Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is not going to appeal to all taste-buds. Speaking of the stereotypes and whether it's racist or not, 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is very heavy in stereotypes and it's not subtle or for the easily offended. From a historical and social perspective though, it's interesting and to me there are far more racist cartoons.
It does contain still a good deal of the faults of Van Beuren's work while also having the strengths they usually show. Van Beuren have actually done quite a number of watchable or more cartoons, a few pretty good if imperfect. 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is one of the watchable ones.
Best asset is the music score from the ever consistently great Winston Sharples, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
There is also some lively and detailed animation that looks generally better than most Van Beuren cartoons that year, the backgrounds show more elaborate ambition.
Little Eva is very cute. There is an energy here too. The synchronisation is neat and has a good deal of sharpness and the dancing is truly exuberant.
However, other parts of the animation is not great, with erratically sloppy character designs in particular, which also look very exaggerated.
Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and the energy could have been more at times. It feels aimless at times and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere. Of the characters, Little Eva as a baby hippo is the only one who's properly distinct or memorable.
Don't expect much humour in 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva', there are not enough laughs, or at least little imaginative or amusing, and many are likely to find some of the material offensive (even when judging it for back then, it is a very of the time depiction of slavery). Not enough is inventive or imaginative, never rising above the forgettable and bland at best and there is not much absurdist about them.
Overall, interesting and watchable but also not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is not going to appeal to all taste-buds. Speaking of the stereotypes and whether it's racist or not, 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is very heavy in stereotypes and it's not subtle or for the easily offended. From a historical and social perspective though, it's interesting and to me there are far more racist cartoons.
It does contain still a good deal of the faults of Van Beuren's work while also having the strengths they usually show. Van Beuren have actually done quite a number of watchable or more cartoons, a few pretty good if imperfect. 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva' is one of the watchable ones.
Best asset is the music score from the ever consistently great Winston Sharples, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
There is also some lively and detailed animation that looks generally better than most Van Beuren cartoons that year, the backgrounds show more elaborate ambition.
Little Eva is very cute. There is an energy here too. The synchronisation is neat and has a good deal of sharpness and the dancing is truly exuberant.
However, other parts of the animation is not great, with erratically sloppy character designs in particular, which also look very exaggerated.
Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and the energy could have been more at times. It feels aimless at times and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere. Of the characters, Little Eva as a baby hippo is the only one who's properly distinct or memorable.
Don't expect much humour in 'Uncle Tom and Little Eva', there are not enough laughs, or at least little imaginative or amusing, and many are likely to find some of the material offensive (even when judging it for back then, it is a very of the time depiction of slavery). Not enough is inventive or imaginative, never rising above the forgettable and bland at best and there is not much absurdist about them.
Overall, interesting and watchable but also not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox