Swing Shift Cinderella is a Tex Avery classic produced by MGM, and a direct spiritual successor to Red Hot Riding Hood (1943). Once again, Avery takes a familiar fairy tale (this time it's Cinderella), and gives it his signature adult twist: snappy dialogue, wartime satire, and sizzling animation.
The story opens with Red Hot Riding Hood herself introducing the new tale, only to find that the Big Bad Wolf has mistaken Cinderella for her. What follows is a riot of mistaken identities, nightclub glamour, and slapstick chaos, set to the rhythm of the swing era.
🎭 A Wartime Fairy Tale with an Adult Edge
In Swing Shift Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother is a sassy, fast-talking “fairy god-babe,” the Wolf is still a wolfish pursuer, and Cinderella herself is a show-stopping nightclub performer working the night shift while soldiers and sailors flood the dance floor. The short blends WWII-era Americana with Avery’s wild animation style, turning a fairy tale into a surreal reflection of the times.
💡 Why It’s Worth Watching:
- Follow-up to Red Hot Riding Hood with even more energy and color
- Clever mix of wartime culture and fairy tale parody
- Tex Avery’s bold humor and impeccable timing
- Features classic Avery gags and exaggerated character animation
- Red and Cinderella blend glamour with comedy perfectly
🧠 Legacy and Impact
Swing Shift Cinderella continues Tex Avery’s streak of pushing the boundaries of what cartoons could do: visually, comedically, and culturally. It’s a snapshot of 1940s America, capturing the swing craze, wartime optimism, and postwar fantasies all at once.
The cartoon also solidified “Red” as one of MGM’s most iconic female characters, a stylish mix of allure and self-awareness that stood apart from other animated women of the era.
Over time, it’s been recognized not only as one of Avery’s funniest shorts but also as one of the most visually sophisticated, combining glamour, satire, and social commentary in a way that few cartoons dared to attempt.