Buddy of the Legion

Lore & Background

The short begins with Buddy finding a bookstore in need of a worker. He notifies the owner, who hires him dismissively and kicks him out for distracting her work. Buddy is assigned to dust the store, including the cat and goldfish, and to take care of the store while the owner leaves. While trying to carry a stack of books, he is distracted by a bee on his nose and runs into a stove, causing the books to collapse. He accidentally finds a book about the French Foreign Legion and becomes so engrossed that he daydreams about impersonating the book's protagonist.

Reader's Guide

Buddy of the Legion is significant as the first Looney Tunes entry to credit Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones, both of whom would become defining directors of the series in later decades. The film represents a transitional moment in the studio's history, as the Buddy character was a precursor to more iconic Warner Bros. cartoon stars. The short's plot, involving a daydream about the French Foreign Legion and an Amazon-inhabited fortress, reflects the era's popular adventure themes. Its release on April 6, 1935, places it within the early years of the Looney Tunes series, which began in 1930. The film's legacy lies in its role as a stepping stone for the directors who would shape the golden age of American animation.

Did You Know?

• Buddy of the Legion is the 53rd film in the Looney Tunes series.
• It is the eighteenth cartoon to feature Buddy.
• The short was directed by Ben Hardaway.