The Inspector series comprised of thirty four cartoons between 1965 and 1969. Some cartoons were better than others (which can be said for many series), but all the cartoons were never less than watchable, even if not all worked from personal view, and were more satisfying on young adult rewatch than as a child with more to get out of them. Anybody who likes the Pink Panther cartoons, am one of those if more the late 60s than the post-mid 70s cartoons, should have little problem with The Inspector cartoons.
'Ape Suzette' is not one of the best The Inspector cartoons, wouldn't call it a great one. It is though entertaining, better than the rating here suggests, and is quite strange and wild. And not just by reading the premise/plot summary. It is one of the weaker cartoons up to this early stage (the seventh) of this particular series of cartoons, though it is better than the 'Napoleon Blown-Aparte', of the seven cartoons up to this point that was the only disappointing one while still being watchable. Credit is due for it to be agreed quite original for The Inspector series.
Do think though that like 'Cock-a-Doodle Deux Deux', 'Ape Suzette' did go slightly overboard on the silliness and it did get on the bizarre side.
For me too, the villain the Cockney Sailor was compared to other villains in The Inspector cartoons a little bland (Paul Frees also did better voice work in the series) and over-shadowed by the rest of the characters in comparison. The ending was a touch rushed.
On the other hand, can find nothing to fault the animation for. he sceneries are beautifully rendered, fairly simple in terms of drawing but never ugly, while the somewhat abstract backgrounds have nice attention to detail, more so than the Pink Panther cartoons (not a knock at all on the animation of that series), and don't look sparse. But it is the deep and rich colours that stand out in this regard. Like the jazzy slinkiness of the music, it fits and it doesn't sound cheap.
Liked the timing of the physical humour, which avoided being overly-violent and was tasteful, fatigue didn't creep in either. Have always liked the verbal humour even better, with its subtle irony and The Inspector is one of the few cartoon character to make mumblings funny. Really like The Inspector and Deux Deux's chemistry and their well contrasted personalities help make it work expertly, especially loved Deux Deux here and the ape is memorable. Always liked Pat Harrington Jr's voice work in The Inspector cartoons, and do have to agree that he is better as Deux Deux while contrasting him and The Inspector's voices beautifully.
Summarising, decent cartoon but not a great one. 7/10
'Ape Suzette' is not one of the best The Inspector cartoons, wouldn't call it a great one. It is though entertaining, better than the rating here suggests, and is quite strange and wild. And not just by reading the premise/plot summary. It is one of the weaker cartoons up to this early stage (the seventh) of this particular series of cartoons, though it is better than the 'Napoleon Blown-Aparte', of the seven cartoons up to this point that was the only disappointing one while still being watchable. Credit is due for it to be agreed quite original for The Inspector series.
Do think though that like 'Cock-a-Doodle Deux Deux', 'Ape Suzette' did go slightly overboard on the silliness and it did get on the bizarre side.
For me too, the villain the Cockney Sailor was compared to other villains in The Inspector cartoons a little bland (Paul Frees also did better voice work in the series) and over-shadowed by the rest of the characters in comparison. The ending was a touch rushed.
On the other hand, can find nothing to fault the animation for. he sceneries are beautifully rendered, fairly simple in terms of drawing but never ugly, while the somewhat abstract backgrounds have nice attention to detail, more so than the Pink Panther cartoons (not a knock at all on the animation of that series), and don't look sparse. But it is the deep and rich colours that stand out in this regard. Like the jazzy slinkiness of the music, it fits and it doesn't sound cheap.
Liked the timing of the physical humour, which avoided being overly-violent and was tasteful, fatigue didn't creep in either. Have always liked the verbal humour even better, with its subtle irony and The Inspector is one of the few cartoon character to make mumblings funny. Really like The Inspector and Deux Deux's chemistry and their well contrasted personalities help make it work expertly, especially loved Deux Deux here and the ape is memorable. Always liked Pat Harrington Jr's voice work in The Inspector cartoons, and do have to agree that he is better as Deux Deux while contrasting him and The Inspector's voices beautifully.
Summarising, decent cartoon but not a great one. 7/10
