The Terrytoons cartoons are very variable, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and with animation that improved actually over time from very inconsistent to being quite good. More variable were the characterisation (where the villains tended to steal the show) and content, originality was not much and there was an increase in recycled ideas when they started running out of them. They are intriguing though for anyone wanting to see old(er) low-budget animation.
1942's Terrytoons output was not a consistent one, like the previous years, most ranging from average to decent, none great, although with a few weak ones. 'Eat Me Kitty Eight to the Bear' for me was the only weak one of the previous cartoons of that year's batch. 'Lights Out' is one of the more decent if unexceptional (more a one-time watch) ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the top middle 1942 cartoons. Saw 'Lights Out' as part of my want to see as many of the available Terrytoons cartoons as possible, which has as indicated been an interesting if variable experience, and it is worth the look.
'Lights Out's' best component, as always with Terrytoons, is the music, which is outstanding as always. It is beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is terrific fun to listen to and the lively energy is present throughout, doing so well with adding to the action. The musical sequences entertain. The animation at this point had come on a long way since Terrytoons first started and that is obvious in 'Lights Out'. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still evident, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and it's neatly synchronised.
There are well timed and amusing moments with some memorable lines, there are enough moments of spooky atmosphere and there is evidence of energy and charm that doesn't feel forced. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done. Gandy grew on me since 1941 in 'The Magic Pencil', he is far more compelling and easier to like from that cartoon onwards compared to his pretty bland personality in his earlier cartoons. Sourpuss matches him very well, a character that compels more and is funnier, their dynamic is nicely done and makes more sense than it does sound on paper. The voices are a good fit.
'Lights Out's' story though has very few surprises and is very slight, one that is fairly familiar in terms of premise, both for Terrytoons and animation in general and the execution lacks freshness. The studio generally had run out of ideas by this point and were recycling old ones, that's the case here.
A few of the gags later on are not as fresh or as well timed and the ending is very predictable and somewhat of a cop out.
Concluding, decent but unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox
1942's Terrytoons output was not a consistent one, like the previous years, most ranging from average to decent, none great, although with a few weak ones. 'Eat Me Kitty Eight to the Bear' for me was the only weak one of the previous cartoons of that year's batch. 'Lights Out' is one of the more decent if unexceptional (more a one-time watch) ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the top middle 1942 cartoons. Saw 'Lights Out' as part of my want to see as many of the available Terrytoons cartoons as possible, which has as indicated been an interesting if variable experience, and it is worth the look.
'Lights Out's' best component, as always with Terrytoons, is the music, which is outstanding as always. It is beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is terrific fun to listen to and the lively energy is present throughout, doing so well with adding to the action. The musical sequences entertain. The animation at this point had come on a long way since Terrytoons first started and that is obvious in 'Lights Out'. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still evident, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and it's neatly synchronised.
There are well timed and amusing moments with some memorable lines, there are enough moments of spooky atmosphere and there is evidence of energy and charm that doesn't feel forced. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done. Gandy grew on me since 1941 in 'The Magic Pencil', he is far more compelling and easier to like from that cartoon onwards compared to his pretty bland personality in his earlier cartoons. Sourpuss matches him very well, a character that compels more and is funnier, their dynamic is nicely done and makes more sense than it does sound on paper. The voices are a good fit.
'Lights Out's' story though has very few surprises and is very slight, one that is fairly familiar in terms of premise, both for Terrytoons and animation in general and the execution lacks freshness. The studio generally had run out of ideas by this point and were recycling old ones, that's the case here.
A few of the gags later on are not as fresh or as well timed and the ending is very predictable and somewhat of a cop out.
Concluding, decent but unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox
