was quite catchy and done in a very good way. As you'd expect, the animated is quite good from start to finish and I really liked the Dreamland sequence because, well, it really did seem like a real dream. I won't reveal the twist at the end but it's quite charming and makes it easy to see why this short has turned up on many Holiday collections.
Pretty charming
Horst_In_Translation13 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Somewhere in Dreamland" is a 9-minute cartoon from 1936, so this one is already over 80 years old now and if numbers don't do it for you let me tell you that this was released the very year that Hitler hosted the Olympic Games in Berlin. If you read the names of director Dave Fleischer and voice actress Mae Questel, you should know that here we got experts at work. It is a cartoon in color, which should not be taken for granted, but it really helps in the depiction of Dreamland in here. It deefinitely is a place you want to be, even as a grown-up. I know I did. The voice acting for the small as well as grown-up characters was as goid as the music here. Very catchy. This was certainly fun to watch and listen to. Here and there it may seem a bit meager in terms of the story-telling component, even for such a short movie, but the looks of it make more than up for this. Certainly a good watch we got here and I give it a thumbs-down and recommend checking it out. Not only during the holidays and this was not even a Christmas release, even if it is seen by many (like some list creators to the right) seen as a hloliday movie. That's all folks. Watch it.
Great Cartoon
cornelia_prim14 November 2006
I grew up watching this cartoon every Christmas; it's a family tradition that I treasure. It's about two orphans who struggle to survive everyday with their single mom. They have barely enough food to eat and yet they are grateful for even the smallest gesture of kindness. This cartoon isn't like the simple shallow Christmas stories that we all see today on TV. It has a deep message and represents an unforgettable era in our history. Even though I did not live during the Great Depression, I totally get the message in the cartoon. It's a timeless classic that will stay with you always and I recommend it to anyone with a child. This touching film will help a child learn to appreciate their comfortable surroundings. Now that I'm a mom I am happy to have purchased this film so my daughter can watch it, just like my mother and grandmother did when they were young.
A Depression Era Cartoon Done Right
Vimacone29 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The bulk of Fleischer's one shot filmography is largely forgotten today. In attempt to compete with Disney's Silly Symphonies, they came up with Color Classics, which don't live up to their name for the most part. They come nowhere near the aesthetics and heart of a Disney cartoons of that era (and the artists knew it). There are however some bright spots.
One thing that the Fleischer's did that the other animation studios didn't do, is directly address social issues and injustices at the time. Some of these attempts gave the Fleischer's a gritty and uneasy aesthetic. This title addresses the harsh realities of the depression that many families faced. All the more harsher when children came home without any food on the table.
While the dream sequence is done similar to fantasies of other studios, the Fleischer's live action setback system done via the stereoptic system doesn't jibe with the two dimensional animation. It often creates an uncanny valley effect that can look unappealing to the viewer.
The best part of this short is not the dream sequence, but the ending where the community (a baker, butcher, and tailor) come together to provide for the family in their time of need. That message of charity was never really done by the other studios.
This plot of this entire cartoon would be great for an episode of a modern show.
One thing that the Fleischer's did that the other animation studios didn't do, is directly address social issues and injustices at the time. Some of these attempts gave the Fleischer's a gritty and uneasy aesthetic. This title addresses the harsh realities of the depression that many families faced. All the more harsher when children came home without any food on the table.
While the dream sequence is done similar to fantasies of other studios, the Fleischer's live action setback system done via the stereoptic system doesn't jibe with the two dimensional animation. It often creates an uncanny valley effect that can look unappealing to the viewer.
The best part of this short is not the dream sequence, but the ending where the community (a baker, butcher, and tailor) come together to provide for the family in their time of need. That message of charity was never really done by the other studios.
This plot of this entire cartoon would be great for an episode of a modern show.
Whoever knew that childhood dreams could be so magical?
