Chuck Jones is widely considered one of animation's finest directors/animators and for very good reason. When he was at his best, his cartoons were masterpieces of animation, comic timing, characterisation and wit.
The Sniffles cartoon series were very early efforts for Jones, and, while they are interesting from a historical perspective, it is safe to say that from personal opinion they really don't see him at his best. There is somewhat of a still finding his feet feel here, with the humour once he became a regular director for the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons becoming much funnier, more constant and wittier and the characterisation far more interesting.
For me, there are better Sniffles cartoons than 'The Brave Little Bat'. It's an above average cartoon, but doesn't contain enough to make it great let alone blow the mind. Considering that this is Jones we're talking about one does kind of expect better even in his early years.
'The Brave Little Bat's' lack of originality and overly sugary sweet tendency are not easy things to ignore. They are however more forgivable than the character of Batty being insufferably annoying, the constant blabber-mouthing even for that characteristic goes overkill and grates, as well as having behaviour that contradicts the cartoon's title and is inconsistent.
Plus the back and forth between him and Sniffles doesn't either endear or amuse that much and instead drags 'The Brave Little Bat' down.
It is a shame because over-time effort has clearly been made to make Sniffles more interesting beyond just being cute and the cartoon succeeds in this. The cat is a formidable and entertaining foe that oddly enough one actually roots for. A few amusing moments and moments of suspenseful conflict.
Animation as pretty much always with Jones is very good. It is lush and vibrant in colour and meticulous and beautifully drawn in detail. The character designs are fluid, well drawn and distinctive Jones, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).
Overall, decent enough but not much more than that. 6/10 Bethany Cox
The Sniffles cartoon series were very early efforts for Jones, and, while they are interesting from a historical perspective, it is safe to say that from personal opinion they really don't see him at his best. There is somewhat of a still finding his feet feel here, with the humour once he became a regular director for the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons becoming much funnier, more constant and wittier and the characterisation far more interesting.
For me, there are better Sniffles cartoons than 'The Brave Little Bat'. It's an above average cartoon, but doesn't contain enough to make it great let alone blow the mind. Considering that this is Jones we're talking about one does kind of expect better even in his early years.
'The Brave Little Bat's' lack of originality and overly sugary sweet tendency are not easy things to ignore. They are however more forgivable than the character of Batty being insufferably annoying, the constant blabber-mouthing even for that characteristic goes overkill and grates, as well as having behaviour that contradicts the cartoon's title and is inconsistent.
Plus the back and forth between him and Sniffles doesn't either endear or amuse that much and instead drags 'The Brave Little Bat' down.
It is a shame because over-time effort has clearly been made to make Sniffles more interesting beyond just being cute and the cartoon succeeds in this. The cat is a formidable and entertaining foe that oddly enough one actually roots for. A few amusing moments and moments of suspenseful conflict.
Animation as pretty much always with Jones is very good. It is lush and vibrant in colour and meticulous and beautifully drawn in detail. The character designs are fluid, well drawn and distinctive Jones, if not the creative ones of his very best cartoons. Carl Stalling's music is lush and characterful, with clever orchestration and a mastery of not just adding to the action but enhancing it as well (Stalling was a near-unequalled master at this, though Scott Bradley gave him a run for his money).
Overall, decent enough but not much more than that. 6/10 Bethany Cox
