The 26 Little Lulu cartoons made during 1944-1948 (and the two made in the early 60s) were uneven (individually and the series as a general overview) but mostly watchable.
Starting it all off was the decent but "still finding its feet" 'Eggs Don't Bounce'. Since then the quality of cartoons was inconsistent with some faring better than others (sometimes significantly so). There are, at least up to this point in the series, some good ones like 'Hullaba-Lulu' and 'Lulu's Indoor Outing', some mediocre at best ones like 'Lulu Gets the Birdie' and ones that fall somewhere in between like 'Eggs Don't Bounce' and 'Lulu in Hollywood'. There were also a few pretty bad ones.
'Lulu's Birthday Party' is to me an example of a pretty bad Little Lulu cartoon and one of her worst. The best things about 'Lulu's Birthday Party' are Sammy Timberg's luscious and hugely energetic music score, one also cannot forget the irresistibly catchy title song, and some imaginative visuals once the birthday party fantasy takes over. The voice acting is dependable.
However, still really dislike the character of Mandy. She is a dull and obnoxious racial stereotype, that will easily cause some offence, and once again really disliked the very stereotypical and ugly character design for her, which reminds one uncomfortably of the character designs in the "Censored 11" cartoons with those ugly and somewhat offensive exaggerated features. Little Lulu has been more engaging before and since, her material here is too bland for her to show more expression.
Apart from the birthday party fantasy sequence dominating the second half, the animation is a bit flat and rough here, the series was actually starting to became more refined just before but 'Lulu's Birthday Party' returns to the less appealing animation style of the first few cartoons. The story is practically non-existent and is incredibly draggy and repetitive in the first half, where so many of the gags are stale at best.
In summary, pretty bad and one of Little Lulu's worst. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Starting it all off was the decent but "still finding its feet" 'Eggs Don't Bounce'. Since then the quality of cartoons was inconsistent with some faring better than others (sometimes significantly so). There are, at least up to this point in the series, some good ones like 'Hullaba-Lulu' and 'Lulu's Indoor Outing', some mediocre at best ones like 'Lulu Gets the Birdie' and ones that fall somewhere in between like 'Eggs Don't Bounce' and 'Lulu in Hollywood'. There were also a few pretty bad ones.
'Lulu's Birthday Party' is to me an example of a pretty bad Little Lulu cartoon and one of her worst. The best things about 'Lulu's Birthday Party' are Sammy Timberg's luscious and hugely energetic music score, one also cannot forget the irresistibly catchy title song, and some imaginative visuals once the birthday party fantasy takes over. The voice acting is dependable.
However, still really dislike the character of Mandy. She is a dull and obnoxious racial stereotype, that will easily cause some offence, and once again really disliked the very stereotypical and ugly character design for her, which reminds one uncomfortably of the character designs in the "Censored 11" cartoons with those ugly and somewhat offensive exaggerated features. Little Lulu has been more engaging before and since, her material here is too bland for her to show more expression.
Apart from the birthday party fantasy sequence dominating the second half, the animation is a bit flat and rough here, the series was actually starting to became more refined just before but 'Lulu's Birthday Party' returns to the less appealing animation style of the first few cartoons. The story is practically non-existent and is incredibly draggy and repetitive in the first half, where so many of the gags are stale at best.
In summary, pretty bad and one of Little Lulu's worst. 3/10 Bethany Cox
