The Mel-O-Toons Collection is a series of animated shorts created in the 1960s by New World Productions. The collection includes over 200 whimsical tales, each of which teaches a moral lesson. The shorts are often cited as having a similar style and feel to the works of Walt Disney, including a focus on well-designed characters, imaginative settings, and music.
Each short story is usually around 5 minutes long and follows a simple plot. The tales range from stories about talking animals, such as "The Birthday Party" featuring a lion who throws a party for his friends, to stories about family life, such as "The Partridge Family," which follows the antics of the titular family. Other stories explore more imaginative themes, like "The Space Egg," featuring a group of aliens seeking friendship on Earth.
One of the most notable aspects of the Mel-O-Toons Collection is the music. The shorts were created to teach children moral values, and music plays a big part in their lessons. Many of the shorts feature catchy tunes that stress the message of the story, such as "A Polluted Earth" which reminds children to keep their environment clean. The music is engaging and often inspires children to sing along, helping them to remember the story's message.
What makes the Mel-O-Toons Collection unique is its commitment to teaching children. Many of the shorts are explicitly educational, teaching about history or science. For instance, "Watch the Water," an episode about water conservation, teaches children about the importance of saving water and not wasting it. "The Great Balloon Adventure" teaches about the history of hot-air balloons and how they have been used throughout the years.
Another notable feature of the Mel-O-Toons Collection is the animation style. The shorts use a mixture of 2D and stop-motion animation that gives them a distinctive look. The characters are often anthropomorphic, meaning that they display human traits like speaking and wearing clothes, but retain animalistic features such as fur or pointy ears.
Throughout the shorts, the animation is smooth and well-done, giving each story a captivating feel. The animation is colorful and playful, with characters often having exaggerated movements and expressions that are pleasing to watch. Additionally, the imaginative settings, such as "The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen," takes viewers on magical adventures and introduces them to imaginative creatures.
Lastly, the Mel-O-Toons Collection is a product of its time. Created in the 1960s, the shorts often reflect the social and cultural norms of the time. For example, shorts like "Jungle Boy" and "Jungle Girl" feature protagonists who display now-outdated gender roles. However, while some of the shorts may not align with modern values, they can provide a window into the past and teach children about how values have changed over time.
To sum up, the Mel-O-Toons Collection is a whimsical and educational series of animated shorts that aims to teach children moral values through entertaining stories. The shorts are charming and imaginative, with catchy music and well-designed characters. Though some of the shorts may be dated, they remain a delightful way to introduce children to new ideas and have fun while learning.
Mel-O-Toons Collection is a 2019 family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes.