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.
One of twelve cartoons adapted by Van Beuren from the work of Otto Soglow and one of two (the first) to feature Sentinel Louey before The Little King came along, 'A.M To P.M' is one of their best. Soglow's source material helps it quite a bit, and the cartoon is remarkably faithful to it on the whole. 'A.M To P.M' is a very different effort for them, a different visual style and neither the surreal absurdity or saccharine cutesiness of most of their other work, and all the better for it.
'A.M To P.M' is non-existent story-wise and the cartoon drags occasionally. Anybody unfamiliar with the newspaper comics of the time and the source material may find the humour goes over their heads or very of the time, this wasn't an issue for me though.
However, the animation, adhering to Soglow's unusual but beautifully striking, visual style is some of Van Beuren's most unique and attractive. The music is lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated.
Soglow's not hilarious but amusing and charming humour shines through, Van Beuren managing to remain faithful to that, and luckily there is a lot of it. Pacing is leisurely but rarely dull and the cartoon is coherent at least. Sentinel Louey is an appealing lead character.
In conclusion, surprisingly very good and one of Van Beuren's best overall and one of their better efforts based on Soglow's work. 8/10 Bethany Cox
One of twelve cartoons adapted by Van Beuren from the work of Otto Soglow and one of two (the first) to feature Sentinel Louey before The Little King came along, 'A.M To P.M' is one of their best. Soglow's source material helps it quite a bit, and the cartoon is remarkably faithful to it on the whole. 'A.M To P.M' is a very different effort for them, a different visual style and neither the surreal absurdity or saccharine cutesiness of most of their other work, and all the better for it.
'A.M To P.M' is non-existent story-wise and the cartoon drags occasionally. Anybody unfamiliar with the newspaper comics of the time and the source material may find the humour goes over their heads or very of the time, this wasn't an issue for me though.
However, the animation, adhering to Soglow's unusual but beautifully striking, visual style is some of Van Beuren's most unique and attractive. The music is lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated.
Soglow's not hilarious but amusing and charming humour shines through, Van Beuren managing to remain faithful to that, and luckily there is a lot of it. Pacing is leisurely but rarely dull and the cartoon is coherent at least. Sentinel Louey is an appealing lead character.
In conclusion, surprisingly very good and one of Van Beuren's best overall and one of their better efforts based on Soglow's work. 8/10 Bethany Cox
