The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
'Salt Water Taffy' is mainly to be seen for completest sake, for me that is true for Terrytoons' filmography in general and is my reason for watching and reviewing them, but is a more than tolerable cartoon quality-wise. It is though one of those again watchable but unexceptional Terrytoons which was the general standard of their 1930 batch.
Best component is the music, not surprising as it was true for all of Terrytoons' output, which is outstanding. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The backgrounds are detailed enough and show a studio that were aiming for ambition and succeeding in some aspects.
Pacing is neither too hectic or dull, there is a natural charm and some amusing moments. The villain is quite fun and sinister, despite the design being derivative and the character being quite typical of similar villains in similar situations.
However, the amount of detail that went into the backgrounds doesn't show as much in the character designs, which tend to be crude and simplistic. The story is very flimsy, one that has been seen so many times in animation and was already old when this was made and feels rather disorganised, meaning that sense is lacking.
Most of the gags are too short, random and neither absurdist or cute enough to make much impression, the characters are not that memorable outside of being stereotypes (the hero is like the story, one that one has seen so many times with not much new) and things get both cutesy and strange at times.
Overall, another watchable but unexceptional Terrytoon. 5/10 Bethany Cox
'Salt Water Taffy' is mainly to be seen for completest sake, for me that is true for Terrytoons' filmography in general and is my reason for watching and reviewing them, but is a more than tolerable cartoon quality-wise. It is though one of those again watchable but unexceptional Terrytoons which was the general standard of their 1930 batch.
Best component is the music, not surprising as it was true for all of Terrytoons' output, which is outstanding. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The backgrounds are detailed enough and show a studio that were aiming for ambition and succeeding in some aspects.
Pacing is neither too hectic or dull, there is a natural charm and some amusing moments. The villain is quite fun and sinister, despite the design being derivative and the character being quite typical of similar villains in similar situations.
However, the amount of detail that went into the backgrounds doesn't show as much in the character designs, which tend to be crude and simplistic. The story is very flimsy, one that has been seen so many times in animation and was already old when this was made and feels rather disorganised, meaning that sense is lacking.
Most of the gags are too short, random and neither absurdist or cute enough to make much impression, the characters are not that memorable outside of being stereotypes (the hero is like the story, one that one has seen so many times with not much new) and things get both cutesy and strange at times.
Overall, another watchable but unexceptional Terrytoon. 5/10 Bethany Cox
