Red Riding Hood (1931) Director: Dave Fleischer Studio: Fleischer Studios Starring: Margie Hines (voice of Red, uncredited), Billy Murray (singing voice, uncredited) Release Date: March 20, 1931 Runtime: 7 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Animated Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation | Comedy | Fantasy | Musical | Fairytale --- Summary: A jazzy, pre-Code twist on the classic folk tale, Red Riding Hood follows a sassy and independent Red as she sets off to her grandmother’s house through a forest filled with wacky, anthropomorphic creatures. The Big Bad Wolf, reimagined as a slick-talking jazz lounge creep, tries to deceive Red—but she’s more than capable of handling herself. With bouncing rhythms, surreal transitions, and musical interludes, this animated short turns a dark European parable into a rollicking 1930s nightclub act in the woods. --- Background: Released by Fleischer Studios as part of their "Talkartoons" series, Red Riding Hood reflects the era’s fascination with jazz, vaudeville, and burlesque. It was made during the early sound animation boom, when animators were blending visuals with synchronized music and experimenting with non-linear gags. Though it precedes Betty Boop's official debut, the cartoon carries her spirit—flirty, fearless, and full of energy. The animation features early rubber hose character design, expressive facial movements, and a strong connection to jazz improvisation. This version of Red Riding Hood does not follow the Brothers Grimm tale beat-for-beat—instead, it satirizes it. The Wolf’s sleaze is played for laughs, and Red is less a victim and more a knowing participant in the back-and-forth slapstick. The result is an irreverent, toe-tapping spin on a childhood story—tailored more for speakeasy patrons than nursery-goers. --- Trivia: One of the early “Talkartoon” entries, this short helped set the stage for Betty Boop’s personality-driven cartoons. The voice actors were uncredited, which was standard for cartoons of the era. This cartoon includes one of the earliest animated uses of synchronized jazz vocals in a fairy tale setting. The Wolf’s exaggerated expressions and shifting size were trademarks of Fleischer’s surreal animation style. Public domain status has led to widespread circulation in vintage cartoon DVD sets and online archives. Some dialogue and character movements parody 1920s/30s burlesque performers. --- Hashtags: #RedRidingHood #1931Animation #DaveFleischer #FleischerStudios #Talkartoons #PreCodeAnimation #JazzAgeToons #RubberHoseAnimation #ClassicCartoons #AnimatedFairyTale #VintageAnimation #PublicDomainCartoon #GoldenAgeOfAnimation #1930sCartoons #SassyRed #AnimatedMusical #SurrealComedy #CartoonHistory #BimboBettyBoopEra