Looney Tunes - Daffy Doc - Toonstalgia

Looney Tunes - Daffy Doc

Toonstalgia

Quickly

Dr. Daffy wants a patient.

Thoughts and Details

This cartoon was released in 1938 during the Polio outbreak in the United States. An outcome of Polio could be paralysis of the diaphragm which would require temporary or in some cases long-term aided respiration. Many people were put into an "iron lung" while they recovered. I explained the iron lung and polio to Dr. Texas. He's 7. Unfortunately, world events have given him a strong understanding of the concept of viruses, epidemics and pandemics. 

This might give you the impression it was a bummer or he didn't like it. He did. He tends to favor cartoons that are a little more kinetic and surprising. Ironically, this cartoon has a very smooth plot. It reminds me of a 

This is the fifth Daffy cartoon. A few of these cartoons play on an idea that all ducks are daffy. In "What Price Porky", black ducks declare war on Porky and his chickens. This cartoon continues the characterization of him being ridiculous and reinforces the idea that he can and does do things because he's insane enough to do them.

Learning to Draw Daffy

This isn't the iconic Daffy. This Daffy fits his name as well as his gloves don't. It's a Daffy drawn while the character was in flux from cartoon to cartoon. I am very fond of this stage of Daffy.

Not everyone can learn from instructional videos. I find watching videos to be a passive activity. I learn by doing. I do my best to find resources that work for me.

A quick search turned up a character sheet on this style Daffy. It's not a typical model sheet, it lacks the convention of describing the details required to draw the character on model. It's basically step by step directions. It helps understand the shape of the character. It also helped me to put down my pen and grab my Blackwing.

I also paused my way through the short studying the look and the movement.

All About the Details

The plot of the cartoon reminds me of the Marx brothers in all the best ways. Daffy, the quackers doctor, feels put out when he's cast out of the surgical room for being too noisy. He searches for a patient and finds Porky passing by. A quick application of sedative (with a mallet) and Daffy has his patient. He resolves to perform a surgery. Porky flees. Nothing is really resolved. It ends with a chase into the iron lung.