The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
1933 was again a hit and miss year for Terrytoons, but 'Hansel and Gretel' is another one of the best and above average ones. It does not blow the mind, but one has come to expect that from Terrytoons except that 'Hansel and Gretel' has more to it than just Terrytoons completest sake.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Some of the backgrounds are detailed and ambitious enough and it's suitably elaborate. Synchronisation is pretty neat.
There is, like the best Terrytoons, a natural and never unforced natural charm, there are amusing and sharp moments, it rarely gets dull and while the content is standard it is fun and well-timed. It's cohesive and not too sugary, there are some unsettling moments and the support characters are fun.
'Hansel and Gretel's' animation however is still, outside of the backgrounds, primitive at best with a fair bit of crudeness, over-simplicity and choppiness.
Its story doesn't have much new to set it apart and can be erratic in pace. The title characters are not as interesting as the support and are a little bland and the cartoon could have done with being a minute or two longer to make things flow better.
Overall, decent cartoon. 6/10 Bethany Cox
1933 was again a hit and miss year for Terrytoons, but 'Hansel and Gretel' is another one of the best and above average ones. It does not blow the mind, but one has come to expect that from Terrytoons except that 'Hansel and Gretel' has more to it than just Terrytoons completest sake.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Some of the backgrounds are detailed and ambitious enough and it's suitably elaborate. Synchronisation is pretty neat.
There is, like the best Terrytoons, a natural and never unforced natural charm, there are amusing and sharp moments, it rarely gets dull and while the content is standard it is fun and well-timed. It's cohesive and not too sugary, there are some unsettling moments and the support characters are fun.
'Hansel and Gretel's' animation however is still, outside of the backgrounds, primitive at best with a fair bit of crudeness, over-simplicity and choppiness.
Its story doesn't have much new to set it apart and can be erratic in pace. The title characters are not as interesting as the support and are a little bland and the cartoon could have done with being a minute or two longer to make things flow better.
Overall, decent cartoon. 6/10 Bethany Cox
