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Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

While not one of my favourites, Ub Iwerks was responsible for a lot of interesting work. Especially when working with Walt Disney, his oldest friend and one of his best, and co-creating one of animation's most famous characters in Mickey Mouse. His career since opening his own studio had interest value but the quality was variable, often being successful in the animation and music but wanting in the story and variable in gags, lead characters and tone.1933 to 1936 saw twenty five cartoons, mostly based on famous fairytales and familiar stories, as part of Iwerks's "ComiColor" series. The "ComiColor" series is very much worth watching and interesting, as is the case with many series some cartoons are better than others but there are no real animation nadirs. 1935's 'Balloon Land' is one of the very best cartoons of the series, only put 'Jack Frost' above it.'Balloon Land' doesn't actually have much wrong with it. There is much more of a story than some of the other cartoons in the series and other Iwerks works, and feels much more than just a series of gags and events. It doesn't feel saccharine and has some substance. It is slight though and maybe a bit too simple. However 'Balloon Land' has enough freshness to stop it from being stale. It avoids the over sentimental factor and is never dull. There are a lot of imaginative visuals and the transitions are smooth.There are a few amusing moments that aren't too corny and never repetitive, it's very charming, is touching at times and there is a genuine likeability and cuteness without being over-sentimental. Plus the conflict is entertaining and frightening. The characters are nice enough in 'Balloon Land', the best being the deliciously wicked Pincushion Man who by default steals the cartoon. Billy Bletcher sinister vocal characterisation is a big part of why.Furthermore, the animation is great. Meticulously detailed, fluid in drawing, vibrant in colour and often rich in imagination and visual wit. The music is cleverly and lushly orchestrated, is infectiously catchy and adds a lot to the cartoon. Concluding, very well done. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This truly is one of the greatest cartoons of not only the golden age, but also of all time. All is well in a place where everything is a live balloon. That is, until the denizens' abode is invaded by the Pincushion Man. While the other characters are good, it's the aforementioned villain who really steals the show. Both he and the pins are balloons' natural enemies, and lethal enough to destroy the delicate, rubbery material of which they're made. Musically, Carl Stalling's work is fine as usual, it's an extra special treat with the addition of the uncredited novelty ragtime artist Zez Confrey's contribution to it. As one of the few Ub Iwerks cartoons not based on a fable or fairy tale, it's nice to see this attempt at something more original and it's one of the most imaginative ever conceived, and created. I can see why it's so beloved and was a contender/nominee for the 50 Greatest Cartoons Of All Time book. I'd like to think that after defeating and getting rid of the Pincushion Man, pins would hopefully be banished and outlawed for good. Recommended.

I just love the good cartoons of this classic era that feature characters and settings that are totally unique to them, and they surely don't come much more different than this one! It sort of has the weird streak of a Fleischer short, but was also extremely delightful, I loved the bizarre globular proportions of all the rubbery buildings in the hazy backgrounds of Balloon Land, as well as its residents. What an uncanny, cool idea-an entire little floating kingdom of rubber! All the bright cheerful colours were just beautiful, and set a fun carnival tone and atmosphere-I want a balloon duck! The most fun that I got out of this was simply appreciating all those wonderful colours and designs. ::: The peculiar-looking cackling pointy villain, and the whole idea behind him was so interesting and sinister! Now what could a world of cuddly-wuddly balloon people ever have to fear, if not to be popped? The simplicity and effectiveness of that little plot-device was such a little stroke of genius because it's so obvious you'd probably never think of it! He sounded a lot like the wolf from "The Three Little Pigs" Silly Symphony. With all the pins I assume being outlawed, it was the one outlaw who eventually ended up with all the pins...ha! I love the funny villainous song he sings in which he proudly boasts of how much all the balloon folks fear and despise him so! He never once actually pokes anyone with his pins, he throws them all like darts to pop his victims. It's funny, if those were 'people', instead of squishy-squashy balloon people, then this would basically be a little slasher horror cartoon wouldn't it? I don't get why some see this as being all dark and scary. Yeah it does have a certain antiquated edginess to it, the spindly walking pincushion is an impressive menace, but I wouldn't exactly call him nightmarish unless you're a little kid. And yes he does 'kill' a few balloon citizens-I don't really think the goofball they had guarding the door counts, as he was kinda too dumb to live! I also thought the inventive sequence where he's overwhelmed by the soldiers was surprisingly violent as he was first trapped in the ball of tree sap and then sent rolling over a cliff to his doom, screaming all the way! But I still found the overall show a little on the tame side... A short that I would definitely describe as daring is the 1932 Silly Symphony "King Neptune". ::: So many of these really old cartoons are so much better than all the soulless crud they churn out today. They don't rely on 'hip', crude humour to win over their audience, and I just plain like the older animation style better because you can occasionally see how much more care and time has gone into it to make it so special and memorable. Now it's all become so much loathsome unworthy computer-generated garbage-who'd have ever thought that the hand-drawn animation would have one day become effectively rendered extinct!? Bah!!! ::: Let your lighter side out and enjoy this little curio! If you enjoy the slightly unusual or bizarre it's guaranteed to not turn out to be a great big letdown! See ya.

A great cartoon from my childhood, because I remember having this cartoon on VHS as a kid along time ago. But alas it's been lost over the years, and I couldn't find it ever since; but it has been my favorite cartoon from UB Iwerks: the father of Mickey Mouse (my favorite Disney character). At first I didn't know that UB created Mickey; until now that is. I also would like to point the excellent voice characterization of Billy Bletcher as The Pin Cushion Man; who also was The Big Bad Wolf and Pegleg Pete from Disney.I love the concept of using babies for an alarm. You know take their bottles away and then...WAHHHHH!!!