Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.
That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He is a lot of fun here and is never obnoxious or a jerk. His personality is a little closer to the manic Woody, despite being more of a heroic figure than his trademark pest persona, than the toned down one he tended to be around this period and later. The bank robber is a good foil, suitably formidable but with good enough comic timing to pit off well against Woody.
My only real complaints are a couple of parts that could have done with more spark and being less typical and some very rushed-looking and not particularly appealing animation. Otherwise 'Square Shootin' Square' is a lot of fun, with an unoriginal admittedly concept that is executed actually with a vigorous pace and in a way that's chuckle worthy at least and exciting.
Music, on the other hand, is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The whole cartoon goes at a snappy pace, especially in the second half.
'Square Shootin' Square's' gags are always very amusing and never less than that, even with it being typical Woody Woodpecker which works for the character that this was made during a period where the formula was starting to get tired (though this is an exception in quality).
Grace Stafford does a great job voicing Woody and she doesn't get enough credit.
Altogether, a very nicely done cartoon. One of Paul J Smith's better Woody Woodpecker cartoons, saying this as there are a handful that are not very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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