While better was to come with the darker, grimmer and bolder, yet still deliciously and enormously entertaining, 'Cheese Chasers', 'The Hypo-Chondri Cat' and 'Mouse Wreckers', 'House Hunting Mice' is another great effort from them.
In 'House Hunting Mice', there is characteristically terrific animation, very like with the rest of the Hubie and Bertie cartoons and Chuck Jones in general. Attention to detail is meticulous, the colours are rich and vibrant and the characters are designed in a way that's distinctively Chuck Jones. Music from Carl Stalling always elevates cartoons he composes for to a higher level, have always said that he's my favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers and he rarely puts a foot wrong and I don't think any differently still.
The orchestration is clever, rich and luscious, the energy, character and appropriately dark atmosphere are evident throughout and it not only fits with what's going on but adds to it.
'House Hunting Mice' is still very funny and entertaining, even if having less of the darker and more daring edge of 'Cheese Chasers', 'Mouse Wreckers' and 'The Hypo-Chondri Cat' with the usual razor sharp wittiness and imaginative gags. Love the chemistry and battle between Hubie and Bertie and the robot that dominates much of 'House Hunting Mice'.
Even with the Hubie and Bertie cartoons adopting a bold twist on the cat and mouse dynamic, with the mice being the antagonists and the cat the victims, Hubie and Bertie are colourful and appealing characters and the robot is a hugely effective foil to them. Nothing to complain about with the vocal characterisations of Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg either.
Overall, another great Hubie and Bertie cartoon. 9/10 Bethany Cox
