“Elmer Elephant” is a 1936 Classic Disney Short directed by Wilfred Jackson, part of the Silly Symphonies series.
Young Elmer attends the birthday party of Tillie Tiger, whom he has a crush on. But the other kids make fun of him for his long trunk and eject him from the party. Elmer, however, soon proves himself when Tillie's house catches fire and he and his trunk save the day.
Tropes:
- Alliterative Name:
- Elmer Elephant!
- Tillie Tiger!
- All in the Manual: The giraffe’s name is Joe. It just isn’t mentioned in the cartoon.
- All of the Other Reindeer: Elmer is made fun of by the other kids because of his long trunk. He is also the only elephant that shows up at the party.
- Birthday Party Goes Wrong: Tillie's birthday party goes wrong when a fire burns her treetop house.
- Cool Old Guy: The elderly giraffe who befriends Elmer and makes him feel better about his long trunk.
- Crush Blush: Elmer blushes when Tillie kisses him in thanks for the flowers, and then again when she praises him for saving her life.
- Damsel in Distress: Tillie is trapped in her own house when it catches on fire. She initially tries to fight it with her broom, but the fire proves to be too much to handle.
- Evil Living Flames: The flames in Tillie's house have a mind of their own. They chase Tillie and the other animals around, but are thwarted when Elmer arrives and shoots the flames with water, although one flame manages to dodge the blasts of water a few times before getting put out.
- Expy: Tillie Tiger seems to be one of Minnie Mouse, as her clothing is similar to hers.
- Happy Birthday to You!: The guests at Tilly Tiger's birthday party sing this song to her.
- Heroic Fire Rescue: Upon learning that Tillie's house is on fire, Elmer quickly goes to rescue her alongside the elder giraffe and the pelicans
- Honorable Elephant: Elmer proves himself a hero in the end by extinguishing the fire and saving Tillie.
- House Fire: Tillie’s house catches on fire for some unexplained reason.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: Elmer is able to redirect the stream of water by bending his trunk.
- Karma Houdini: None of Tillie’s party guests receive any comeuppance for teasing and kicking Elmer out. To be fair, Elmer earns their respect as a hero for saving Tillie.
- Kick the Dog: Tillie’s party guests tease Elmer because of his long trunk and eliminate him from the party.
- Kids Are Cruel: The other kids attending Tillie’s birthday party tease Elmer unmercifully because of his long trunk.
- Nice Girl: Unlike the other kids at her party, Tillie doesn't participate in his bullying and is happy to see Elmer at her birthday party, being grateful for both the present Elmer initially gives to her and for saving her life.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: The three pelicans do a Jimmy Durante imitation.
- Pelican Package Pouch: The pelicans that Elmer befriends are seen carrying water for Elmer to use to extinguish the fire at Tillie's burned house.
- Pie in the Face: Or rather, birthday cake in the face. When Tillie can't blow the candles on her cake, she asks Joey Hippo to do it instead. He blows so hard the cake splatters all over Elmer.
- The Voiceless: Elmer doesn’t say a word or utter a vocal sound.
