Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna and Barbera and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now through young adult eyes, thanks to broader knowledge and taste and more interest in animation styles and various studios and directors.
Have a lot of appreciation and admiration for Bob Clampett, with a visual and humour style so distinctive and easily recognisable. His early work was very variable but when on top form and in his prime the best of his work was great and even more. 'A Coy Decoy' is not one of Clampett's best. It is a decent cartoon though, even if there are funnier, wittier and fresher cartoons from him, and did see some of Clampett's unique style all over it and being at ease with the material.
Will agree with anyone who found the 'Black Beauty' gag in not particularly good taste, the stereotypical nature is far from subtle and it was not very funny on top of that.
For me, despite liking Porky on the whole and usually his partnership with Porky is legendary, he is a bit bland here and didn't really see the need for his inclusion considering the cartoon doesn't do much with him.
However, Daffy as ever is a sheer delight, it is hardly surprising why he is one of animation's best, most interesting and most popular characters. He is just so much fun to watch and his manic personality is so well suited to the material.
Supporting characters are far from forgettable and provide a lot of fun. The wolf matches Daffy beautifully and the literary characters are fun to spot. Mel Blanc as always does a fantastic job with the voice work, showing an unparalleled ability to bring individuality to multiple characters.
The animation is as always atmospheric in crisp black and white, with lots of smooth movement, imaginative detail in the gags and rich and meticulous detail in the backgrounds. Carl Stalling's music score is as ever high in energy, liveliness, character, lushness and whimsy, and not only is dynamic and fits effortlessly with the action but enhances everything. Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata is used inspiringly.
What's more, 'A Coy Decoy' is enormously entertaining elsewhere, with some amusing wildness, wit and bite starting to show at this point in the dialogue. Plus there are some beautifully timed and animated and imaginative sight gags, that contain some surprises and a lively pace. Sure, familiarity with what is being referenced is in order which wasn't an issue for me being one who was familiar.
Overall, decent if not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox