Dejected sadsack klutz Pontoffel Pock (nicely voiced with endearing nerdiness by Wayne Morton) gets fired from his job at a pickle factory. Pontoffel wishes to get away from it all and receives a magical piano from jolly fairy McGillicuddy (marvelously voiced with infectiously joyous verve by Hal Smith). Pontoffel embarks on a series of loopy misadventures as the piano enables him to travel all over the world. Dr. Seuss' typically clever and imaginative script once again delivers the usual winning mix of wacky wordplay, extremely catchy and jaunty songs, and a singular sense of hilariously zany humor. Pock's bumbling nature provides a good deal of solid laughs as the blunders his way towards some kind of happiness. Moreover, the characters are an appealingly kooky bunch, with charming and fetching eyeball dancer Neepha Pheepha (sweetly voiced by Sue Allen) rating as the definite sultry stand-out. The bright and vivid animation is quite well done. Joe Raposo's rousing and merry score adds considerably to the cheerful lunacy. Best of all, this show has a very engaging and uplifting good-hearted positive vibe to it with an especially lovely happy ending. A total off-the-wall treat.
9 Reviews
Great!
Bartgirl0514 March 2002
It's fun to see some of Dr. Seuss' other characters, besides the Cat, the Grinch, and Sam-I-Am. Pontoffel Pock messes up his job at the Dill Pickle Works, and wishes he could get away from it all. McGillicudy, a fairy, answers his prayers with a magic piano that can take him away from it all. But Pontoffel wreaks havoc, and falls in love with an eyeball dancer named Neefa Feefa, and soon it's a trip around the world to find him and the piano!
Neepha looks like Jeannie
lee_eisenberg6 October 2019
Dr. Seuss continued creating magical stories with "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You". When I was little, my favorite part was of course the mishap at the beginning, with Pontoffel sending the pickle factory haywire. Of course, nowadays I realize that the special is all about wanting to get away from the rat race. And who else to depict the outcome other than the man behind the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and the Lorax?
And then there's Neepha Pheepha. Her look appears to be based on the titular character on "I Dream of Jeannie" (probably just a coincidence, but still, how can you not love the sight of her?). My point is that every person should get a chance to see this. Definitely worth your while.
And then there's Neepha Pheepha. Her look appears to be based on the titular character on "I Dream of Jeannie" (probably just a coincidence, but still, how can you not love the sight of her?). My point is that every person should get a chance to see this. Definitely worth your while.
Love this movie!!!
herekittykitty_079 September 2005
I remembered only bits and pieces of this movie from watching it as a kid. As i got older the specific names and title was forgotten and i was only left with vague memories of a great Dr. Seuss childhood movie. I tried time and time again to explain it to my husband but he just didn't get the picture i was sending. so finally i searched for it on the internet. After several painstaking hours searching through several Dr. Seuss websites i found it here! The colors are great and the places are something completely out of a mind like Dr. Seuss. The storyline is a great teacher for youngsters and i cant wait to pass it on to my children. Its great to see such a classic still around. Its true that a good story will last generation after generation.
One of Dr. Seuss' many unforgettable stories!
Beta_Gallinger9 August 2007
I became familiar with Dr. Seuss at a very, very young age (I'm sure that so many others can say the same), and I can't remember exactly when I first saw "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?", it was so long ago. I used to watch it over and over again for a while, on a video tape that also included "The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat". Watching this Dr. Seuss cartoon short obviously wouldn't be the same for me now, but watching it again recently, I still found that it had some charm!
A young man named Pontoffel Pock comes to a dill pickle factory to start a new job. Sadly, as soon as he starts, he makes a mistake, causing a huge mess all over the factory! For this, he is fired, and it appears this isn't the first job he has been unsuccessful with. Down on himself, he walks back to his house, a house which is not in very good condition. Wishing he could get away from it all, a fairy named McGillicuddy soon appears in front of him with a magic piano! This fairy tells him that with this piano, he CAN get away from it all, and shows him how to use it. Pontoffel Pock soon sets out to a new place, and at first, his life seems to be improving, but he still has a lot to learn, with a big adventure ahead!
If I had just seen this Dr. Seuss TV special for the first time, I highly doubt my rating would be 10/10. Usually, I wouldn't rate something based on what I thought of it years ago, but in this case, I loved "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?" so much way back in the day that I feel that what I think of it now shouldn't apply! For many kids, this movie is VERY enjoyable, with its songs, characters, adventure, animation, etc. Like many other Dr. Seuss stories, this one has also has a valuable lesson to teach. For those reasons, in my opinion, this animated piece deserves more recognition!
