Detouring America (1939) **

In a really bizarre and ironic twist, the first Tex Avery cartoon nominated for an Academy Award just happens to be one of his weakest films. But the reason it was nominated is quite clear - this was a very influential film that finally codified a whole new cartoon genre - "a travelogue cartoon" (an earlier - and far superior - Tex Avery cartoon, "The Isle of Pingo-Pongo" from 1938, introduced many similar ideas, but didn't codified them into a coherent format yet). A year later, Tex Avery would greatly improve on his own formula with "Cross Country Detours" (1940), and by the time Famous Studios would make "The Funshine State" in 1949, the formula would be completely driven into the ground. But back in 1939, it certainly felt fresh and innovative.