Despite being a big fan of animation and liking a good deal of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' output, the Roland and Rattfink series never completely clicked with me. All the cartoons are definitely watchable, as are the characters (despite being generic), a handful of them actually being pretty good, but most fit in the mixed feelings and slightly above average categories. Never terrible, but also never great, the constant lack of originality working against it frequently.
'Gem Dandy' is certainly enjoyable, but it falls short of being a gem. It is generally one of the better Roland and Rattfink cartoons if not as good as 'A Pair of Sneakers', 'Robin Goodhood' and 'War and Pieces' (the top three best), and one of the better latter cartoons, the succeeding cartoons coming over as tired and less confident. Know of others that feel the same regarding the second half of the series, though also know of others that were always fairly indifferent and those that the series started off unsure and grew, see all sides.
The museum setting is made good use, hardly gone to waste. Did like the attention to detail for the museum exhibits and it does make one want to go to one. The music as always matches the series' light-hearted energy quite well, never sounding cheap or at odds. Once 'Gem Dandy' gets going, the gags are quite plentiful and while again there is very little creative about them the ones in the second half that were more anarchic and relied more on the reactions were amusing, while never being hilarious.
A good job is done with Rattfink's snideness, Rattfink is the far funnier and more interesting character (as well as more consistently characterised) and he fits perfectly within the role of a jewel thief. There are some nice vibrant colours and the chemistry between Roland and Rattfink is quite fun. Lennie Weinrib sounds like he was having a lot of fun voicing Rattfink.
On the other hand, Roland is a little less successfully characterised. He has had a stronger presence in his other cartoons, his rhetoric and good intentions don't fit within the setting or in his role within the story and somehow his well-meaning character trait seemed somewhat anaemic for a security guard. The story was in need of more freshness, there is a running out of ideas feel and like the series was recycling pre-existing ones.
While the gags are amusing, they could have done with more variety as they are predictable too. Lower budgets and time constraints show here as the animation generally is not great, very sketchy and hasty looking in the drawing and the backgrounds are sparse and not very appealing to look at.
Concluding, above average but not a gem. 6/10
'Gem Dandy' is certainly enjoyable, but it falls short of being a gem. It is generally one of the better Roland and Rattfink cartoons if not as good as 'A Pair of Sneakers', 'Robin Goodhood' and 'War and Pieces' (the top three best), and one of the better latter cartoons, the succeeding cartoons coming over as tired and less confident. Know of others that feel the same regarding the second half of the series, though also know of others that were always fairly indifferent and those that the series started off unsure and grew, see all sides.
The museum setting is made good use, hardly gone to waste. Did like the attention to detail for the museum exhibits and it does make one want to go to one. The music as always matches the series' light-hearted energy quite well, never sounding cheap or at odds. Once 'Gem Dandy' gets going, the gags are quite plentiful and while again there is very little creative about them the ones in the second half that were more anarchic and relied more on the reactions were amusing, while never being hilarious.
A good job is done with Rattfink's snideness, Rattfink is the far funnier and more interesting character (as well as more consistently characterised) and he fits perfectly within the role of a jewel thief. There are some nice vibrant colours and the chemistry between Roland and Rattfink is quite fun. Lennie Weinrib sounds like he was having a lot of fun voicing Rattfink.
On the other hand, Roland is a little less successfully characterised. He has had a stronger presence in his other cartoons, his rhetoric and good intentions don't fit within the setting or in his role within the story and somehow his well-meaning character trait seemed somewhat anaemic for a security guard. The story was in need of more freshness, there is a running out of ideas feel and like the series was recycling pre-existing ones.
While the gags are amusing, they could have done with more variety as they are predictable too. Lower budgets and time constraints show here as the animation generally is not great, very sketchy and hasty looking in the drawing and the backgrounds are sparse and not very appealing to look at.
Concluding, above average but not a gem. 6/10