A young man named Pontoffel Pock comes to a dill pickle factory to start a new job. Sadly, as soon as he starts, he makes a mistake, causing a huge mess all over the factory! For this, he is fired, and it appears this isn't the first job he has been unsuccessful with. Down on himself, he walks back to his house, a house which is not in very good condition. Wishing he could get away from it all, a fairy named McGillicuddy soon appears in front of him with a magic piano! This fairy tells him that with this piano, he CAN get away from it all, and shows him how to use it. Pontoffel Pock soon sets out to a new place, and at first, his life seems to be improving, but he still has a lot to learn, with a big adventure ahead!
If I had just seen this Dr. Seuss TV special for the first time, I highly doubt my rating would be 10/10. Usually, I wouldn't rate something based on what I thought of it years ago, but in this case, I loved "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?" so much way back in the day that I feel that what I think of it now shouldn't apply! For many kids, this movie is VERY enjoyable, with its songs, characters, adventure, animation, etc. Like many other Dr. Seuss stories, this one has also has a valuable lesson to teach. For those reasons, in my opinion, this animated piece deserves more recognition!
A depressed young man finds excitement in his life when he seeks thrills as he travels across the world on a magical piano.
billgh426 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This has quite a storyline. The constant dramatic twists and turns in the plot gives this film an amazing aura of intensity. You'll be able to watch it over and over again. Pontoffel Pock, convinced that he is a disgrace to the world, has a magical union with Mr. McGillicuddy, a powerful and friendly fairy. The fairy sends him on an enchanted journey where he will encounter many dangers. Pontoffel sees many thrills throughout his journey - He is shot clean out of the sky by the great Goomy Gun, he enters the palace of a great powerful king, and encounters the mysterious eyeball dancer, Neepha Pheepha. But after being separated from the eyeball dancer, he must go through more dangers to recover her - He soars through stormy skies, enters a bull fight, and even lands in a dark and steamy jungle. Meanwhile, the fairies are searching high and low for Pontoffel, in search of the magical piano that enables Pontoffel to go wherever he wants. This adventure will leave your head spinning as you view thrill after thrill - Chases, close calls, and destruction. You'll never forget this wild romp across the entire world.
Yet another classic Dr Seuss special
TheLittleSongbird29 March 2011
Like people here and everywhere I was introduced to the wonderful world of Dr Seuss at an early age. I loved his funny characters, colourful illustrations, charming stories that had a playful tone to them and witty dialogue. Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? is a classic Dr Seuss story with everything I love about him in abundance, and this special is superb. Also it was one of my first Dr Seuss specials, so understandably I would feel a lot of fondness towards it.
Once again, the animation is terrific, it is true to the illustrations of the story and benefits from well-drawn, quirky characters, audacious colours and unique-looking backgrounds. The music is playful and energetic, and all the songs are most enjoyable. The dialogue is still witty and delightfully droll, the story is charming with an enormous sense of fun and the pace is brisk. The characters are also very likable, with the titular character especially endearing, and the voice acting is great.
All in all, classic Dr Seuss done well. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Once again, the animation is terrific, it is true to the illustrations of the story and benefits from well-drawn, quirky characters, audacious colours and unique-looking backgrounds. The music is playful and energetic, and all the songs are most enjoyable. The dialogue is still witty and delightfully droll, the story is charming with an enormous sense of fun and the pace is brisk. The characters are also very likable, with the titular character especially endearing, and the voice acting is great.
All in all, classic Dr Seuss done well. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Nostalgia Personified
zkonedog1 March 2017
As a young child, I watched this 25 minute Dr. Seuss cartoon time and time again. I happened to stumble across it again recently and boy, what a nostalgic trip!
However, I don't think that nostalgia is the ONLY thing that this cartoon has going for it. The visuals are stunning, the music is catchy (I'll remember "Pull on the Pull 'em; Push on the Push 'em" until the day I die!), and that little piano ditty is perfect for the childhood imagination.
Obviously, I don't know whether "Pontoffel Pock" stands the test of time (I don't have children of my own to show it to), but I would be interested to see how young children today would react to it. If I had a guess, I would say that they would also be sucked in by the intriguing flying piano and all its buttons, just as I was 25 years ago!
However, I don't think that nostalgia is the ONLY thing that this cartoon has going for it. The visuals are stunning, the music is catchy (I'll remember "Pull on the Pull 'em; Push on the Push 'em" until the day I die!), and that little piano ditty is perfect for the childhood imagination.
Obviously, I don't know whether "Pontoffel Pock" stands the test of time (I don't have children of my own to show it to), but I would be interested to see how young children today would react to it. If I had a guess, I would say that they would also be sucked in by the intriguing flying piano and all its buttons, just as I was 25 years ago!
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