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Introducing The Little King
Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
Following two very good cartoons starring Sentinel Louey 'A'.M To 'P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day'), the third of twelve Van Beuren's adaptations of Otto Soglow's work 'The Fatal Note' introduces us to Soglow's most famous character The Little King. Luckily it is a good introduction to The Little King, and one can see the appeal to the character, and a good cartoon generally. Just not as much as the previous two cartoons.
'The Fatal Note' is not as faithful to Soglow's work, in terms of visual style and to a lesser extent humour, as the previous two Van Beuren/Soglow cartoons 'A.M To P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day' . Which is a pity because that was what those cartoons emulated so well and one would naturally think The Little King cartoons of the Van Beuren/Soglow series would do that.
There is a little less of those cartoons' charm, with the humour not quite being as charming or subtle. The story is basic to non-existent too.
However, there is not a whole lot wrong with 'The Fatal Note' and demonstrates why Van Beuren's cartoons adapted from Soglow's work are among the studio's better, more ambitious and more entertaining efforts.
One expects Van Beuren cartoons to generally not be well animated. That's not the case with 'The Fatal Note', the studio's Soglow adaptations come to think of it were all among their better-looking cartoons and showed more detail and crispness. This is especially true in the animation of the staircase, it may be reused a few times in the cartoon but that doesn't stop it from being one of the studio's most striking visuals, and the remarkably ambitious (the most ambitious one yet for Van Beuren) character design for the villain.
Music as always with Van Beuren, very nearly always the best thing about their cartoons and sometimes the only good thing, is lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, that song is so infectious. The humour, while not hilarious and not as charming or subtle as 'A.M To P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day', is very amusing, nicely timed and with enough imagination to give the numerous gags similar in ideas variation in execution. The more mischievous behaviour of The Little King is sweet and quite fun to watch.
While The Little King makes a likeable first appearance, it's the more interesting character of the villain who steals the cartoon.
In summary, good cartoon and introduction to Soglow's most famous character. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Following two very good cartoons starring Sentinel Louey 'A'.M To 'P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day'), the third of twelve Van Beuren's adaptations of Otto Soglow's work 'The Fatal Note' introduces us to Soglow's most famous character The Little King. Luckily it is a good introduction to The Little King, and one can see the appeal to the character, and a good cartoon generally. Just not as much as the previous two cartoons.
'The Fatal Note' is not as faithful to Soglow's work, in terms of visual style and to a lesser extent humour, as the previous two Van Beuren/Soglow cartoons 'A.M To P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day' . Which is a pity because that was what those cartoons emulated so well and one would naturally think The Little King cartoons of the Van Beuren/Soglow series would do that.
There is a little less of those cartoons' charm, with the humour not quite being as charming or subtle. The story is basic to non-existent too.
However, there is not a whole lot wrong with 'The Fatal Note' and demonstrates why Van Beuren's cartoons adapted from Soglow's work are among the studio's better, more ambitious and more entertaining efforts.
One expects Van Beuren cartoons to generally not be well animated. That's not the case with 'The Fatal Note', the studio's Soglow adaptations come to think of it were all among their better-looking cartoons and showed more detail and crispness. This is especially true in the animation of the staircase, it may be reused a few times in the cartoon but that doesn't stop it from being one of the studio's most striking visuals, and the remarkably ambitious (the most ambitious one yet for Van Beuren) character design for the villain.
Music as always with Van Beuren, very nearly always the best thing about their cartoons and sometimes the only good thing, is lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, that song is so infectious. The humour, while not hilarious and not as charming or subtle as 'A.M To P.M' and 'A Dizzy Day', is very amusing, nicely timed and with enough imagination to give the numerous gags similar in ideas variation in execution. The more mischievous behaviour of The Little King is sweet and quite fun to watch.
While The Little King makes a likeable first appearance, it's the more interesting character of the villain who steals the cartoon.
In summary, good cartoon and introduction to Soglow's most famous character. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 25, 2018
- Permalink
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- Runtime8 minutes
- Color
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