Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Chuck Jones deserved, and still does deserve, his status as one of animation's most legendary, greatest and most important directors/animators. He may have lacked the outrageousness and wild wackiness of Bob Clampett and Tex Avery, but the visual imagination, wit and what he did with some of the best-known and most iconic characters ever were just as special. He has definitely done far superior cartoons than 'Little Orphan Airedale', but it is an enjoyable cartoon and indicative enough of why Jones was revered as much as he was and still is.
Porky is always watchable and is an immensely likeable "playing it straight" character. He is somewhat bland here though in 'Little Orphan Airedale' and his material is not exactly funny or memorable.
The pace does lack zip and energy at the start and 'Little Orphan Airedale' doesn't properly start engaging until the conflict starts.
However, as pretty much always for Jones, 'Little Orphan Airedale' is beautifully animated. It's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and atmospheric in colour and very meticulous in detail. Jones does direct very solidly.
Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it. The use of pre-existing music is inspired.
While not always hilarious, the gags are wittily paced and very amusing and the dialogue similarly entertains hugely. Charlie Dog is the funnier and more interesting character than Porky and feels more of a lead, his antics deliciously wacky in pure Jones style. Rags is similarly likeable. Mel Blanc's voice work is typically bravura and immensely versatile.
Overall, good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Chuck Jones deserved, and still does deserve, his status as one of animation's most legendary, greatest and most important directors/animators. He may have lacked the outrageousness and wild wackiness of Bob Clampett and Tex Avery, but the visual imagination, wit and what he did with some of the best-known and most iconic characters ever were just as special. He has definitely done far superior cartoons than 'Little Orphan Airedale', but it is an enjoyable cartoon and indicative enough of why Jones was revered as much as he was and still is.
Porky is always watchable and is an immensely likeable "playing it straight" character. He is somewhat bland here though in 'Little Orphan Airedale' and his material is not exactly funny or memorable.
The pace does lack zip and energy at the start and 'Little Orphan Airedale' doesn't properly start engaging until the conflict starts.
However, as pretty much always for Jones, 'Little Orphan Airedale' is beautifully animated. It's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and atmospheric in colour and very meticulous in detail. Jones does direct very solidly.
Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it. The use of pre-existing music is inspired.
While not always hilarious, the gags are wittily paced and very amusing and the dialogue similarly entertains hugely. Charlie Dog is the funnier and more interesting character than Porky and feels more of a lead, his antics deliciously wacky in pure Jones style. Rags is similarly likeable. Mel Blanc's voice work is typically bravura and immensely versatile.
Overall, good. 7/10 Bethany Cox