That Fresh Airedale is directed by Chuck Jones and has Mel Blanc doing voices is reason enough to see it or any cartoon for that matter. Fresh Airedale does have much to admire about it, at the same time however it is very easy to see why anybody would dislike it. It is very different to what we usually see with Jones, here is a darker and much more scathing approach in alternative to the witty laugh-a-minute one we are used to. There have been times where being different can work and others where it doesn't, Fresh Airedale is an example of the former though it does have a tone and approach that either will take some getting used to or is not going to bode well with people. Like with me this said, you may be one of those who didn't care for it first time, finding the change of pace not easy to swallow or finding it went over your head but on repeat viewings you pick up on what was missed first time round and you appreciate it more. Talking about what is so good about Fresh Airedale, the animation is fine, objects, character designs and frame blend and flow smoothly, effort clearly was made in making it as detailed as possible and the colours are still lush while maintaining the darker tone of the story. Fresh Airedale is also beautifully scored, with great energy and also sensitively to the more dramatic bits. The writing, remarkably ahead of its time, takes a scathingly cynical edge and is satirical in tone without coming across as too overly mean-spirited, it is very sharply observed throughout and manages a couple of funny moments. The story is paced well and even though in terms of plotting you are never quite sure of what it's trying to do the message makes its point, and while it's a depressing one it doesn't come across as too heavy-handed. In terms of characters, the most relateable is definitely the cat and it is him you find yourself rooting for. The dog Shep is portrayed as a sociopath with no redeeming qualities, and a great job is done making the audience hate him, not everybody will like having the main character being the one you dislike most but the approach works wonderfully within the cartoon and what it's trying to say. The voice work is excellent, Mel Blanc has had more to do before but he still puts a lot of vigour into his characterisations, while Frank Graham is also great. The ending in a way does underwhelm in the sense that there is no justice when the cartoon is literally crying out for it, however Fresh Airedale while not appealing to all tastebuds is most interesting and really well done in almost all respects. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Fresh Airedale
Fresh Airedale
(1945)
Really interesting and well done, but is not going to appeal to all
17 July 2013