Large Fierce Mammal

Comedy set against the decidedly unfunny backdrop of war isn’t anything new. To name a few examples, we have comedy in all its hues appearing in films like Kelly’s Heroes (WWII), Inglorious Basterds (WWII), Catch 22 (WWII), and MASH (Korean War). On television we have the examples of Hogan’s Heroes (WWII), McHale’s Navy (WSWII), MASH yet again, running longer than the war it portrayed, and the absolutely perfect Blackadder Goes Forth (WWI).

Today we have The Jockstrap Raiders. As described in the production’s website,

“‘The Jockstrap Raiders’ is the 19 minute UCLA thesis animated film of Mark Nelson. The story — which took 5 years to complete (part time) — takes place during World War I in Leeds, England where a group of underdog misfits are excluded from the war due to various abnormalities. Threatened by the invading German Kaiser and his army, they must learn to become a team and overcome their deficiencies in order to save Britain, and the world.”

Now settle back for the next 19 minutes while the Jockstrap Raiders go for the win! One disclaimer — any resemblance between characters bearing names in common with actual people, and actual people, is somewhat coincidental.