Electronic Brainwasher is a 1959 Felix the Cat cartoon and the 6th episode of the Felix the Cat (Joe Oriolo) series.
The episode begins with Professor introducing himself to the audience, showing off his laboratory to them, as well as his office full of diplomas and his research library, and showing off inventions like a device that can turn diamonds into jellybeans. Professor then talks about how frustrated he is that he can't get Felix's Magic Bag of Tricks, discussing past encounters with him where he first tried to steal his Bag and then tried to launch him into outer space. But he announces that he has just perfected a device that will let him capture Felix—an electronic brainwasher. Professor spies on Felix through a telescope and puts his brainwashing machine to work. It doesn't work, but Felix rolls along with it for fun, standing in place. Professor sends out his Cat Liquifier (a helicopter like robot with a giant eye dropper) and captures Felix and his bag, dragging him back to the lab.
The robot drops Felix into an inkwell, trapping him in it, and Professor eagerly claims his prize—Felix's Magic Bag of Tricks. Professor struggles to open it, using methods like a mallet, a jackhammer and sticks of dynamite, but none of them work. Professor ponders if the secret is inside the bag, and uses an X-Ray machine to look inside of it, but he is surprised to find that it's completely empty inside. He ponders what to do, and he decides to try and force Felix to show him the secret. Professor offers to free Felix if he reveals it, but Felix refuses, saying he's comfy in the inkwell. Professor begs Felix to do just one trick for him, and Felix relents. Professor frees him and plops him back near his Magic Bag. Felix immediately pulls off the trick as promised—he transforms his Magic Bag into a giant rocket plane and uses it to escape. Professor asks himself how stupid he can get, and proceeds to beat himself up with a boxing glove machine nearby. Back in the jet plane, Felix says "Righty-O!" and laughs as the cartoon irises out.
Tropes:
- Child Prodigy: Professor claims that when he was nine months old, he had read a thousand educational books and made his first stink bomb unaided (his family moved to Mexico the next day) and he launched his first moon rocket at the age of eight (albeit a toy one that was a dud).
- Continuity Nod: Professor's introduction to the episode, besides telling his backstory, also references the events of "The Magic Bag" (although the way the events are depicted differ slightly from how they actually played out) and "Into Outer Space".
- No Fourth Wall: Professor directly talks to the audience in the opening, explaining his backstory and events of a couple previous episodes.
- Wingding Eyes: Professor's pupils turn into exclamation and question marks when he realizes the inside of the bag is empty and ponders what to do.
