Simply A Masterpiece

Great Film overall

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

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

"The Hockey Champ" is an American 7-minute cartoon from 1939, so this one is from the year WWII began and almost 80 years old, maybe even older depending on when you read this review. If the names King and Nash don't make it obvious to you already that here we have another Disney cartoon, then the moment you see Donald really should. The first minute is about his figure skating talent, but the moment the nephews enter the picture, it quickly all becomes about hockey and for European audiences I maybe should say "ice hockey". The most baffling thing is how talented the usually clumsy and incompetent Donald really is on the ice here. Who'd have guessed. The rest is basically about the three boys annoying and pranking their uncle, but there is never really any fun or wit in terms of the comedy to be found in here. It may be as fast as you think from the title, but yeah well I did not find it entertaining at all. The animation is of course as good (maybe even better) as you'd expect from that era of cartoon filmmaking and that makes it the short film's best aspect. Shame. I normally love the Donald/nephews cartoons a lot more than this one. Even during the days of Christmas/winter, it is only a mediocre watch, perhaps because the nephews are bullies here really. Donald may be a showoff, but that justifies none of their actions. I cannot even recommend it to the big Donald Duck fans (they've seen it already anyway I suppose), as I am one of this group too and I didn't like it. My suggestion is to skip this one. Not recommended.

Not that it is a bad thing of course! My concluding thoughts after seeing The Hockey Champ.. I liked it! It is rather routine and predictable in terms of story and the pacing isn't always secure, but what does compensate is the lovely atmosphere the animation gives, a very Christmassy and nostalgic atmosphere. The music is also absolutely gorgeous, lyrical, smooth and whimsical. There are some good gags, if nothing particularly groundbreaking. Donald is excellent as usual, and his three nephews are as dastardly as ever. Clarence Nash once again does a stellar job with the voicing.Overall, pleasant but not a classic! 8/10 Bethany Cox

Donald Duck is out by himself, skating on his pond having a good time when his three little kids come racing out onto the surface, ready to play hockey. Donald is arrogant and tells the kids they know nothing about the game, they he will have to show them. He takes them on: one and against three, and kills them. He hams it up so bad it's embarrassing - the ultimate showoff. He rubs it in afterward, too. The kids are not happy. Donald then offers to play the kids again, this time blindfolded. That turns out to be a mistake as they beat him around like a hockey puck. This animated short is really for little kids, and no one else. The humor might make them laugh a lot but I doubt older kids and adults wound find much funny. I know I didn't.

This Donald Duck short is wonderfully animated and very entertaining. The story is simple, Donald challenges his nephews to a game of ice hockey leading to all sorts of winter hi-jinks. The winter setting inspires many creative sight gags, and the Disney gang uses them to the extreme. Donald's opening figure skating scene is a great piece of animation.