There is always something to enjoy in the Private Snafu cartoons and Fighting Tools is one of the most enjoyable ones. It's not as great as Spies, Booby Traps and The Goldbrick but, other than feeling a little too short and having an ending that can be smelt a mile off, it's very good. The animation never tries to do anything too complicated yet there is enough detail, nice use of black and white colours and smooth drawings to ensure that it doesn't look simplistic. There's plenty of music and singing in Fighting Tools and the good news is that not only is it energetically sung, lively in rhythm beautifully orchestrated but it is also memorable. Fighting Tools is very clever and funny, both Snafu and the Nazi soldier have fun material, and there's even a daring, risqué element to the cartoon that made the series interesting in the first place. The gags are just as funny, especially Snafu mistaking the Nazi soldier's bottom for his head while the cartoon never comes across as heavy-handed and doesn't try to make fun of a serious situation(none of the Snafu cartoons did). Snafu as ever is endearing, he is incredibly inept- the running joke of the series is that he is the worst soldier in the army- but means well, while the Nazi soldier manages not to be too much of a crude stereotype. Mel Blanc does a terrific job with the voice acting, which didn't come as a surprise as Blanc is one of the best voice actors of all time who rarely put a foot wrong. Overall, very enjoyable stuff if not the Snafu series at its best. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Fighting Tools
