Permanent Wave: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Lantz, 1929)

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "Permanent Wave," a classic silent Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon from September 29, 1929, produced by Walter Lantz Productions for Universal Studios—nearly a century ago—offering a nostalgic thrill for early animation fans. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, as he serves as a sailor under Captain Peg-Leg Pete on a ship rocked by rough seas. When Pete grows hungry, Oswald tries to prepare soup, but a duck steals it, becoming comically obese and unable to fly, leading Oswald to squeeze the soup back from the duck. After Pete chases the duck away, Oswald hears music from an island, where he falls for a mermaid. Pete captures her, locking her in a room on the ship, but a storm destroys the vessel, stranding Oswald and the mermaid on a pole, where they kiss passionately. Pete tries to recapture them but drowns as waves drag him under, ending with Oswald and the mermaid on the Universal logo. Directed by Walter Lantz, with animation by Lantz, Bill Nolan, and Tom Palmer, this short—originally thought silent but noted as having potential sound elements in some sources—marks Lantz’s early Oswald era, blending surreal slapstick with nautical antics. A lively window into late 1920s animation’s golden age, this preserved gem grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a maritime misadventure frozen in time.