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.
'Dinner Time' is notable for being the first Aesop's Fables cartoon (succeeding Paul Terry's Aesop's Film Fables series), Terry's first synchronised sound cartoon and for being one of the earliest synchronised sound cartoons overall. So it is of historical interest. The problem is that 'Dinner Time' to me was also not particularly good, there is certainly worse in the Aesop's Fables series but also far better.
There are good things. Its best asset, as is the case for pretty much all of Van Beuren cartoons, is the music score. It is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
A couple of gags are amusing and some of the synchronisation and sound are reasonably neat.
However, am also in agreement with Walt Disney about 'Dinner Time' being basically a noise of music and sound. They are done well, even if it was toned down a little and used a little less. It just all comes at the expense at having any decent gags and a succinct story.
As said, a couple of gags work but the others are just too disconnected and disorganised with nothing to them. The story is too hectic pace-wise, is often indistinguishable and doesn't make any sense. There is nothing memorable or engaging about the characters, who are immediately forgettable as soon as the cartoon is over. Other parts of the synchronisation is sloppy and an ill-match with everything else, a sign of the technique not being refined yet. 'Steamboat Willie', which came out later than this, did it much better.
In conclusion, interesting historically but the quality is lacking. 4/10 Bethany Cox