Inconsistent is a good way of describing the overall quality of Terrytoons Studios' cartoons. The only consistent asset is the always outstanding music, while the animation has improved and come on leaps and bounds over-time. The content and characterisation either hit and miss, sometimes the material feeling recycled and the stories have never been a strong suit, even in the best ones.
1943 mostly was one of the better years for the studio. Again not consistent, but while there was never anything great in this year, the best cartoons being decent, unlike the previous years there was also not really anything desperately weak. Do consider 'Barnyard Blackout' among Terrytoons' weaker 1943 cartoons. Certainly not a complete waste of time but rather mediocre and in all honesty didn't see an awful lot of point other than being another one of those war-time message cartoons that kept popping up with mixed success.
There are two particularly outstanding assets, one of them has always been even in the weak cartoons and the other being the most improved asset overtime, in 'Barnyard Blackout'. The outstanding asset is the music. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with adding to the action. The big overtime improvement is the animation. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and the synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
Henry is a reasonably fun character, never being on the wrong side of obnoxious. The voice acting avoids being too cutesy.
Did feel though that, like a lot of Terrytoons cartoons, that the number of gags was not really anywhere near enough and what there were limply timed and were neither funny or memorable. The story completely lacks energy and is barely existent, with it not being a desperately new premise there is a running out of ideas feel.
With not enough content (or so it felt) the cartoon felt over-stretched. It too came over as very heavy-handed and what it was trying to say was done to death well before it was made. Gandy and Sourpuss are completely incidental to the cartoon, and their appearances are both bland and unnecessary. More padding than anything else. There is an over-cuteness at times and the writing is just corny beyond belief, not sure whether 'Barnyard Blackout' knew what audience it was aiming for, veering towards kids and even they may find it too cute and that what it's trying to say may go over their heads.
On the whole, mediocre. 4/10
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