Toons You Might've Missed: Hunky & Spunky in You Can't Shoe a Horse Fly (1940)

 When you think of the Fleischer brothers' body of work, what comes to mind? Popeye. Betty Boop. Superman. Out of The Inkwell.

But before Popeye could make his color debut, the Fleischers introduced Hunky & Spunky, mother & son burros introduced in a self-titled, Oscar nominated short in 1938. There would be a few more over the course of three years (1938-41), before Hunky was retired. Spunky would later appear periodically, including guesting in a pair of Casper shorts for Famous Studios, Paramount's successor to the Fleischers.

From 1940, here's "You Can't Shoe a Horse Fly", or how horse flies can easily mistake donkeys for horses.....!

I do recall seeing Spunky in one of his appearances with Casper, and we'll try to find that. There is a reason for the obscurity, though.

Rating: C.