Chuck Jones was a genius animator and Porky, while perhaps not one of the consistently funniest or interesting Looney Tunes character, is still always worth watching and still an amusing and likable character.
'Trap Happy Porky' is a brilliantly made and hilarious cartoon. It is also interesting for the short appearances of an unnamed and somewhat different Hubie and Bertie as the mice characters, who went on to star in equally brilliantly made and extremely funny cartoons that also tackled dark and bold subjects without trivialising. It is a delight to spot them but you do wish that they had a little more to do, though it is interesting to see them not be victorious for once.
As pretty much always with Jones, 'Trap Happy Porky' contains excellent animation. Attention to detail is meticulous, the colours are rich and vibrant and the characters are designed in a way that's distinctively Chuck Jones. The expressions and gestures of the characters are also ingeniously animated and help make the gags work. Music from Carl Stalling always elevates cartoons he composes for to a higher level, have always said that he's my favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers and he rarely puts a foot wrong and I don't think any differently still.
Here in 'Trap Happy Porky', the orchestration is clever, rich and luscious, the energy, character and appropriately dark atmosphere are evident throughout and it not only fits with what's going on but adds to it. Again with Stalling, he also succeeds in putting unique spins on pre-existing material, with the standouts here being the renditions of "On Moonlight Bay" and "When the Irish Eyes are Smiling".
Writing is typically fresh and witty, and the gags are sublime in how inventive and hilarious they are. The most memorable part was definitely the "When the Irish Eyes are Smiling", a visual, musical, humour and vocal masterpiece, some of the best drunk singing there's ever been and there most likely has not been a funnier drunk scene in a Looney Tunes cartoon. The story is efficiently paced and always fun and smoothly told, if a tad predictable at the end.
Porky is likable, relatable and very funny here, and he is met every step of the way by the cats, the dog and Hubie and Bertie. This is not really a case, like with some Porky cartoons, of supporting characters outshining the lead, in 'Trap Happy Porky' everyone and everything shines. Mel Blanc provides characteristically superb vocals, the renditions of "On Moonlight Bay" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" being brilliantly sung and like Blanc was having a riot doing them.
All in all, brilliantly made and hilarious. 10/10 Bethany Cox
'Trap Happy Porky' is a brilliantly made and hilarious cartoon. It is also interesting for the short appearances of an unnamed and somewhat different Hubie and Bertie as the mice characters, who went on to star in equally brilliantly made and extremely funny cartoons that also tackled dark and bold subjects without trivialising. It is a delight to spot them but you do wish that they had a little more to do, though it is interesting to see them not be victorious for once.
As pretty much always with Jones, 'Trap Happy Porky' contains excellent animation. Attention to detail is meticulous, the colours are rich and vibrant and the characters are designed in a way that's distinctively Chuck Jones. The expressions and gestures of the characters are also ingeniously animated and help make the gags work. Music from Carl Stalling always elevates cartoons he composes for to a higher level, have always said that he's my favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers and he rarely puts a foot wrong and I don't think any differently still.
Here in 'Trap Happy Porky', the orchestration is clever, rich and luscious, the energy, character and appropriately dark atmosphere are evident throughout and it not only fits with what's going on but adds to it. Again with Stalling, he also succeeds in putting unique spins on pre-existing material, with the standouts here being the renditions of "On Moonlight Bay" and "When the Irish Eyes are Smiling".
Writing is typically fresh and witty, and the gags are sublime in how inventive and hilarious they are. The most memorable part was definitely the "When the Irish Eyes are Smiling", a visual, musical, humour and vocal masterpiece, some of the best drunk singing there's ever been and there most likely has not been a funnier drunk scene in a Looney Tunes cartoon. The story is efficiently paced and always fun and smoothly told, if a tad predictable at the end.
Porky is likable, relatable and very funny here, and he is met every step of the way by the cats, the dog and Hubie and Bertie. This is not really a case, like with some Porky cartoons, of supporting characters outshining the lead, in 'Trap Happy Porky' everyone and everything shines. Mel Blanc provides characteristically superb vocals, the renditions of "On Moonlight Bay" and "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" being brilliantly sung and like Blanc was having a riot doing them.
All in all, brilliantly made and hilarious. 10/10 Bethany Cox