The Terrytoons are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation (who improved actually over time), characterisation (which tended to be bland leads and pretty fun supporting characters, especially villains) and content, with not much originality and a lot of their cartoons contained recycled premises and material. They are interesting though for anyone wanting to see old(er) low-budget animation.
1942's Terrytoons output was a hit and miss batch, most ranging from average to decent although with a few weak ones. Of the previous 1942 cartoons, only 'Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar' was weak. 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' is one of the better ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the better 1942 cartoons. It is a decent cartoon with a fair share of good assets. 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' is worth the look, if not one to see over and over, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset in 'Sham Battle Shenanigans', as always with Terrytoons, is the music, as ever wonderful. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with adding to the action. The animation is also a big plus, it at this point has come on a long way since Terrytoons first started. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and the synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
There are a number of well timed and amusing moments, especially agreed with the commercial interruptions, and there is lots of energy and charm that doesn't feel forced. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done, with some nice tension and fun if not perhaps imagination in the training sequences. Gandy has grown on me since 1941. In his earlier solo outings he wasn't very appealing and was pretty bland up to 'The Magic Pencil', but later on he became funnier, more interesting and more likeable. He is very well matched by Sourpuss, who compels more as a character and is funnier, despite on paper their chemistry not making much sense they do have a nice dynamic together.
'Sham Battle Shenanigans' does have a very predictable and thin story though that is fairly familiar in terms of premise, both for Terrytoons and animation in general and it could have executed it more freshly. There was a sense that the studio had run out of ideas by this point and were recycling old ideas, while in this regard 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' doesn't fare anywhere near as badly there is that sense still.
A few of the gags later on are not as fresh or as well timed and it can get slightly heavy-handed. It also peters out at the end, felt like the writers were not sure how to end it and copped out.
Overall, decent if not a must watch. 6/10 Bethany Cox
1942's Terrytoons output was a hit and miss batch, most ranging from average to decent although with a few weak ones. Of the previous 1942 cartoons, only 'Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar' was weak. 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' is one of the better ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the better 1942 cartoons. It is a decent cartoon with a fair share of good assets. 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' is worth the look, if not one to see over and over, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset in 'Sham Battle Shenanigans', as always with Terrytoons, is the music, as ever wonderful. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with adding to the action. The animation is also a big plus, it at this point has come on a long way since Terrytoons first started. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and the synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
There are a number of well timed and amusing moments, especially agreed with the commercial interruptions, and there is lots of energy and charm that doesn't feel forced. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done, with some nice tension and fun if not perhaps imagination in the training sequences. Gandy has grown on me since 1941. In his earlier solo outings he wasn't very appealing and was pretty bland up to 'The Magic Pencil', but later on he became funnier, more interesting and more likeable. He is very well matched by Sourpuss, who compels more as a character and is funnier, despite on paper their chemistry not making much sense they do have a nice dynamic together.
'Sham Battle Shenanigans' does have a very predictable and thin story though that is fairly familiar in terms of premise, both for Terrytoons and animation in general and it could have executed it more freshly. There was a sense that the studio had run out of ideas by this point and were recycling old ideas, while in this regard 'Sham Battle Shenanigans' doesn't fare anywhere near as badly there is that sense still.
A few of the gags later on are not as fresh or as well timed and it can get slightly heavy-handed. It also peters out at the end, felt like the writers were not sure how to end it and copped out.
Overall, decent if not a must watch. 6/10 Bethany Cox
