Hoppity the grasshopper returns from a sojourn in the big city only to find his neighborhood in peril in Hoppity Goes to Town (originally released as A Bug Goes to Town), a 1941 cartoon by brothers David and Max Fleischer. The humans who live nearby have trampled bug houses and ignited grass with dropped cigarette butts. Drama ensues as Hoppity attempts to save both his neighborhood and his love interest from the nearby humans and real estate monger C. Bagley Beetle. It’s worth noting that the Fleischer Brothers are also credited with bringing to life such legendary cartoon characters as Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman and Koko the Clown.
A screening of Hoppity’s tale (a scene from which is pictured) at the Academy of Music kicks of the Northampton Arts Council’s KidsBestFest2008, a week-long film festival featuring a slew of films for kids. National and international offerings include Luna: Spirit of the Whale, a film about a friendly young orca and a Canadian fishing village; Singin’ in the Rain, which will be accompanied by several members of the Young@Heart Chorus; Mystery of the Wolf, the story of an orphaned girl and abandoned wolf cubs; and dozens of shorts from Croatia, Estonia, Zimbabwe, Germany, Australia, Brazil, United Kingdom, Ireland and more.
This year, KidsBestFest has added a new component to its programming: YouthFilm, an offering of films completely created—written, directed and acted—by local kids ages 18 and under. These emerging filmmakers have created all manner of films, including a claymation adventure, a stop-motion racing film, a thriller, a home-grown version of MTV’s Made and a documentary about homelessness.
For complete movie times and synopses—including suitability ratings for specific age groups—log on to www.northamptonartscouncil.org.
Hoppity Goes to Town: Feb. 17, 2 p.m.; KidsBestFest2008, Feb. 17-23,
Free/kids, $3/general (per show), Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main
St., (413) 584-8435.
