Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. While Hugh Harmon and Rudolf Ising didn't go into daring, controversial subject territory very often, when they did the results were often quite surprising in a good way. Their output was inconsistent, some very good and more cartoons but also some rather mediocre ones, which was apparent in the Happy Harmonies series.
One of the best Happy Harmonies cartoons is one of the most daring and imaginative ones 'Bottles'. It did remind me a little of 'Pipe Dreams', which also tackled a bold subject where one really thinks of the consequences of doing what is being addressed even at a time where attitudes were different at the time. Except to me, 'Bottles' is the superior cartoon, it is not as ahead of the time or racy in content but it is more inventive and there is more of a "know what approach to take to the material" sense.
Sure, 'Bottles' is slight in story and the times where it goes into cute territory does go too far on the cutesiness and felt out of place (the baby bottle song could easily have been left out.
The animation however is great, have not seen surrealism done this imaginatively, colourfully and uncompromisingly in animation for some while. It disturbs but also intoxicates. The music is outstanding, lush, characterful with the odd haunting moment.
'Bottles' never fails to be entertaining and the surrealistic creepiness while very, very strong is not overdone or too traumatising. Loved it when the poisons came to life and the duet sequence is memorable. While the story is best forgotten, the cartoon is always very energetic and highly atmospheric. The objects/characters have a lot of personality.
In conclusion, very well done and surprisingly so. 8/10.