It seems most would put DuckTales on top of the Disney cartoon television pile. For me though, DuckTales never reached the heights of world-building and character nuance that TaleSpin did.
In a way, this show was ahead of it's time. While it doesn't follow a strict continuity, there is a strong emphasis on character exploration. And at the time, I'd say that this is probably the most detailed cartoon world even put on television. There is a strong grasp on detail and making the world feel lived in and three dimensional. The protagonists aren't typical good guys either. They have have foibles and aren't out to serve the greater good and safe the world. They just want their own little slice of the pie and will do shady things to get it.
The shows not afraid to explore more mature and layered themes that flew over my head as kid. Corruption, thievery, money problems, parenthood vs career, selfishness, war, and even death are all covered here. Yet it never feels like too much for kids or too watered down for adults. This is one of the most smartly written cartoons Disney ever produced.
Of course not every single episode is a winner and sometimes the animation is less than stellar from time to time...but overall TaleSpin is prime animated fare that has stood the test of time. It's got colorful and fully realized characters, an interesting world, mature storytelling, good humor, and a fantastic sense of pure adventure. I adore this show.
In a way, this show was ahead of it's time. While it doesn't follow a strict continuity, there is a strong emphasis on character exploration. And at the time, I'd say that this is probably the most detailed cartoon world even put on television. There is a strong grasp on detail and making the world feel lived in and three dimensional. The protagonists aren't typical good guys either. They have have foibles and aren't out to serve the greater good and safe the world. They just want their own little slice of the pie and will do shady things to get it.
The shows not afraid to explore more mature and layered themes that flew over my head as kid. Corruption, thievery, money problems, parenthood vs career, selfishness, war, and even death are all covered here. Yet it never feels like too much for kids or too watered down for adults. This is one of the most smartly written cartoons Disney ever produced.
Of course not every single episode is a winner and sometimes the animation is less than stellar from time to time...but overall TaleSpin is prime animated fare that has stood the test of time. It's got colorful and fully realized characters, an interesting world, mature storytelling, good humor, and a fantastic sense of pure adventure. I adore this show.