If Hell’s Bells were shown on a hip late-night cartoon show today, you’d have a hard time convincing audiences that it was made over 85 years ago. Every single thing about it works, from the dark yet hilarious gags to the experimental boundary-pushing animation to the tongue-in-cheek use of familiar musical themes. To a casual Disney fan, the look may be surprising, with a feel closer to that of shorts from the Fleischer Studio. But fans of Ub Iwerks animation, particularly the wild shorts he did when he ran his own studio, Hell’s Bells is a perfect precursor to cult classics like Balloon Land.
In just over 12 hours, the D23 Expo begins. If you’re attending the event, you’ll have the first opportunity to check out The Silly Symphony Collection vinyl box set!
