A couple prisoners lead a jail break, overcoming incredible odds to get out. The strengths of this episode are the modest uses of ingenuity to escape and stay on the other side of the wall. Nothing here is awe-inspiring so it works as fluff for a Saturday morning viewing by youngster in 1929,
2 Reviews
A not particularly compelling jail break
TheLittleSongbird27 December 2017
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.
Watched 'Jail Breakers' online, and my impressions were that it was okay as a one time watch but it doesn't have enough to warrant repeat viewings, having more or less what was expected. 'Jail Breakers' is one of the earliest Van Beuren Aesop Fables cartoons and from my personal experience it is the first one that's easily available to watch (the previous three cartoons listed seem to be obscure).
There are strengths with 'Jail Breakers'. The high point is the typically peppy music score. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is nicely done and pacing-wise 'Jail Breakers' is not a dull cartoon, the prevention of the jail break has energy. A few mildly amusing moments.
On the other hand, like with a vast majority of Van Beuren cartoons, there are a lot of noticeable debits. The animation is at best very primitive, with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
The story is very slight and not much of one, and it's very standard stuff when there is anything resembling one and not only doesn't go very far it feels random at times. On top of being poorly animated none of the characters are particularly memorable or engaging.
Despite the energy being there, 'Jail Breakers' is low on gags and in terms of quality none of them are amusing or inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them. The first half is a bit too saccharine for my taste too.
In conclusion, not very compelling. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Watched 'Jail Breakers' online, and my impressions were that it was okay as a one time watch but it doesn't have enough to warrant repeat viewings, having more or less what was expected. 'Jail Breakers' is one of the earliest Van Beuren Aesop Fables cartoons and from my personal experience it is the first one that's easily available to watch (the previous three cartoons listed seem to be obscure).
There are strengths with 'Jail Breakers'. The high point is the typically peppy music score. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is nicely done and pacing-wise 'Jail Breakers' is not a dull cartoon, the prevention of the jail break has energy. A few mildly amusing moments.
On the other hand, like with a vast majority of Van Beuren cartoons, there are a lot of noticeable debits. The animation is at best very primitive, with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
The story is very slight and not much of one, and it's very standard stuff when there is anything resembling one and not only doesn't go very far it feels random at times. On top of being poorly animated none of the characters are particularly memorable or engaging.
Despite the energy being there, 'Jail Breakers' is low on gags and in terms of quality none of them are amusing or inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them. The first half is a bit too saccharine for my taste too.
In conclusion, not very compelling. 4/10 Bethany Cox
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