Fans have discovered one of the “scariest cartoons ever” – but it’s aimed at children and isn’t even supposed to be a horror.
Released nearly 90 years ago, that cartoon is the festive special Christmas Comes but Once a Year. Made by Paramount Pictures in 1936, the old-fashioned animation features character Professor Grampy, made famous from the classic Betty Boop series.
It follows children living in an orphanage – already a spooky setting – just before Christmas. Even more traumatising, as soon as the kids begin to open their presents, the old toys fall apart in gruesome ways – the stuffing falls out of a teddy bear, a tricycle comes apart.
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Thankfully Grampy is there to save the day, and fashions new toys out of household objects for the orphans, making things out of old alarm clocks, washboard and tablecloths, before dressing up as Santa Claus. But the haunting sound of animated children wailing in true 1930s audio, plus the faded colours of the cartoon, have left fans haunted despite the happy ending.
Even the song accompanying the cartoon – the aptly named Christmas Comes but Once a Year – is pretty creepy all on its own. And turning to X – formerly Twitter – fans had plenty to say about their experiences of watching it for the first time.
One penned: “Christmas Comes But Once A Year (1936) Dave Fleischer. Everything gives off bad vibes, from the rubber hose animation, to the creepy toys the old guy makes to the weirdly live action spinning Christmas tree at the end.”
Another agreed: “I just watched this not too long ago with my dad! It really is freaky, honestly what had me concern that all the toys the old man made was going to break again!” A third fan said: “I had this on an old VHS when I was little, I used to love it but at the same time it was truly haunting. Watching the toys fall apart upset me every time.”
While someone else pointed out: “I watched a couple of cartoons from the 30s yesterday. How times have changed. Old man walks into an orphanage and raids practically every implement in the place to make gifts for the kids. ‘Where’s the staff?’ is what I’m thinking. It’s called Christmas Comes but Once a Year.”
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The cartoon is now in the public domain – much like Disney’s beloved Steamboat Willie, the earliest version of Mickey Mouse. And if you want more creepy childhood content, a trailer for a new Mickey slasher film has already been released.
That film is Mickey’s Mouse Trap, which follows Alex, stuck working a late shift at the local arcade on her 21st birthday.. Her friends decide to surprise her at work, but a masked killer – dressed as Mickey Mouse – has his own game to play, which threatens the survival of all the young pals.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
