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.
'Caviar' and 'Pretzels', the previous two Terrytoons cartoons, are very watchable, if unexceptional, cartoons. The same goes for 'Spanish Onions' but even more so. Like the previous two cartoons, 'Spanish Onions' is available as of now on Youtube via a French theatrical print with German subtitles and not a half bad one either. The silhouetted instrumentalists have always been a nice touch.
'Spanish Onions' best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. 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 healthy dose of Bizet's 'Carmen' (a French opera but set in Spain) further adds to the enjoyment. The backgrounds for 1930 are remarkably detailed and there is some nice inventive visual detail, showing 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 fun amusing moments and the characters may not have significant development to them but are not annoying or personality deprived. Synchronisation is pretty neat, back when the technique was still being refined but managing here in being a major accomplishment for so early on.
On the other hand, things do work against 'Spanish Onions'. While better than in 'Caviar' and in 'Pretzels', the generally crude character designs don't match the amount of detail that went everywhere else in the animation.
Humour could have been more, in number and in execution (what there is is amusing but it's never more than that). The story is paper thin and pretty formulaic.
In conclusion, Terrytoons continue their very watchable and interesting if not particularly remarkable streak. 6/10 Bethany Cox
'Caviar' and 'Pretzels', the previous two Terrytoons cartoons, are very watchable, if unexceptional, cartoons. The same goes for 'Spanish Onions' but even more so. Like the previous two cartoons, 'Spanish Onions' is available as of now on Youtube via a French theatrical print with German subtitles and not a half bad one either. The silhouetted instrumentalists have always been a nice touch.
'Spanish Onions' best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. 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 healthy dose of Bizet's 'Carmen' (a French opera but set in Spain) further adds to the enjoyment. The backgrounds for 1930 are remarkably detailed and there is some nice inventive visual detail, showing 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 fun amusing moments and the characters may not have significant development to them but are not annoying or personality deprived. Synchronisation is pretty neat, back when the technique was still being refined but managing here in being a major accomplishment for so early on.
On the other hand, things do work against 'Spanish Onions'. While better than in 'Caviar' and in 'Pretzels', the generally crude character designs don't match the amount of detail that went everywhere else in the animation.
Humour could have been more, in number and in execution (what there is is amusing but it's never more than that). The story is paper thin and pretty formulaic.
In conclusion, Terrytoons continue their very watchable and interesting if not particularly remarkable streak. 6/10 Bethany Cox
