Boy Meets Dog (1938) Genre: Animated Short / Fantasy / Comedy Director: Walter Lantz Production Company: Walter Lantz Productions Runtime: Approximately 10 minutes Format: Technicolor Animation Summary: Boy Meets Dog is a whimsical animated short film originally produced as a theatrical commercial for Ipana Toothpaste but later edited and shown independently. The story follows young Bobby, a boy constantly nagged and harshly disciplined by his strict father. After being sent to bed without dinner for minor misbehavior, Bobby dreams of a fantastical world populated by fairy tale creatures. In the dream, his stern father is put on trial by elves and other magical beings for his cruelty. Ultimately, the dream ends with the father realizing the error of his ways and promising to treat Bobby more kindly. Key Features: Notable for its high-quality animation for the era, typical of Walter Lantz Productions (known for characters like Woody Woodpecker). Features early examples of fantasy dream sequences in animation, blending the real world and an imaginative dreamscape. Though originally tied to a toothpaste commercial, the final product barely references the product, allowing it to stand alone as a charming, fairy-tale-like story. Richly detailed animation, colorful backgrounds, and imaginative character designs give it a distinctive visual appeal. Historical Context: Produced in the late 1930s, a time when many animated shorts were often paired with commercial products or used for promotional purposes. Reflects common storytelling themes of the time, including parental authority, morality, and redemption. One of the more memorable early examples of Walter Lantz's work outside his major character franchises. Public Domain Status: Boy Meets Dog is in the public domain and widely available through various film archives and public domain cartoon collections.