Guard Dog (2004) User Reviews (8)

The psychology of a yapper.

[Polaris_DiB · 8/10 · 5 November 2005]

We've all been there, walking along a street or park, glaring at the guy with the dog that barks at EVERYTHING. Why won't that dog shut up? Why??? WHY????!!!! Well, because he's protective, of course! This short by Bill Plympton is the first short of the 2005 Animation Show produced by Don Hertzfeldt and Mike Judge, which is where I saw it. It's a great introduction to independent animation and the directions it can take. The drawings may be a little odd, but they are still cute and silly... even when they're tearing apart human beings from limb to limb. Well, one human being... and only in the dog's mind.

It's a bit predictable, but that doesn't matter too much. It's a silly romp that ends in a real drag, sure to be fun for the whole... every black humored individual out there.

--PolarisDiB

Not Exactly Your Normal 'Walk In The Park!'

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 29 August 2008]

Yilkes, this is another one of these dark-humored "cartoons," although I admit I like my fair share of them. Some are a little mean-spirited or edgy but this is okay. It seems to me, though, that somewhere I have seen this "guard dog" in another animated short which is flat-out hilarious. I can't think was it is called, however. I know the dog looks very familiar.

In this "Guard Dog," the short, fat and protective-of-his- master canine gets his wish: a walk in the park by his owner. However, this park is the "Park From Hell," as every innocent creature the dog spots suddenly turns into a killer. Whether it's a little girl and her jump rope, or a squirrel, a bird, grasshopper, butterfly, or even a flower, "nature" in this particular park devours the dog's owner. Some of it is really sadistic, like a squirrel pouring gasoline down the throat of the dog owner! He was definitely the most sadistic creature in the park.

What's really odd is that the owner gets demolished and assumed killed every time, but seconds later he's back out walking his dog with another creature ready and waiting for him. He finally does expire, and how that happens is ironic. I'll leave that up to you to discover.

Yeah, this is a little shocking at time, so beware.....this is no cartoon for little kids. If you are familiar with Bill Plympton and his strange animated efforts, you'll know to expect anything crazy! You will be entertained.

Amazingly clever

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 29 October 2008]

This is a wonderful short film and I certainly am not surprised that it nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Like most of Bill Plympton's shorts, this one is wonderfully drawn and hilarious from start to finish.

The film begins with a crazy looking dog (the same one that appeared in another Plympton short, GUIDE DOG) and it shows his thoughts as he and his master go on a walk. Like many small dogs, this one is very yappy and for once you can see why the dog is this way--as he imagines an amazing array of dangers awaiting his beloved owner. The perceived dangers are so over-the-top and silly that you can't help but laugh. From a little girl to a squirrel to a grasshopper--EVERYTHING seems to be trying to kill the guy--at least from the point of view of the dumb dog. The best, by far, is the little gag involving Ronald McDonald, but I'll say no more--just see it for yourself.

Exquisite animation and insightful writing--this is one funny short film you should not miss.

WOW! This was incredible!

[sbk_thespian · 10/10 · 24 July 2005]

I saw this at the Plymouth Independent Film Festival, and I laughed and (almost) cried. A little dog barks at everything, and this animation short depicts why he barks at it. A little dark in some places, but hilarious in others. For example, he saw a girl with a jump rope while he and his owner were walking in the park, and he barked at her because he thought that that girl would give the jump rope to his owner, and the jump rope would start spinning and cuts his head off. This went on for many other innocent creatures (grasshopper, squirrel, butterfly, flower, etc.), and the dog began to bark around at everything in order to protect his master. At the end, his leash got tangled around the master and he killed him. I loved this. See it!

Great Short

[Michael_Elliott · 15 May 2010]

Guard Dog (2004)

**** (out of 4)

Hilarious, Oscar-nominated animated short has a loyal owner taking his kind dog out for a walk and soon we see the dog grow violent towards various apparent kind things. We then learn why dogs hate little squirrels, kids, flowers, grasshoppers and various other items. This is the first film I've seen from Plympton and I became an instant fan within these short 4-minutes. This was an incredibly clever little gem that has more brains than the majority of animated films out there so it's easy to see why this has gained such a big cult following over the years. Having a loyal dog see the "truth" behind evil creatures like the squirrel is very funny and over and over we just see these creatures and how they want to kill the owner. We get a decapitation, a hanging and that's just the start. Seeing as how there's all sorts of violence and blood, this here certainly isn't for kids but adults should really dig the humor, the beautiful animation and most importantly the clever way of presenting the events in the walk through Hell Park. A true gem that even gets a wonderful joke aimed at Ronald McDonald.

One of a Kind

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 19 October 2021]

As we see this bulldog who walks with his master, imagine all the horrors that are out there. A little girl with a jump rope that has the ability to decapitate. A squirrel and a grasshopper, all providing mortal danger. And then, when we least expect it, something quite bizarre takes place. Quite a unique little presentation.

Brutal, but unfunny

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 14 March 2016]

"Guard Dog" is a 2004 short film by Bill Plympton that runs for 4.5 minutes. For the artist, it was his second Oscar nomination, but I must say I did not really enjoy the watch and I fail to appreciate this one just like I failed to appreciate "Your Face". In this one here, we have a fat little dog who has to (and wants to) save his seemingly immortal owner from all kind of deadly dangers waiting outside, mostly animals, but also a wicked little girl. But sometimes the least expected dangers are the biggest just like at the end of this short film. Animation was so-so, story was mediocre too. Not really that creative in my opinion and does not make me curious about Plympton's other works. Even the Oscar nomination may have been too much already. Then again, the winner "Ryan" is equally forgettable, just like all the other nominees. Certainly not a great year for animated shorts. I do not recommend "Guard Dog".

Shockingly Good

[injury-65447 · 10/10 · 26 May 2020]

I wasn't hooked at first but once it sucks you into the story, the premise is so clever and it's executed so well - hilarious and outlandish imaginings by the pooch. Nice ending too. I love the dog's manic nature.