In 1935 the concept of hippos talking was an absurdity. And getting the days mixed up, like people occasionally do (as I did all day Monday), makes the concept even more anthropomorphic. I admit the gag is dated, but the early combination of absurdity and anthropomorphism made the cartoon very famous and appreciated back then. I can see why many people today wouldn’t appreciate the humor. But I have to smile every time I think of it. But, then again, I laugh at almost anything.
There’s also the aspect of why does it matter to a hippo what day it is? I guess that may go with the anthropomorphism, that to us, it looks like them just doing the same thing day after day, but to them, they have schedules.
I know they eat at night. I saw a documentary once where a huge hippo was eating a drowned zebra. But that was in the day time. Maybe they eat grass at night and zebras for lunch.
OK, call me an illiterate dolt: Is a hippo knowing the days of the week supposed to be the funny part?
In 1935 the concept of hippos talking was an absurdity. And getting the days mixed up, like people occasionally do (as I did all day Monday), makes the concept even more anthropomorphic. I admit the gag is dated, but the early combination of absurdity and anthropomorphism made the cartoon very famous and appreciated back then. I can see why many people today wouldn’t appreciate the humor. But I have to smile every time I think of it. But, then again, I laugh at almost anything.
Thanks for the explanation. I can see it now that I’ve placed myself into the 1930s, metaphorically speaking. That was a time before the plethora of anthropomorphic cartoons in the Disney and Hanna Barbera universes became commonplace. Just the absurdity of animals speaking to each other in the 1930s was enough. Today, the animals speaking to each other must engage in witty reparté to be appreciated. Gary Larson’s “The Far Side” comes to mind.
Larsen was absolutely great. But as for animals talking, read L Frank Baum. Or Hugh Lofting .
Of course: Alice in OZ and Dr. Dolittle. Good reminder to not forget the classics.
I should have mentioned Aesop. I still have my Aesop for Children book. I loved it when I was a kid. Still do.
There’s also the aspect of why does it matter to a hippo what day it is? I guess that may go with the anthropomorphism, that to us, it looks like them just doing the same thing day after day, but to them, they have schedules.
Right. Another dimension to the gag. But here’s the best definition of humor. If it makes people laugh, it’s funny.
I know they eat at night. I saw a documentary once where a huge hippo was eating a drowned zebra. But that was in the day time. Maybe they eat grass at night and zebras for lunch.