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.
'Parrotville Fire Department' is the second cartoon of Van Beuren's "Rainbow Parade" series, after 'Pastry Town Wedding', and the first of the three Parrotville cartoons. It is not an awful cartoon and Van Beuren certainly did far worse, but there is not an awful lot special here and only a few assets are note-worthy in a good way. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths certainly. Personally quite liked the animation, compared to the animation in the Cubby the Bear, most of the Tom and Jerry and other cartoons of Van Beuren, their production values came on a long way when switching to colour. There may be a lack of refinement in some of the drawing and the colour scheme is simple, but the cartoon is lusciously coloured and the backgrounds meticulous in detail. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough and wasn't exactly bored watching it, with the cartoon having some excitement towards the end.
However, the content is pretty thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. While not as sugary as 'Pastry Town Wedding', the younger characters and their antics veer on the too cutesy and bratty.
Characters are bland, the Old Bird comes off best (mainly because he is the only halfway likeable character) but not exactly interesting still. 'Parrotville Fire Department' is virtually plot-less with barely existent conflict apart from towards the end, when there are sporadic signs of a story it is very formulaic and so easy to figure out what will happen next and how things will end. The pacing only really comes to life when the fire breaks out, which feels too late.
In summary, not bad but with little to be blown away by. 4/10 Bethany Cox
'Parrotville Fire Department' is the second cartoon of Van Beuren's "Rainbow Parade" series, after 'Pastry Town Wedding', and the first of the three Parrotville cartoons. It is not an awful cartoon and Van Beuren certainly did far worse, but there is not an awful lot special here and only a few assets are note-worthy in a good way. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths certainly. Personally quite liked the animation, compared to the animation in the Cubby the Bear, most of the Tom and Jerry and other cartoons of Van Beuren, their production values came on a long way when switching to colour. There may be a lack of refinement in some of the drawing and the colour scheme is simple, but the cartoon is lusciously coloured and the backgrounds meticulous in detail. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough and wasn't exactly bored watching it, with the cartoon having some excitement towards the end.
However, the content is pretty thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. While not as sugary as 'Pastry Town Wedding', the younger characters and their antics veer on the too cutesy and bratty.
Characters are bland, the Old Bird comes off best (mainly because he is the only halfway likeable character) but not exactly interesting still. 'Parrotville Fire Department' is virtually plot-less with barely existent conflict apart from towards the end, when there are sporadic signs of a story it is very formulaic and so easy to figure out what will happen next and how things will end. The pacing only really comes to life when the fire breaks out, which feels too late.
In summary, not bad but with little to be blown away by. 4/10 Bethany Cox
