Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
'Midnight' is not one's definition of a great cartoon, but it is pretty decent for the Aesop's Fables/Van Beuren series. In 1930 there were a few good efforts but also a lot of mediocre or less ones, 'Midnight' is neither, instead being somewhere in the middle and a watchable/slightly above average cartoon.
There are things problematic with 'Midnight'. The animation is less than great, most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore. Synchronisation tends to be sloppy and at odds with the soundtracks.
Story is pretty flimsy and is very basic when there is a little resemblance of one. Pacing could have been tightened at times.
However, the characters are engaging and carry 'Midnight' well. While still random, there is more sense than usual, there is nothing offensive and it's not as disjointed as some of their efforts with mismatched halves, the cartoon knew what direction to take and stuck with it.
While there is nothing hilarious in 'Midnight' and the absurdist style comes in spurts rather than a consistent whole, the gags are amusing and there isn't a shortage of them if more audibly than visually. Clever use of sound. They're timed well generally and there is not much really that one would call dull.
Best of all is the music score, it is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Overall, pretty decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox
'Midnight' is not one's definition of a great cartoon, but it is pretty decent for the Aesop's Fables/Van Beuren series. In 1930 there were a few good efforts but also a lot of mediocre or less ones, 'Midnight' is neither, instead being somewhere in the middle and a watchable/slightly above average cartoon.
There are things problematic with 'Midnight'. The animation is less than great, most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore. Synchronisation tends to be sloppy and at odds with the soundtracks.
Story is pretty flimsy and is very basic when there is a little resemblance of one. Pacing could have been tightened at times.
However, the characters are engaging and carry 'Midnight' well. While still random, there is more sense than usual, there is nothing offensive and it's not as disjointed as some of their efforts with mismatched halves, the cartoon knew what direction to take and stuck with it.
While there is nothing hilarious in 'Midnight' and the absurdist style comes in spurts rather than a consistent whole, the gags are amusing and there isn't a shortage of them if more audibly than visually. Clever use of sound. They're timed well generally and there is not much really that one would call dull.
Best of all is the music score, it is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Overall, pretty decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox
