Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Sheriff Hoot Kloot Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 3, 2017

For “Hoot Kloot,” the DePatie/Freleng animation machine turns their attention to the Wild West, creating shorts (which ran between 1973 and 1974) that poke fun at the genre’s conventions and characters, doing so with aggressive cartoon sensibilities. Going full steam ahead with wordplay, “Hoot Kloot” manages to be a little more than a basic offering of cowboy slapstick, finding the writers having fun with the possibilities of the series, which grows wackier as it rolls along. There’s always a primary visual of Hoot Kloot and his limping horse, Fester, but when the production really winds up, there are amusing supporting characters and engaging animated realms to explore.

Hoot Kloot is a purely cartoon creation. A diminutive lawman, Hoot Kloot doesn’t really have much in the way of legs, carrying himself as largely as he can through attitude, lording over the residents of Cactus Gulch with a massive hat and glasses. His partner is an old horse named Fester, who’s troubled with leg issues that keep him in complaining mode, creating a testy dynamic between the pair as they venture out into the Badlands to collect bad guys. The rogue’s gallery for “Hoot Kloot” is limited, but there’s fun to be had with the likes of Billy the Kidder and “Wild Bill” Hiccup, while other notable western icons such as Calamitous Jane pop up to complicate the lawman’s day. The production is wise to populate the shorts with colorful characters, as plotting is basically limited to travel sequences and visual jokes, including a few that deliver some insensitive depictions of Native American culture (DePatie-Freleng adored any opportunity for unfunny stereotype humor). Thankfully, unlike “The Blue Racer,” “Hoot Kloot” only periodically samples ugliness.

Episodes

“Kloot’s Kounty” (6:37)
Responding to a complaint about missing sheep, Sheriff Hoot Kloot and horse Fester target the villain Crazy Wolf for arrest, chasing the animal across the open land and into a nearby town.

“Apache on the County Seat” (6:25)
Crossing the badlands on the hunt for a large Native American, Kloot disrupts a tribal ceremony, also enduring complaints from Fester, who doesn’t have the energy to move.

“The Shoe Must Go On” (6:21)
Commencing a crime drive, Kloot is forced to deal with Fester’s complaints when the horse refuses to go anywhere without new shoes.

“A Self-Winding Sidewinder” (6:29)
Up for re-election in his town, Kloot attempts to win over the locals, trying to be helpful, soon discovering Crazy Wolf is running against him, organizing a dirty campaign.

“Pay Your Buffalo Bill” (6:21)
Crazy Wolf sets up shop in town as a snake oil salesman, with Kloot and Fester sampling the crook’s tonic, which alters their body shape in strange ways.

“Stirrups and Hiccups” (6:28)
With “Wild Bill” Hiccup on the loose, Kloot and Fester are on edge, taking on a dim-wit deputy, who embarks on a problematic training period.

“Ten Miles to the Gallop” (6:30)
With Fester unable to keep up with Crazy Wolf and his new motorcycle, Kloot takes his new car out for a spin, dealing with fueling issues and auto theft as he struggles to catch up to the taunting crook.

“Phony Express” (6:30)
After attending a convention in San Francisco, Kloot and Fester elect to carry a bag of mail during their trip home to Cactus Gulch, grabbing attention from potential thieves and wildlife.

“Giddy Up Woe” (6:28)
After being humiliated by a bank robber, Kloot decides to upgrade his horse to a faster model, only to find his new companion to be problematic when it comes to training.

“Gold Struck” (6:29)
Facing a Cactus Gulch strike from riders refusing to cross the badlands, Kloot and Fester take on the challenge of gold delivery, driving a stagecoach through dangerous terrain.

“As the Tumbleweed Turns” (6:29)
Widow Watley’s ranch is situated in the way of a potential railway path, requiring Kloot to venture to the property to talk her into a move, only to encounter her enormous guard dog.

“The Badge and the Beautiful” (6:39)
Calamitous Jane arrives in Cactus Gulch, romantically sparking to Kloot, who attempts to avoid her presence with help from Fester.

“Big Beef at the O.K. Corral” (6:20)
Receiving a report of cattle rustlers in the area, Kloot decides to investigate, coming into contact with Billy the Kidder, who enjoys foiling the lawman’s plans to arrest him.

“By Hoot or by Crook” (6:33)
Trying to get inside the mind of crook The Fox, Kloot is mistaken for the villain, trying a new approach to getting his man, returning some stolen money in the process.

“Strange on the Range” (6:19)
Tricked by Billy the Kidder, who escapes from jail, Kloot tries to corral the wily criminal, who leads his nemesis into the desert.

“Mesa Trouble” (6:32)
Notorious bad guy Big Red is on his way to Cactus Gulch, forcing Kloot to find deputies to help him take on a proven menace.

“Saddle Soap Opera” (6:28)
Returning to San Francisco, Kloot reunites with Judge Soy Bean, who needs help sneaking out of a hotel and onto a train, hoping to avoid his many enemies.

Sheriff Hoot Kloot Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation, "Hoot Kloot" does well with colors, hitting primaries with power, covering desert oranges, greenery, and blue clothing. Detail is also agreeable (like "The Blue Racer," "Hoot Kloot" goes soft with outsourced episodes), finding animation textures and supplying a clear look at backgrounds, which add some additional visual jokes from time to time. Delineation in secure. Source isn't problematic, only encountering speckling, some scratches, and a few damaged frames.

Sheriff Hoot Kloot Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the basics of the "Hoot Kloot" listening experience, though age is detected, dulling sharpness. Dialogue exchanges and comedic timing register acceptably, handling accents and screaming matches without distortion. Scoring isn't precise, but it connects with tone, adding a cartoon push to the proceedings. Sound effects are commanding.

Sheriff Hoot Kloot Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentaries include filmmaker Greg Ford on "Kloot's Kounty," cartoon writer William Hohauser on "Apache on the County Seat," historian Jerry Beck on "The Shoe Must Go On" and "Gold Struck," author Mark Arnold on "Pay Your Buffalo Bill" and "Strange on the Range," and Bob Balser on "The Badge and the Beautiful."

• "Range Rovers" (20:52, HD) discusses the making of "The Blue Racer" and "Hoot Kloot," with historians Beck and Arnold joining animator Art Leonardi, character layout artist Martin Strudler, ink-and-paint artist Barbara Donatelli, and animation reviewer Will Friedwald for an inspection of creative inspirations. While the featurette is a bit heavy on cartoon clips, information is valuable, including a reveal that some of the shorts were outsourced to other countries, identifying differences in artistry. Memories of Friz Freleng are also shared, pointing out how the animation legend often became part of his creations, with characters inheriting his short stature and odd temper.

• "Art for Art's Sake" (19:47, HD) focuses on Art Leonardi, a critical member of the DePatie-Freleng organization, covering his professional history and select achievements in the industry, including providing animation the title sequences for "Revenge of the Pink Panther" and "Trail of the Pink Panther," which are presented without its original soundtrack.

Sheriff Hoot Kloot Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hoot Kloot" occasionally makes its way to San Francisco, but there's routine to Cactus Gulch troublemaking the filmmakers stick to, leaving the shorts a bit thin on incident. However, character is cut thickly, and Bob Holt's performance as the sheriff is wonderfully silly, playing up big screen authority that always seems to end in disaster. When all else fails "Hoot Kloot," it has the visual of a tiny cowboy who can't connect the dots, riding the open range on the back of a limping horse. It isn't much, but it's funny.