OTHER THAN THE central character of a love starved skunk who has no problem with trans-species relationships, there is nothing to distinguish this entry into MGM's animation department. That's no to say that it isn't interesting, enjoyable and full of yuks, for it is. FILLING THE ONE reel of cartoon with such a slim premise is made possible with Director Avery's inclusion of multiple examples of two of his favorite tools. Those would be the sight gag and its literary cousin, the play on words or "pun", if you will. WELL, ANYWAY THE cartoon was not meant to be the main event; but rather a sort of warm up for the movie going public of the day. It was supposed to get the program progressing along to the feature film in a happy, ,receptive mood.AND WE BELIEVE that Mr. Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery did well achieve this end!

"Little Tinker" is a very funny cartoon involving a lonely, smelly skunk who yearns for true love. This may sound like a Warner Bros. cartoon featuring a certain familiar French skunk, but it isn't. This cartoon was made at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and directed by perhaps the king of cartoon exaggeration: Fred "Tex" Avery. This film hums with energy as the poor skunk seeks out just about every small animal he can find for their affections. He does win out in the end, but only after a lot of searching and experimenting.My favorite moments from "Little Tinker" include the following (DON'T read on until after you have seen this cartoon). A little gray bunny sniffs the skunk's flower and then lets out a hilarious scream before scurrying to the nearest hole and zipping it up. When Cupid appears, he gives his own hilarious reaction to the skunk's scent before strapping on a gas mask. An owl drops dead after being smooched by the skunk. The skunk makes a mockery of the Italian language while serenading a raccoon with the famous Sextet from Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor." During the skunk's act of camouflaging himself into a fox, we hear a jazzy, energetic rendition of "Sweet and Lovely." And finally, watch for all the puns & wordplay with the various signs & labels in this cartoon."Little Tinker" is probably a cartoon that has been overshadowed by the various Warner Bros. cartoons featuring Pepe Le Pew, but I would suggest that you give this cartoon another look. It has a fair number of funny moments & wild sight gags, and it bustles with energy, which is all we could count on from director Tex Avery.

This is a wonderful Tex Avery cartoon for MGM and is full of the usual weirdness that make Avery cartoons among the best shorts ever made. This movie is hilarious but also quite endearing and cute--an odd happening in an Avery toon, but the results are still wonderful.An adorable little skunk is sad because he can't find a girlfriend. Every time he comes near any animal, it runs in terror. He's so sad and desperate that he decided to try a book for advice. Most of the film concerns his dressing up as "Frankie" (to the younger crowd, this is a reference to Frank Sinatra and the hysterical reaction women had to him in the 1940s). When he begins to croon, the animals go wild and do crazy stuff--such as kicking themselves in the head, burying themselves and shooting huge kisses across the stage at him (all vintage Avery reactions when someone falls for another person).Later, his disguise is revealed and he is once again hated by all. So, he goes back to the book and is told to try camouflage. He then paints himself up as a fox and meets and cute female box and all seems perfect until they accidentally fall into the lake. His disguise washes off and he is heart-broken,...until it is revealed that she, too, is a skunk disguised as a skunk. And, they live happily ever after.The film is just adorable, well-made and sweet while STILL being funny and not too sappy. A great cartoon.

Little Tinker (1948) is about a lonely skunk who's looking for someone to fall in love with. The Skunk is so desperate that even Cupid tries to help him "score" by enlisting his "Book of Love", Lil 'tinker does everything he can to find his soul mate. The cartoon is funny but sad and melodramatic. Watching him pull out every trick in the book trying to find true love.Not as wild as most of Tex Avery's films. A quick change of pace for theman. Showing that he's not all slapstick and parodies. Hopefully hedidn't give up on his bread and butter animation!Recommended.B