Have been an enormous fan of Disney all my life. Like to love a vast majority of their films ('Chicken Little', 'Home on the Range' and 'The Black Cauldron' being among the very few exceptions) and the same goes for their short films/cartoons and shows. And this is not just childhood nostalgia talking, as not all my childhood favourites have held up (for example actually did like 'The Black Cauldron' as a child but overtime its problems to me became more obvious).
'Tick Tock Tale' is one of the very short films/ cartoons watched over and over as a child. Actually only heard of it just recently as a recommendation, and being such as a lover of animation there was no way of forgetting about it. 'Tick Tock Tale' turned out to be well worth the look, not among the best of Disney but nonetheless a very good representation of it (whether film, television or cartoons). Not a masterpiece but Disney fans should get a lot out of it.
In terms of the story, 'Tick Tock Tale' is admittedly very slight and it is a type of story that has been seen before fairly frequently.
Perhaps the first two minutes could have had slightly more momentum as things were setting up.
On the other hand, 'Tick Tock Tale' is truly beautiful to look at, don't think from my experience that clocks have looked this good in animation while the rich colours and attention to detail are astounding. Of the short films to come out relatively recent years, 'Tick Tock Tale' is among the best-looking shorts to not bear the Pixar name. The music score by Dario Marianelli matches the main character's quirkiness in some parts, has a nice atmosphere and fits with the action and the characters' movements and such very well.
Story-wise, 'Tick Tock Tale' is immensely charming, regardless of any predictability, and once the thief is introduced it does a good job providing fun and suspense while never being too silly or too dark. It is not everyday where one identifies with and relates to a clock, but that is the case with the main character, that is largely responsible for the short's charm and it doesn't get too sugary. The thief makes for some nice conflict.
All in all, a very charming and well done short film that deserves to be better known. 8/10
