The Moose Who Fell to Earth

Bullwinkle comes in for a crash landing before the closing credits of “Rocky and His Friends.” Everyone says how lousy the Jay Ward animation is but I really like these drawings.



Judging by Keith Scott’s book The Moose That Roared, the original opening and closing animation was done by freelancers in Hollywood, meaning Ward hired veteran theatrical animators who knew what they were doing. Bullwinkle has long, slender fingers that whoever animated this used to his advantage.



Even Rocky twiddles his fingers.



Mind you, Rocky really didn’t need interesting poses or even good animation. The quickly-paced comedy and top voice acting carried the cartoons. That’s why they’re loved today. And the Ward studio’s political satire could be used today, too.