Variable has always been a good way to sum up the Terrytoons cartoons. They often had outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm, yet variable in animation (something that improved significantly 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.
1943 for Terrytoons can also be described as variable, though none of the cartoons are desperately weak. Nor are any of them exactly great, all between the ranges of mediocre and decent. 'Scrap for Victory', another wartime cartoon featuring Gandy Goose and Sourpuss the Cat, is one of the decent ones. Whether one likes it is down to whether you like either Gandy or Sourpuss, have always liked Sourpuss better but Gandy has definitely grown on me, or wartime cartoons, more in the "appreciate why they were made" category myself.
There are two particularly outstanding assets, one of them has always been even in the weak cartoons and the other being the most improved asset overtime, in 'Scrap for Victory'. The outstanding asset is the music. 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 big overtime improvement is the animation. 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.
'Scrap for Victory' has enough parts that are timed well and amuse and there is enough energy and charm, that doesn't come over as 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 army/battle sequences. Having found Gandy a bland character initially he has grown on me since being paired with Sourpuss and the early 40s and he is appealing enough here. Sourpuss has always struck me as the more interesting and funnier character, despite on paper their chemistry not making much sense they do have a nice dynamic together.
Having said that, if you have already seen enough Terrytoons wartime military cartoons you will find very little if anything new here in 'Scrap for Victory'. This is pretty over-familiar stuff and it lacks freshness.
Later on, the gags aren't as fresh or as well timed and the cartoon can get on the heavy-handed side before ending on somewhat of a whimper.
In conclusion, decent if not an awful lot more than that. 6/10
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