Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.
'Copy Cat' is one of eleven cartoons forming Fleischer's "Animated Antics" from 1940-1941. None of the eleven being high points in the studio's output (a long way from that), the worst even being some of the weakest they and Fleischer himself did. To me and quite a few others Fleischer's overall quality declined quite a bit in the early 40s and that can be evident in the "Animated Antics" series, almost as much as the worst of the Gabby cartoons. 'Copy Cat' however is one of the exceptions and while it is uneven it is one of the best in the "Animated Antics" series.
Best asset of 'Copy Cat' is the music, which is outstanding. It's lush, cleverly orchestrated, energetic, full of character and not just adds a huge amount to the action it enhances it. The animation also comes over well, it's not elaborate or ground-breaking but there are some good detail in the backgrounds that don't seem to show limitations and fluid enough drawing, the black and white also being crisp.
Jack Mercer does a nice job with the voice work, or at least with what he has. The final third is surprisingly funny and exciting, this is definitely one of the funniest "Animated Antics" cartoons along with 'Zero the Hound'. The big cat character is appealing and likeable enough and the conflict with the copycat has moments.
Conversely, 'Copy Cat' is an uneven cartoon with a slight and occasionally too cute story that varies in momentum.
Some of the middle is a bit repetitive and didn't always grab the attention and there is a general lack of creativity and memorability in the gags at this point too. A lot of the cartoon is very predictable and found the mouse character somewhat uninteresting.
Overall, surprisingly not bad at all, coming from someone not expecting much given the general standard of the "Animated Antics" series. 6/10 Bethany Cox
'Copy Cat' is one of eleven cartoons forming Fleischer's "Animated Antics" from 1940-1941. None of the eleven being high points in the studio's output (a long way from that), the worst even being some of the weakest they and Fleischer himself did. To me and quite a few others Fleischer's overall quality declined quite a bit in the early 40s and that can be evident in the "Animated Antics" series, almost as much as the worst of the Gabby cartoons. 'Copy Cat' however is one of the exceptions and while it is uneven it is one of the best in the "Animated Antics" series.
Best asset of 'Copy Cat' is the music, which is outstanding. It's lush, cleverly orchestrated, energetic, full of character and not just adds a huge amount to the action it enhances it. The animation also comes over well, it's not elaborate or ground-breaking but there are some good detail in the backgrounds that don't seem to show limitations and fluid enough drawing, the black and white also being crisp.
Jack Mercer does a nice job with the voice work, or at least with what he has. The final third is surprisingly funny and exciting, this is definitely one of the funniest "Animated Antics" cartoons along with 'Zero the Hound'. The big cat character is appealing and likeable enough and the conflict with the copycat has moments.
Conversely, 'Copy Cat' is an uneven cartoon with a slight and occasionally too cute story that varies in momentum.
Some of the middle is a bit repetitive and didn't always grab the attention and there is a general lack of creativity and memorability in the gags at this point too. A lot of the cartoon is very predictable and found the mouse character somewhat uninteresting.
Overall, surprisingly not bad at all, coming from someone not expecting much given the general standard of the "Animated Antics" series. 6/10 Bethany Cox