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Watchable enough to not run away from
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.
'Runaway Blackie', despite the lead character looking a little like Cubby the Bear with obvious differences, is actually not a Cubby cartoon, a cartoon character that has never done it for me and am not a big fan of most of his cartoons either. It is not a great cartoon, or to me a particularly good one. It is though watchable, enough to not run away from it.
It does have a dull and taking too long to get going first half, which was basically set up with few if any laughs and a good deal of cutesiness. The story is very slight and not much of one, it's very standard stuff when there is anything resembling one.
Blackie himself is somewhat bland and poorly animated, if not as personality-deprived as Cubby. Like a vast majority of Van Beuren cartoons, the animation is at best primitive and is really not great.
However, as to be expected, the music score is outstanding. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Strauss' "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" is always welcome.
The second half generally fares much better, the energy kicks in and the chain gang stuff sees a livelier pace and fun supporting character. There are more gags, and while not exactly absurdist and not quite enough still, they are well-timed and amusing. They also do better than most Van Beuren cartoons in not feeling too random and making some kind of sense.
On the whole, watchable if not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
'Runaway Blackie', despite the lead character looking a little like Cubby the Bear with obvious differences, is actually not a Cubby cartoon, a cartoon character that has never done it for me and am not a big fan of most of his cartoons either. It is not a great cartoon, or to me a particularly good one. It is though watchable, enough to not run away from it.
It does have a dull and taking too long to get going first half, which was basically set up with few if any laughs and a good deal of cutesiness. The story is very slight and not much of one, it's very standard stuff when there is anything resembling one.
Blackie himself is somewhat bland and poorly animated, if not as personality-deprived as Cubby. Like a vast majority of Van Beuren cartoons, the animation is at best primitive and is really not great.
However, as to be expected, the music score is outstanding. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Strauss' "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" is always welcome.
The second half generally fares much better, the energy kicks in and the chain gang stuff sees a livelier pace and fun supporting character. There are more gags, and while not exactly absurdist and not quite enough still, they are well-timed and amusing. They also do better than most Van Beuren cartoons in not feeling too random and making some kind of sense.
On the whole, watchable if not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 25, 2017
Details
- Runtime7 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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