Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more through young adults eyes, due to having more knowledge of it, various animation styles, studios, directors and how it all works.
Granted, 'The Cat Came Back' is not one of Friz Freleng's, a director who did many great cartoons and a director held in high admiration by me, best, not being one of his funniest, wittiest or freshest. For relatively early Freleng, 'The Cat Came Back' is worth watching though he would do much better later. It is never what one would call properly hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story.
It is quite thin in terms of story, with nothing new done, and the structure is basically an excuse to string the events along. It is not terribly imaginative and occasionally momentum is not always there. A few of the characters are bland with not an awful lot to do.
However, enough of the characters and their chemistry carry 'The Cat Came Back' very well. The most interesting character being the cat.
'The Cat Came Back' has enough very amusing moments (like some suitably wild action), some variety and there is a good deal of liveliness in the second half. The conflict is nicely done and there is a good deal of cuteness and charm. The sentimentality is kept at bay thankfully.
Animation is very good, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and very meticulous in detail. The music is outstanding, it is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Overall, well done but Freleng did much better later. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Granted, 'The Cat Came Back' is not one of Friz Freleng's, a director who did many great cartoons and a director held in high admiration by me, best, not being one of his funniest, wittiest or freshest. For relatively early Freleng, 'The Cat Came Back' is worth watching though he would do much better later. It is never what one would call properly hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story.
It is quite thin in terms of story, with nothing new done, and the structure is basically an excuse to string the events along. It is not terribly imaginative and occasionally momentum is not always there. A few of the characters are bland with not an awful lot to do.
However, enough of the characters and their chemistry carry 'The Cat Came Back' very well. The most interesting character being the cat.
'The Cat Came Back' has enough very amusing moments (like some suitably wild action), some variety and there is a good deal of liveliness in the second half. The conflict is nicely done and there is a good deal of cuteness and charm. The sentimentality is kept at bay thankfully.
Animation is very good, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and very meticulous in detail. The music is outstanding, it is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
Overall, well done but Freleng did much better later. 7/10 Bethany Cox
