Banjo the Woodpile Cat

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Jay W 12/01/2024 "Banjo the Woodpile Cat" is a 1979 animated short directed by Don Bluth. I, like most, got drawn to this because of the importance this has to Don Bluth and animation history. Don Bluth is an absolute animation legend; I am a huge fan of his. Knowing this, you can see the evolution of an artist. There are many Don Bluth tropes introduced in this story that go on to be staples in his future projects. The movie follows the titular Banjo, a cat who could not behave, who seldom does what he should. He lives in a woodpile in Payson, UT with his Mom, Dad and 2 sisters. The short teaches simple lessons about being good and being grateful. It is nicely animated, has catchy songs and Banjo is one of the cutest animated cats. The short does its job. I feel bad for the characters when I should, I root for them to succeed and cheer for them when they do. On the negative side, there are some characters added in around the third act that I don't feel were good additions. With how simple the story is, it could have been trimmed down to 20 minutes. After the story has its low point, I think they spend too much time trying to cheer our main character up. Not a perfect short, but an important step on the road to animation greatness. It's not that Banjo was second rate; it's just it couldn't be great. See more 06/05/2022 It might not be as good a short film as The Small One (which doesn't have its own RT page, sadly) and does have a bit of a "work-in-progress" feel to it that was resolved by the time The Secret of NIMH came out, Banjo the Woodpile Cat's good animation, voice acting and music make it a decent television special that showed that Don Bluth could make his own animated works without Disney's help following a decade of feeling disillusioned with the company's direction in the wake of Walt's death. The story's so-so but I think Banjo is still directed with enough charm and sincerity to provide a good-enough beginning for Bluth's first non-Disney project before making one of the greatest animated films of all time in the form of the aforementioned Secret of NIMH. See more 06/25/2016 This short film demonstrates the moral to always stick to obedience and home. Running away may seem satisfying at first, but slowly it becomes the worst thing ever done. That's what so incredible about this short flick by Don Bluth. See more 03/28/2014 Fue un buen comienzo para quién es sin duda uno de los grandes de la animación. See more 07/26/2013 A very lulzy old time adventure of a short. See more 06/29/2013 A fairly good short with colorful animation for Dons first work. See more Read all reviews

Banjo the Woodpile Cat

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