The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They 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, characterisation and content.
1941, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch though a little more consistent actually than the previous years. Of which 'Back to the Soil' is one of the better ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the better 1941 cartoons. It is a quite good cartoon that gets better as it progresses. 'Back to the Soil' is worth the look, with more to it than just completest sake, though for me that was the main reason to see it being someone who is trying to see all the Terrytoons available.
'Back to the Soil's' best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. This is hardly surprising as it is always the best thing of the Terrytoons cartoons and always a redeeming quality of the lesser Terrytoons. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
A number of well timed and amusing moments, touches, and there is lots of zest and natural charm. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done, the start is a little slow but it quickly picks up once on the farm with a thoroughly enjoyable second half. Gus is a fun and likeable leading character, also related to his situation at the start because it is a very human situation and people in real life have been there, and didn't deserve to go into obscurity.
Outside of the backgrounds and more fluidity than seen previously however, a few of the transitions are not always polished.
A few of the gags are not as fresh or as well timed and parts become predictable. The start is a little on the slow side and the supporting characters lack the personality of Gus.
In summary, decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox
1941, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch though a little more consistent actually than the previous years. Of which 'Back to the Soil' is one of the better ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the better 1941 cartoons. It is a quite good cartoon that gets better as it progresses. 'Back to the Soil' is worth the look, with more to it than just completest sake, though for me that was the main reason to see it being someone who is trying to see all the Terrytoons available.
'Back to the Soil's' best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. This is hardly surprising as it is always the best thing of the Terrytoons cartoons and always a redeeming quality of the lesser Terrytoons. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation in movement and sound is neat.
A number of well timed and amusing moments, touches, and there is lots of zest and natural charm. Many parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done, the start is a little slow but it quickly picks up once on the farm with a thoroughly enjoyable second half. Gus is a fun and likeable leading character, also related to his situation at the start because it is a very human situation and people in real life have been there, and didn't deserve to go into obscurity.
Outside of the backgrounds and more fluidity than seen previously however, a few of the transitions are not always polished.
A few of the gags are not as fresh or as well timed and parts become predictable. The start is a little on the slow side and the supporting characters lack the personality of Gus.
In summary, decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox
