While not one of my favourites, Ub Iwerks was responsible for a lot of interesting work. Especially when working with Walt Disney, his oldest friend and one of his best, and co-creating one of animation's most famous characters in Mickey Mouse. His career since opening his own studio had interest value but the quality was variable, often being successful in the animation and music but wanting in the story and variable in gags, lead characters and tone.
1933 to 1936 saw twenty five cartoons, mostly based on famous fairytales and familiar stories, as part of Iwerks's "ComiColor" series. The "ComiColor" series is very much worth watching and interesting, as is the case with many series some cartoons are better than others (my personal favourite being 1934's 'Jack Frost' which was reviewed by me three years ago) but there are no real animation nadirs. 1936's 'Ali Baba' is decent enough but not exceptional.
'Ali Baba' is slight in the story department with not always enough content for the short length, although it was nice to see elements from the Arabian Nights story apart from of course the more gruesome parts, and is at times too saccharine and lacking tightness and variety.
Its characters should have been more interesting, their personalities are bland generally with a lead character that is a little too cute and not much more. The wit and imagination has been more frequent and stronger in other cartoons in the series before and since, there are not enough gags and the pace could have done with some tightening in particularly the early stages.
However, 'Ali Baba' is certainly worth the watch. It isn't too dull and doesn't feel too stale.
There are a few amusing moments that aren't too corny and never repetitive, and there is a genuine likeability.
Furthermore, the animation is great, if occasionally garish. Meticulously detailed, fluid in drawing, vibrant in colour and often rich in imagination and visual wit. The music is cleverly and lushly orchestrated, is infectiously catchy and adds a lot to the cartoon.
In summary, decent if unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox
1933 to 1936 saw twenty five cartoons, mostly based on famous fairytales and familiar stories, as part of Iwerks's "ComiColor" series. The "ComiColor" series is very much worth watching and interesting, as is the case with many series some cartoons are better than others (my personal favourite being 1934's 'Jack Frost' which was reviewed by me three years ago) but there are no real animation nadirs. 1936's 'Ali Baba' is decent enough but not exceptional.
'Ali Baba' is slight in the story department with not always enough content for the short length, although it was nice to see elements from the Arabian Nights story apart from of course the more gruesome parts, and is at times too saccharine and lacking tightness and variety.
Its characters should have been more interesting, their personalities are bland generally with a lead character that is a little too cute and not much more. The wit and imagination has been more frequent and stronger in other cartoons in the series before and since, there are not enough gags and the pace could have done with some tightening in particularly the early stages.
However, 'Ali Baba' is certainly worth the watch. It isn't too dull and doesn't feel too stale.
There are a few amusing moments that aren't too corny and never repetitive, and there is a genuine likeability.
Furthermore, the animation is great, if occasionally garish. Meticulously detailed, fluid in drawing, vibrant in colour and often rich in imagination and visual wit. The music is cleverly and lushly orchestrated, is infectiously catchy and adds a lot to the cartoon.
In summary, decent if unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox