He Was Once

He Was Once

16 mins | Comedy, Animation | Nov. 1, 1989

This bizarre parody of the animated religious children’s show Davey and Goliath uses actors but looks like Claymation because of the stop motion, distorted voices, giant prosthetic ears and hair and sets that make Pee-Wee’s Playhouse look realistic. Davey’s father whips him with a belt for saying that he saw a bear, though he really did see a bear, while his sister looks on in glee. His dog Goliath, actually a leopard-skin footrest with a grotesque tail, tries to help but gets whipped too. Oedipal dream sequences and Davey’s revenge are also highlights in this unforgettable and darkly hilarious suburban nightmare.

He Was Once

16 mins | Comedy, Animation | Nov. 1, 1989

He Was Once
This bizarre parody of the animated religious children’s show Davey and Goliath uses actors but looks like Claymation because of the stop motion, distorted voices, giant prosthetic ears and hair and sets that make Pee-Wee’s Playhouse look realistic. Davey’s father whips him with a belt for saying that he saw a bear, though he really did see a bear, while his sister looks on in glee. His dog Goliath, actually a leopard-skin footrest with a grotesque tail, tries to help but gets whipped too. Oedipal dream sequences and Davey’s revenge are also highlights in this unforgettable and darkly hilarious suburban nightmare.
IMDb rating 6.5
Producers Apparatus Productions
Original title He Was Once
Directors Camila Motta, Barry Ellsworth, Mary Hestand
Writers Mary Hestand

Cast

Todd Adams

as Davey

Susan Norman

as Sally

Emma Strahs

as Mom

Melissa Gardner

as Shirley

Todd Haynes

as Randy

Julia Haltigan

as The Bear

Cyril Autun

as Goliath (voice)

Rob LaBelle

as Dad (voice)