It is always interesting to see Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies cartoons featuring characters that are not the classic ones we know and love and are iconic in animation history. There are some good or more efforts, if also some average or less ones (with some of the cartoons of the very early lead characters, like Bosko and Buddy, being not much more than historical interest).
There are however far better examples of early Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies cartoons than the watchable but bland 'Pagan Moon'. It has good things but is easily forgettable after a couple of hours on the most part. A delight visually and aurally, other than that 'Pagan Moon' doesn't have an awful lot else to offer.
'Pagan Moon' looks good visually if not exactly imaginative. It's meticulously detailed and crisp and smooth. The title song is perky and the rest of the music is catchy, lush, rousing and cleverly synchronised.
Second half picks up in the pace and has a couple of mildly amusing music-oriented gags and fun undersea supporting characters.
However, the lead character and his sweetheart are bland and lack personality. There is not much funny in 'Pagan Moon' apart from a few moments in the second half.
Nor is there enough energy (the first half is far too cloyingly cutesy for my taste), consistent gags or a story with much memorability or momentum. The story is not much of one at all in fact.
Overall, watchable but doesn't have much to offer. 5/10 Bethany Cox
