A Kick in Time

About This Movie

A Kick in Time, released in 1940, is one of those quirky little animations that somehow slipped under the radar. The story revolves around Spunky, who gets kidnapped and sold off to a rather nasty Italian peddler, and then there's Hunky, who's determined to rescue him. The animation style, reflective of the era, has this charming, rough-around-the-edges quality that adds a unique flavor to the viewing experience. The pacing is brisk, and while the narrative feels straightforward, the characters bring a certain liveliness to the proceedings. You can’t help but appreciate the practical effects they used to create the scenes, which give it a distinctive, hands-on feel that you just don’t see much anymore.

A Kick in Time is a bit of a rarity in the animation collection world, with very few prints available and whispers of its existence often lost among other classics. Most collectors know it from low-quality television broadcasts, which makes finding a good condition copy quite a treasure. The scarcity and its unusual premise give it a niche appeal, especially for those who appreciate lesser-known animations from the Golden Age. There’s definitely a curiosity factor here that might intrigue animation enthusiasts looking to expand their collections.