Given that the vast majority of TaleSpin's episodes are very well-written, it takes a special episode to rise above its usual high caliber. "The Old Man and the Sea Duck," written by Libby Hinson, is one of those.
When Baloo gets injured during a cargo run, he suffers amnesia and forgets how to fly. On the next day's run, he flies into a thunderstorm, which takes out one of the Sea Duck's engines. Unable to escape, Baloo hears a voice on the radio guide him down to an airfield. He meets Joe Magee, who he later learns is a retired flying ace turned flight instructor. He tells Joe he's forgotten to fly, and Joe offers to give Baloo a refresher course on flying.
What makes this story special is that we see a different side of Baloo than his carefree, easygoing side. It's clear that flying is his life, as he becomes visibly lost and shaken when he forgets how to fly. Not only that, it takes a special instructor like Joe to rekindle not just the skills to fly, but the joy of flying, in Baloo.
Ed Gilbert does a great job as Baloo, but just as equally good is Hal Smith, who does a phenomenal job as Joe. Smith is also known for his work as John Avery Whittaker in "Adventures in Odyssey," and "Odyssey" listeners/watchers may even hear bits of Whit in Joe's voice.
Animation is good, but not great. Wang Studios handles the animation for this episode, and though it's generally good, at times it appears to draw the characters slightly off-model... not enough to be problematic, but enough to notice.
Overall, though, a very well-done episode.
When Baloo gets injured during a cargo run, he suffers amnesia and forgets how to fly. On the next day's run, he flies into a thunderstorm, which takes out one of the Sea Duck's engines. Unable to escape, Baloo hears a voice on the radio guide him down to an airfield. He meets Joe Magee, who he later learns is a retired flying ace turned flight instructor. He tells Joe he's forgotten to fly, and Joe offers to give Baloo a refresher course on flying.
What makes this story special is that we see a different side of Baloo than his carefree, easygoing side. It's clear that flying is his life, as he becomes visibly lost and shaken when he forgets how to fly. Not only that, it takes a special instructor like Joe to rekindle not just the skills to fly, but the joy of flying, in Baloo.
Ed Gilbert does a great job as Baloo, but just as equally good is Hal Smith, who does a phenomenal job as Joe. Smith is also known for his work as John Avery Whittaker in "Adventures in Odyssey," and "Odyssey" listeners/watchers may even hear bits of Whit in Joe's voice.
Animation is good, but not great. Wang Studios handles the animation for this episode, and though it's generally good, at times it appears to draw the characters slightly off-model... not enough to be problematic, but enough to notice.
Overall, though, a very well-done episode.
