Toonerville Trolley: Toonerville Picnic (1936) Director: Burt Gillett Studio: Van Beuren Studios Starring: (Voice cast uncredited) Release Date: 1936 Runtime: 7 minutes Format: Black-and-White, Animated Short Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation, Comedy, Short --- Summary: *Toonerville Picnic* follows the familiar antics of the Toonerville Trolley and its colorful passengers as they embark on a chaotic picnic outing. From runaway trolleys to mischievous animals and slapstick mishaps, the short captures a series of humorous events that escalate in classic cartoon fashion. The story emphasizes timing, exaggeration, and visual comedy, delivering a lighthearted and entertaining experience for audiences. --- Background: Produced by Van Beuren Studios, this cartoon is part of the Toonerville Trolley series based on Fontaine Fox’s popular comic strip. Director Burt Gillett, who had prior experience directing early Disney shorts, oversaw the production, ensuring smooth animation and effective comedic pacing. The series was popular in the 1930s for its whimsical portrayal of small-town life and quirky characters, appealing to both children and adults. --- Trivia: * The Toonerville Trolley series drew directly from Fontaine Fox’s comic strip, which was in wide circulation from 1913 to 1955. * Van Beuren Studios was known for producing economical, fast-paced animated shorts to compete with Disney and Fleischer Studios. * As with most 1930s shorts, the voice actors were typically uncredited. * This short highlights early American animation’s focus on exaggerated slapstick and charming, chaotic scenarios. --- Hashtags: \#ToonervilleTrolley #ToonervillePicnic #VanBeurenStudios #BurtGillett #ClassicAnimation #1930sCartoons #ComicStripAdaptation