The 26 Little Lulu cartoons made during 1944-1948 by Famous Studios (there were also two cartoons made during the early 60s) are a mixed bag. The weakest are a long way from unwatchable but still also being a long way from good and there are some very good ones.
Good cartoons include 'Hullaba-Lulu', 'Magica-Lulu', 'Musica-Lulu', 'Bargain Counter Attack' and 'Beau Ties'. There are great ones too such as 'A Bout with a Trout', 'Bored of Education', 'Cad and Caddy' and 'Chick and Double Chick' and there are mediocre or less ones like 'Lulu Gets a Birdie', 'Lulu at the Zoo' and 'Lulu's Birthday Party' (two of those three having the character of Mandy as one of the main problems).
'Dog Show Off' is one of the middling Little Lulu cartoons but for a final cartoon in the Famous Studios cartoons it feels lacklustre somewhat.
Starting with the positives, the animation is mostly nice and fluid, with more vibrancy and refinement than some of the earlier Little Lulu cartoons. Winston Sharples' music score is whimsical, beautifully orchestrated and characterful as always. The title song is infectious.
Parts are amusing without being hilarious (the beginning, the dog parade and when Lulu and her dog disguise themselves as one dog) and cute without being on the wrong side of that and Little Lulu and her friends are engaging. Their foil is a great example of when the Little Lulu series works with a male authority figure opponent. The voice acting is fine, Jackson Beck especially.
On the other hand, 'Dog Show Off' is light in story, and too often feels very repetitive, story wise the only thing you remember is Little Lulu and her friends constantly being thrown out. There is a bland feel to the cartoon, while it is amusing and cute in places it isn't consistently so and other Little Lulu cartoons were much more imaginative visually and in content. Two big things that do bring 'Dog Show Off' down to a large extent, variable pacing also. The outcome can be smelt from a mile away as the concept is hardly a new one.
In conclusion, decent but lacking. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Good cartoons include 'Hullaba-Lulu', 'Magica-Lulu', 'Musica-Lulu', 'Bargain Counter Attack' and 'Beau Ties'. There are great ones too such as 'A Bout with a Trout', 'Bored of Education', 'Cad and Caddy' and 'Chick and Double Chick' and there are mediocre or less ones like 'Lulu Gets a Birdie', 'Lulu at the Zoo' and 'Lulu's Birthday Party' (two of those three having the character of Mandy as one of the main problems).
'Dog Show Off' is one of the middling Little Lulu cartoons but for a final cartoon in the Famous Studios cartoons it feels lacklustre somewhat.
Starting with the positives, the animation is mostly nice and fluid, with more vibrancy and refinement than some of the earlier Little Lulu cartoons. Winston Sharples' music score is whimsical, beautifully orchestrated and characterful as always. The title song is infectious.
Parts are amusing without being hilarious (the beginning, the dog parade and when Lulu and her dog disguise themselves as one dog) and cute without being on the wrong side of that and Little Lulu and her friends are engaging. Their foil is a great example of when the Little Lulu series works with a male authority figure opponent. The voice acting is fine, Jackson Beck especially.
On the other hand, 'Dog Show Off' is light in story, and too often feels very repetitive, story wise the only thing you remember is Little Lulu and her friends constantly being thrown out. There is a bland feel to the cartoon, while it is amusing and cute in places it isn't consistently so and other Little Lulu cartoons were much more imaginative visually and in content. Two big things that do bring 'Dog Show Off' down to a large extent, variable pacing also. The outcome can be smelt from a mile away as the concept is hardly a new one.
In conclusion, decent but lacking. 6/10 Bethany Cox
