ReFrederator Blog

Hunky and Spunky! How come this pair never became big time toon stars? Shouldn’t their faces have adorned coloring books, lunch boxes, and underoos? They had their own starring series of Max Fleischer cartoons. They had their own catchy theme music. Just like Popeye and Donald Duck, they had their own trick voices that could be easily imitated by small children and the socially awkward. They even had their own Oscar nomination. Alas. Stardom stubbornly eluded this donkey duo, and for all practical purposes, they remain a humble hoofnote in cartoon history.

Today’s film is “Barnyard Brat’”(1939), and in case you’re late to the party, let me fill you in on the Hunky and Spunky backstory: Hunky is the mama donkey, Spunky is the baby donkey and… hmmm… well, I pretty much guess that’s the whole deal here. Love these old cartoons that would seem to teach a important lesson except that the target of said moral instruction never appears to get it.

We’re having a “Singular Duos Week” at the ReFrederator Ranch. Drop us a note, and let us know how we are doing!

Dave Kirwan