Tex Avery was a wonderful animator and animation director, one of the best there was/is, responsible for many great cartoons and some among the best ever made.
Not all his cartoons are fantastic, but even when Avery was not at right at the top of his game, even his lesser cartoons fare better than most. 'The Isle of Pingo Pongo' is lesser Avery but worth watching at least once. It is known as one of the "Censored 11" cartoons, and while there are more offensive and duller cartoons of this group it is easy to see why 'The Isle of Pingo Pongo' is part of it. It's not a great cartoon but not a travesty.
Humour wise, it is very hit and miss. Some of the jokes work and are clever and imaginatively animated, but others sorely needed sharper timing and come off as strained, such as the ship taking the route around the map of the world. The subject it's spoofing is very interesting and works well enough times to still make the cartoon watchable but lacks consistency. Most of the references were recognisable to me so understanding the joke in question didn't present a problem, there were a few that weren't so familiar so they went over my head.
Ranking it among the "Censored 11" cartoons, it ranks somewhere around the middle but nowhere near among the worst. Comparing the other "Censored 11" cartoons in regard to dubious content, while there are more offensive cartoons in the group around (like 'Jungle Jitters' and 'Angel Puss') any stereotypes or anything deemed offensive is less than tame here. The Natives are very stereotypically drawn and written with grotesquely ugly character designs (am really starting to grow tired of the over-sized lips), while there is some less than flattering or tasteful language in reference to them in the narration and the musical number (although the music itself is very good) is also not for the easily offended.
However, the animation is just wonderful, aside from the character designs of the Natives. A lot of it is beautifully drawn, everything is meticulously detailed especially the backgrounds and vibrantly coloured. Carl Stalling's music score is the highlight, as well as being lushly and cleverly orchestrated it is infectiously lively, characterful and dynamic with the action as well as enhancing it.
As said too, some of the jokes and references were easy to get and very amusing (but Avery showed since that his humour was more consistent in quality. Egghead is a likable and fun enough character, and much of the pacing is lively apart from a few dull stretches where some of the jokes feel strained or over-egged. The voice acting is good.
In conclusion, some obvious good points but very hit and miss as a cartoon. A lesser effort from Avery, though still watchable. 5.5/10 Bethany Cox
Not all his cartoons are fantastic, but even when Avery was not at right at the top of his game, even his lesser cartoons fare better than most. 'The Isle of Pingo Pongo' is lesser Avery but worth watching at least once. It is known as one of the "Censored 11" cartoons, and while there are more offensive and duller cartoons of this group it is easy to see why 'The Isle of Pingo Pongo' is part of it. It's not a great cartoon but not a travesty.
Humour wise, it is very hit and miss. Some of the jokes work and are clever and imaginatively animated, but others sorely needed sharper timing and come off as strained, such as the ship taking the route around the map of the world. The subject it's spoofing is very interesting and works well enough times to still make the cartoon watchable but lacks consistency. Most of the references were recognisable to me so understanding the joke in question didn't present a problem, there were a few that weren't so familiar so they went over my head.
Ranking it among the "Censored 11" cartoons, it ranks somewhere around the middle but nowhere near among the worst. Comparing the other "Censored 11" cartoons in regard to dubious content, while there are more offensive cartoons in the group around (like 'Jungle Jitters' and 'Angel Puss') any stereotypes or anything deemed offensive is less than tame here. The Natives are very stereotypically drawn and written with grotesquely ugly character designs (am really starting to grow tired of the over-sized lips), while there is some less than flattering or tasteful language in reference to them in the narration and the musical number (although the music itself is very good) is also not for the easily offended.
However, the animation is just wonderful, aside from the character designs of the Natives. A lot of it is beautifully drawn, everything is meticulously detailed especially the backgrounds and vibrantly coloured. Carl Stalling's music score is the highlight, as well as being lushly and cleverly orchestrated it is infectiously lively, characterful and dynamic with the action as well as enhancing it.
As said too, some of the jokes and references were easy to get and very amusing (but Avery showed since that his humour was more consistent in quality. Egghead is a likable and fun enough character, and much of the pacing is lively apart from a few dull stretches where some of the jokes feel strained or over-egged. The voice acting is good.
In conclusion, some obvious good points but very hit and miss as a cartoon. A lesser effort from Avery, though still watchable. 5.5/10 Bethany Cox