Fleischer Studios' "Color Classics" series is uneven. The best are imaginative, not too cute, has amusing moments, have characters worth rooting for and when they teach a lesson they don't preach generally. The worst though have not an original thought, are barely existent plot-wise, are humourless, are far too cute and the characters tend to be bland.
If there is things that the cartoons on either extreme have anything in common, they always have wonderful music and most of them are well made visually. 'Hold It', made and released in 1938 during one of the studio's better periods with a relatively minor group of exceptions, is neither among the best or worst "Color Classics" cartoons. To me, it is one of the high middle cartoons in the series. 'Hold It' is very much worth watching but it is not an essential, with all the good things of the best cartoons and few of the flaws of the worst (both of the "Color Classics" series and overall) present.
'Hold It' is very slight in the story department, with it not really getting going and that is only really in the momentum until about a third in. As stunningly beautiful the opening is visually with the innovative use of the three dimensional technique, it goes on a little too long.
The only thing resembling much of a story actually is the conflict with the dog, which is not completely original but it does some tension. Until then, nothing much happens beforehand.
Conversely, the animation is very good with the opening being the standout. The beautifully detailed backgrounds are particularly notable. The music is like a character in itself and 'Hold It's' best asset. It is full of liveliness and the instrumentation and vocal lines are cleverly done, distinctively lush and quite memorable. The song is very catchy and didn't find it too trite.
Even with the lacking story, that doesn't stop 'Hold It' from being far from light in the gags department and they are very amusing and timed well. Silly but endearingly so. When it gets going, the energy never dulls and is quite infectious in the best parts. The cats have colourful personalities and the dog provides the right amount of tension. It also thankfully doesn't try to teach a lesson, not that sort of cartoon, and nothing comes over as laid on too thick or childish.
Summing up, worthwhile if not essential. 7/10
If there is things that the cartoons on either extreme have anything in common, they always have wonderful music and most of them are well made visually. 'Hold It', made and released in 1938 during one of the studio's better periods with a relatively minor group of exceptions, is neither among the best or worst "Color Classics" cartoons. To me, it is one of the high middle cartoons in the series. 'Hold It' is very much worth watching but it is not an essential, with all the good things of the best cartoons and few of the flaws of the worst (both of the "Color Classics" series and overall) present.
'Hold It' is very slight in the story department, with it not really getting going and that is only really in the momentum until about a third in. As stunningly beautiful the opening is visually with the innovative use of the three dimensional technique, it goes on a little too long.
The only thing resembling much of a story actually is the conflict with the dog, which is not completely original but it does some tension. Until then, nothing much happens beforehand.
Conversely, the animation is very good with the opening being the standout. The beautifully detailed backgrounds are particularly notable. The music is like a character in itself and 'Hold It's' best asset. It is full of liveliness and the instrumentation and vocal lines are cleverly done, distinctively lush and quite memorable. The song is very catchy and didn't find it too trite.
Even with the lacking story, that doesn't stop 'Hold It' from being far from light in the gags department and they are very amusing and timed well. Silly but endearingly so. When it gets going, the energy never dulls and is quite infectious in the best parts. The cats have colourful personalities and the dog provides the right amount of tension. It also thankfully doesn't try to teach a lesson, not that sort of cartoon, and nothing comes over as laid on too thick or childish.
Summing up, worthwhile if not essential. 7/10