TheLittleSongbird27 December 2014
One of Fleischer Studios' best and most imaginative. The high point is the animation, which still looks amazing. The colours are vibrant and atmospheric and the backgrounds are smooth and fluid with great attention to detail whether in the dreamland or showing the children's poverty. What makes the animation so good though is the use of the rotograph technique used in the dreamland(never in animation has there been a more magical dreamland, one which any poor child would want to stay in forever) which is put to stunning use, it is in Somewhere in Dreamland with the merry-go-around cake that signals one of the studio's most remarkable animation moments. The music has the right amount of whimsy and energy as well as being orchestrated so beautifully, and the title song is one of the catchiest of any Fleisher Studios cartoon. The story is one of the most imaginative of their cartoons too, and is difficult to resist. Yes it's sentimental and it's cutesy but they don't mar the cartoon at all, rather it is a lot of fun as well as adorable and touching. The children are cute and engaging without being too sickly sweet, carrying the cartoon nicely, and the mother while with a small role is a good character as well. Mae Questel's voice acting is lovingly maternal and sympathetic in some of her more subtle voice work. In conclusion, a magical cartoon from Fleischer Studios and among their best. 10/10 Bethany Cox
This picture is considered to be every dentist's . . .
pixrox129 September 2023
. . . dream. The formula for success in the tooth business as outlined in SOMEWHERE IN DREAMLAND begins with a family of starving kids. Such a clan is more than likely to feature mouths full of cavities, as proper preventative oral hygiene is not cheap. Next, toss in all the sweets you can eat. Add buckets of popcorn and slippery butter to the mix, as kernels failing to pop are one of the surest ways to break off precarious cusps and previously filled teeth, if any. What you've achieved so far is a perfect recipe for total tooth disaster. This is how Real Life vacations in DREAMLAND get funded--for those who do the drilling, at least.
I love this charming cartoon
superuser14006 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love this charming cartoon. It starts off sad, with the children poor and starving, wanting a better life. A bunch of shop owners decide to do something, but i will get to that later. They have their dinner, and go to sleep, But what a dream they have! A wonderland of tasty food and fun toys, with stunning animation. The merry-go-round scene has the best animation, With a pseudo-3D look that is amazing. Another wonderful scene is where they go to the popcorn field, with popcorn falling from the sky! The dream continues, but then the dream ends, with the children back poor again. But then something amazing happens, Those shop owners i was talking about hold a feast for the children, making them happy! I really love this cartoon, and I'm glad i have it on DVD, as i can watch it again and again.
A Classic
lizsheridannj23 December 2007
I grew up in Northern NJ. Each Thanksgiving, after the Macy's parade was finished, WPIX (channel 11) showed "March of the Wooden Soldiers" with Laurel & Hardy. As long as I could remember, my sister and I watched this until I was 16, and they stopped the tradition.
Invariably, after the movie, there was filler time. They showed "Somewhere in Dreamland" as well as another classic Christmas cartoon that showed Santa's workshop (I REALLY wish I could remember the name of this cartoon.) These cartoons initiated the Christmas season for my sister and I as much as the parade or "Soldiers" did.
Recently, at my holiday party, someone won "Santa Conquers the Martians" as a gift. The DVD included Fleischer's "Somewhere in Dreamland." As we watched the cartoon, I felt as if I was 7 years old. What a great cartoon!
Invariably, after the movie, there was filler time. They showed "Somewhere in Dreamland" as well as another classic Christmas cartoon that showed Santa's workshop (I REALLY wish I could remember the name of this cartoon.) These cartoons initiated the Christmas season for my sister and I as much as the parade or "Soldiers" did.
Recently, at my holiday party, someone won "Santa Conquers the Martians" as a gift. The DVD included Fleischer's "Somewhere in Dreamland." As we watched the cartoon, I felt as if I was 7 years old. What a great cartoon!
lovely
Kirpianuscus28 January 2023
A lovely Dave Fleischer short animation, seductive for drawings, details, the spoon of nostalgia and the social message, for a dream easy to be assumed by poor people and about generosity.
Sure, an idylic story , its dosis of unrealism being the basic sin, at first sight. But significant, in this case , is the social context, the memories about Great Depression, in its many senses being not so far.
Off course, the children are exactly the same from many films by Mr. Fleischer, reminding, too much, the Renaiscence little angels.
But the care for details defining the trip in Dreamland, the imaginative solutions and the morning after are just beautiful and their are the most significant aspects in this case.
In short, just lovely..
Sure, an idylic story , its dosis of unrealism being the basic sin, at first sight. But significant, in this case , is the social context, the memories about Great Depression, in its many senses being not so far.
Off course, the children are exactly the same from many films by Mr. Fleischer, reminding, too much, the Renaiscence little angels.
But the care for details defining the trip in Dreamland, the imaginative solutions and the morning after are just beautiful and their are the most significant aspects in this case.
In short, just lovely..
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