Parents--Who Needs Them? (1973)

What a creepy puppet!, 8 June 2017

Parents – Who Needs Them? is an educational short designed to teach children to appreciate their parents. In the short, a young boy is turned invisible by a magic puppet. While invisible, he is able to watch the daily chores and work his parents perform for the benefit of the family.

Being a short, there's really not a whole lot to write about. So, I'll just mention two things that stood out to me: 

1. That puppet – how horrifying! This style of puppet frightened me as a child. I remember being terrified of Lady Elaine Fairchild on Mr Rogers. I'm grown now, but these puppets still look creepy.

2. That family – what a depressed looking bunch of people! Watching Mom and Dad go through their daily chores, I don't remember once seeing them smile. What a joyless and miserable looking existence. Even when I have work to do around the house, it's easier get through the drudgery with a smile on your face and a positive attitude.

3/10