Did find a good deal to like about the Noveltoons series from Famous Studios, with the best decade being in my opinion the 40s. Some cartoons are better than others, some much more so, but the series is well worth seeing and were mostly very well made and scored. When Famous Studios were good, their cartoons were amusing (sometimes hilarious) and charming without being too sentimental. When they were not so good, their cartoons could be too cute and the material and stories could be thin and tired.
'Gabriel Churchkitten' fits in neither extreme, but has elements of both. It looks and sounds good and has moments of amusement and charm but the energy and laughs could have been more and it tended to be too cute and not fresh enough. That sounds like saying 'Gabriel Churchkitten' is a terrible cartoon, it's not. If anything, it is one cartoon that is a little above mixed feelings, which is not too awful a position but not one to blow the mind either.
Will start with what could have been done better, and some of it has been summed up briefly already. 'Gabriel Churchkitten' really could have benefitted from a tighter pace and more energy, do agree that there could have been less talk as momentum does sag as a result. Less talk and more gags, of which there are not enough of. What there is is hardly unfunny but nothing is hilarious really either.
Furthermore, the story doesn't always engage with it being too thin for the running time and sometimes stretched-feeling. While the charm is there, and it's a long way from forced, the cartoon could have laid it on less with the cuteness, parts were slightly saccharine for my tastes.
The animation and music though save it and are so good that they bring the rating up significantly. The animation is fluid and atmospheric in use of colour (light and dark), with the background art designed vividly. The music has the liveliness that one wishes was matched in the pace and also a lushness that doesn't go overboard on the sugar. 'Gabriel Churchkitten' just about avoids corniness and the amount of charm it has makes it hard to be too harsh on it.
Although the gags are not enough and not hilarious, one in my view isn't laugh-deprived, did find myself amused in spots. The characters are sweet enough, even if their personalities are somewhat one-dimensional, and the voice work is on point.
In conclusion, doesn't blow the mind in any shape or form but not a bad watch at all. 6/10
'Gabriel Churchkitten' fits in neither extreme, but has elements of both. It looks and sounds good and has moments of amusement and charm but the energy and laughs could have been more and it tended to be too cute and not fresh enough. That sounds like saying 'Gabriel Churchkitten' is a terrible cartoon, it's not. If anything, it is one cartoon that is a little above mixed feelings, which is not too awful a position but not one to blow the mind either.
Will start with what could have been done better, and some of it has been summed up briefly already. 'Gabriel Churchkitten' really could have benefitted from a tighter pace and more energy, do agree that there could have been less talk as momentum does sag as a result. Less talk and more gags, of which there are not enough of. What there is is hardly unfunny but nothing is hilarious really either.
Furthermore, the story doesn't always engage with it being too thin for the running time and sometimes stretched-feeling. While the charm is there, and it's a long way from forced, the cartoon could have laid it on less with the cuteness, parts were slightly saccharine for my tastes.
The animation and music though save it and are so good that they bring the rating up significantly. The animation is fluid and atmospheric in use of colour (light and dark), with the background art designed vividly. The music has the liveliness that one wishes was matched in the pace and also a lushness that doesn't go overboard on the sugar. 'Gabriel Churchkitten' just about avoids corniness and the amount of charm it has makes it hard to be too harsh on it.
Although the gags are not enough and not hilarious, one in my view isn't laugh-deprived, did find myself amused in spots. The characters are sweet enough, even if their personalities are somewhat one-dimensional, and the voice work is on point.
In conclusion, doesn't blow the mind in any shape or form but not a bad watch at all. 6/10