The Humpbacked Horse

Knowing that this is a remake or extended version of the wonderful 1947 classic is reason enough to check this out. It is definitely worth checking out and is not bad at all, just not as good as the 1947 version. The pacing was the biggest issue. The story follows the 1947 version's story closely but extends some scenes, I did feel in places it did seem too drawn out and like padding(maybe to make up for that the story originally is enough for 50 minutes really) and consequently the unique rhyming and rhythm was sapped of its wit and sharpness, there is clear evidence of it but not enough and needed a stronger pace for it to work a little more. There are a few additional scenes also that seemed rather pointless, especially the one with the fish. And the voices don't fit as well as they did in the 1947 version, I liked the nobility and charm of some but others jarred. The animation however is beautiful and just as detailed and charmingly coloured, while the music has a beautiful whimsy and melancholy to it. The characters engage and serve a point to the story, the story for its pacing issues and unneeded moments does have an appealing strangeness and charm to it and the dialogue does make an effort to maintain wit and sharpness- not always successful because of the pacing mind- and it keeps within the tone of the story. To conclude, a little lacking especially when the earlier version is as good as it is but still good. 7/10 Bethany Cox