Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
Just to reiterate right now that there are good Aesop's Fables/Van Beuren, and Van Beuren in general, cartoons out there. 'The Haunted Ship' is a prime example of the Aesop's Fables. So there is no bias against them or saying all of them are bad, because that's not right. As said in my first sentence, the series is actually variable, hit and miss if you will. There are however too many average or less cartoons, and, while not the worst by any stretch of the series and Van Beuren in general, 'Farm Foolery' is one of them.
Best asset about 'Farm Foolery' is the music score, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. Sometimes even the only good thing. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
There is some nice energy and parts where synchronisation isn't sloppy. A couple of characters are cute if not much more than that. Sadly that is all that can be said by me that is good.
Animation is not good, in fact it is downright bad most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and suffers from far too hectic pacing, something that affects the visuals a lot of the time because while there are moments of non-sloppy synchronisation most of it is out of sync. It feels aimless and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere. Most of the characters are unmemorable at best.
Basically 'Farm Foolery' is a stringing along of gags and music/dance structured in a way that's disorganised and random. Generally it is very low on laughs, actually none of it is remotely amusing. Nothing is inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them.
In summary, weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Just to reiterate right now that there are good Aesop's Fables/Van Beuren, and Van Beuren in general, cartoons out there. 'The Haunted Ship' is a prime example of the Aesop's Fables. So there is no bias against them or saying all of them are bad, because that's not right. As said in my first sentence, the series is actually variable, hit and miss if you will. There are however too many average or less cartoons, and, while not the worst by any stretch of the series and Van Beuren in general, 'Farm Foolery' is one of them.
Best asset about 'Farm Foolery' is the music score, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. Sometimes even the only good thing. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
There is some nice energy and parts where synchronisation isn't sloppy. A couple of characters are cute if not much more than that. Sadly that is all that can be said by me that is good.
Animation is not good, in fact it is downright bad most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and suffers from far too hectic pacing, something that affects the visuals a lot of the time because while there are moments of non-sloppy synchronisation most of it is out of sync. It feels aimless and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere. Most of the characters are unmemorable at best.
Basically 'Farm Foolery' is a stringing along of gags and music/dance structured in a way that's disorganised and random. Generally it is very low on laughs, actually none of it is remotely amusing. Nothing is inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them.
In summary, weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
