The Genius of Tex Avery I

Food shortage, moral values, sexuality, do’s and dont’s, ... , society imposes a wide range of restrictions, that Tex Avery (1908-1980) spotted and interpreted in his cartoons. They were not his only sources of inspiration, yet they functioned as the backbone of many of the films the Texan-born Hollywood animator directed from 1935 to 1955, first at Warner’s, then mainly at MGM.

Apart from Blitz Wolf (1942), and a very few early films, his cartoons take place in Northern America. So they mainly depict Americans. Yet, beyond this ‘Made in Hollywood’ all-American environment, the original treatment of the themes appeals to everyone of us. The worries and motivations of Avery’s characters may be over exaggeratedly represented, and their acts may be turned into some psychotic frenzy; however madness, hunger, fear, libido and lust are universal, and openly ‘speak’ to any audience beyond laughter.