"Smash-Up in China" is a very early animated film. While it seems very crude in quality compared to most cartoons of the 1920s, it is quite advanced for its time and is among the better animated films of the era I have seen. That being said, when you see this one today it does seem very crudely made. And, when you compare the simple Happy Hooligan character in this one to the finely drawn comic strip character, there's a HUGE difference.
The story consists of the Hooligan telling the little hooligans about his supposed adventures in China. He saves the life of the Prime Minister, meets the Emperor and nearly gets himself blown up! Like other toons of the 1910s, the artwork is very simple and backgrounds very minimalistic. Overall, it offers a few minor laughs but nothing that will make this a must-see for anyone other than film historians and nuts like me!
The story consists of the Hooligan telling the little hooligans about his supposed adventures in China. He saves the life of the Prime Minister, meets the Emperor and nearly gets himself blown up! Like other toons of the 1910s, the artwork is very simple and backgrounds very minimalistic. Overall, it offers a few minor laughs but nothing that will make this a must-see for anyone other than film historians and nuts like me!