Review of The Brave Little Toaster (1987) by Jon T — 02 Sep 2011

They sure don't make animated movies like this anymore. Sweet-natured, funny, and maintaining a surprisingly somber tone (not to mention some rather frightening, nightmarish scenes), THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER could, in some ways, be seen as a precursor to TOY STORY.

After all, this story about five appliances in search of their human owner (in this case, a boy they call "Master") does share some echoes to Pixar's now classic trilogy in many references.

But what makes THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER so fresh and entertaining is because of its genuine, honest heart and the instantly appealing characters; the dialogue and interplay between them provides both plenty of laughs and a very real bond which makes their perilous predicament all the more worth cheering them on.

There are even two memorable cameo appearances by the late Phil Hartman as a frosty Air Conditioner (who sounds suspiciously like Jack Nicholson) and a hanging lamp (Peter Lorre). Aesthetically, THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER's animation (produced primarily in Taiwan) may seem somewhat stale compared to, say, THE LION KING, but there is an obvious old-fashioned charm in the drawings that recall the Mouse House's greatest.

David Newman's classical-oriented score is arguably the finest in his career, and the songs by Van Dyke Parks are very charming and memorable. It's a wonder THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER has been so overlooked: this is a classic that deserves a place on your shelf.