User Reviews

Of Terrytoons Studios' numerous regular character theatrical series, which were very variable (a mix of like very much, mixed feelings and don't care for), that for magpie duo Heckle and Jeckle gets my vote as the best, and was remarkably consistent in its earlier outings in a good way. It does help too that Heckle and Jeckle themselves are compelling lead characters in the way that some of the studio's other recurring characters weren't.

1948's 'Magpie Madness' is towards being one of their best and another example of the earlier Heckle and Jeckle cartoons being consistently good, the best of them very good. 'Magpie Madness' is one of the very good ones and one of the better 1948 Terrytoons cartoons. It does deserve to be better known, as does the whole series (although not all their later outings were great they were still better than most of the other Terrytoons theatrical series at their worst).

'Magpie Madness' story admittedly is not very original and at times does feel a little too much like a series of gags later on. Some of which being quite familiar.

So much works in 'Magpie Madness' favour though. The music, a consistent good thing, is so lovely to listen to and there is such an uplifting vibe hearing it because of the snappy character it has. The animation is every bit as great. It is vibrantly coloured, quite smooth in drawing and transitions, doesn't look static or simplistic and the attention to detail is good. Despite saying that 'Magpie Madness' is quite predictable, it does provide one twist on the usual formula in the doctor character.

When it comes to the gags, 'Magpie Madness' scores very highly. The cartoon is filled with them and they all range from amusing to hilarious. The ending is wonderfully anarchic, though the outcome is not a surprise. The dialogue avoids being too corny and the action is deliciously anarchic, sometimes darkly so when the two get more malicious. The pace is fast and furious and the action and increasing anarchy is wonderfully chaotic, yet remarkably it doesn't feel too much of an overload. The story is not novel, but the character interaction, constant entertainment value and eventful content helped always make it interesting still.

Once again, Heckle and Jeckle are highly entertaining characters, their movements, the way they talk (in the use of language and the voices themselves) and their expressions make them quite unique characters for Terrytoons. Dimwit aptly named oddly enough, is a nice contrast and has equally good comic timing while also being the cartoon's most rootable character. The doctor is a great adversary, cultured but not one to mess with yet it was entertaining seeing him with Heckle and Jeckle driving him to the brink (how they do it is wildly entertaining while unsettling).

All in all, very good. 8/10.