Have seen a lot of the cartune special cartoons over time (some first time viewings recently, others re-watches), and while they are a mixed bag in quality there are plenty that are well above average and more. Burt Gillett did do a good deal of great work in his earlier career, with some of the best Disney cartoons (i.e. 'Lonesome Ghosts' coming from him), but his later work varied with some good cartoons but also some rather average ones. Really liked the idea for 'The Sleeping Princess'.
It is not everyday where you see the 'Sleeping Beauty' story being told from the point of view of the Wicked Fairy. While really liking the different idea, 'The Sleeping Princess' doesn't quite come off in execution. It looks absolutely beautiful and has its moments, but it also felt rather bland and like it didn't do enough with the premise and executed it too ordinarily. When it comes to the cartune special cartoons, 'The Sleeping Princess' is one of the average ones and it is average late mid/coming into late career Gillett (didn't really feel like him).
There are good things. The best thing is the animation, which is absolutely beautiful. The colours are vibrant and lush, while the meticulous and elaborate attention to detail in the backgrounds and fluid transitions are notable, as are some nice humorous touches. Close behind is the music score, which is fantastic throughout the entire cartoon. Even when the story is uneven in pacing the energy and character in the music are consistent and in a great way.
Did like the character of the Wicked Fairy, who is amusing and sinister. There are some amusing moments visually in the first third.
On the other hand, a lot doesn't work so well. It did start losing energy and had a running out of ideas feeling towards the end of the middle act. That the story was slight was absolutely expected, but was not expecting it to feel like a different cartoon that felt rather predictable and phoned in.
While the Wicked Fairy is great, the other characters are very bland. The cartoon is low on laughs, with the second half being far too cutesy for my tastes and while the telling the story from the villain's point of view idea sounded great it lacks wit and is too predictable.
Summing up, didn't quite do it for me. 5/10.
It is not everyday where you see the 'Sleeping Beauty' story being told from the point of view of the Wicked Fairy. While really liking the different idea, 'The Sleeping Princess' doesn't quite come off in execution. It looks absolutely beautiful and has its moments, but it also felt rather bland and like it didn't do enough with the premise and executed it too ordinarily. When it comes to the cartune special cartoons, 'The Sleeping Princess' is one of the average ones and it is average late mid/coming into late career Gillett (didn't really feel like him).
There are good things. The best thing is the animation, which is absolutely beautiful. The colours are vibrant and lush, while the meticulous and elaborate attention to detail in the backgrounds and fluid transitions are notable, as are some nice humorous touches. Close behind is the music score, which is fantastic throughout the entire cartoon. Even when the story is uneven in pacing the energy and character in the music are consistent and in a great way.
Did like the character of the Wicked Fairy, who is amusing and sinister. There are some amusing moments visually in the first third.
On the other hand, a lot doesn't work so well. It did start losing energy and had a running out of ideas feeling towards the end of the middle act. That the story was slight was absolutely expected, but was not expecting it to feel like a different cartoon that felt rather predictable and phoned in.
While the Wicked Fairy is great, the other characters are very bland. The cartoon is low on laughs, with the second half being far too cutesy for my tastes and while the telling the story from the villain's point of view idea sounded great it lacks wit and is too predictable.
Summing up, didn't quite do it for me. 5/10.
