Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Being somebody who holds Friz Freleng in very high regard, considers Daffy Duck one of her favourite animated characters of all times and has always found Porky Pig while not a favourite a likeable character, 'Slightly Daffy' had potential to be decent. With music from Carl Stalling and voice work from Mel Blanc, masters in their fields who rarely if ever disappointed, personal interest got bigger. Sadly 'Slightly Daffy', a vastly inferior remake to the pretty good 'Scalp Trouble' as has already been noted, was a pretty big disappointment.
'Slightly Daffy' really isn't one of Freleng's best efforts and is not a good representation of him. In fact, personally found difficult to believe it came from Freleng when he was hitting his stride, it could easily have passed for being directed by somebody else.
Ok, 'Slightly Daffy' is not a complete waste. Carl Stalling's music score, as always, is outstanding, with inspired use of pre-existing music, beautiful and clever orchestration and full of rhythmic energy that adds to and enhances the action expertly. Despite the way it is used, the animation quality itself is crisp, meticulously detailed and fluid.
Mel Blanc shows why he is rightly considered a legend in voice acting, showing an unparalleled ability to give individuality to more than one character. 'Slightly Daffy' also shows why Daffy and Porky work so well together, Daffy, in full manic mode, was always the funnier and more interesting character of the two though Porky does effectively play it straight which works wonderfully when partnered with Daffy (it's these dynamic character contrasts that make their chemistry as good as it was).
Conversely, there is not much to add to what has already been said regarding the short-comings of 'Slightly Daffy'. Material shortages do come through loud and clear and it overall is basically a cheater with little point to it. The cartoon is little more than a hodge-podge of pre-existing material from previous cartoons (including the cartoon it's remade from) strung together, but with less than lively pacing, a lack of zany wit and gags that are not particularly clever or imaginative.
While the actual animation quality itself is far from the bad, there is a big problem with how it is used. Again a hodge-podge of recycled material choppily edited. The story is basic and not much of one, if one at all, what there is feels rushed and thrown together. The cartoon lacks energy and the supporting characters are lazy and racially insensitive stereotypes.
In summary, mediocre, one doesn't expect this from Freleng during this period of his career. 4/10 Bethany Cox
