It is easy to see why the animations of Dingo Pictures are relatively obscure, though those who have had the misfortune of seeing any of their output (which along with their equally low-budget computer animated counterpart Video Brinquedo have not once made anything worthwhile) cannot forget their awfulness. It is even easier to see why they are universally reviled.
'Lord of the Jungle' generally is actually one of Dingo Pictures' best. It is far from good, and there are the same usual faults and others, but a couple of things usually done really badly are improved here. For starters, along with 'Goldie' (very bad still but another one of their least bad), 'Lord of the Jungle' generally contains a far better standard of voice acting to usual. Not in all cases, for instance the recycled characters sound weird and don't fit the characters which seemed to have undergone gender changes since they last appeared. In a lot of other cases, there is little unintentional creepiness, actual engagement with the material and some understanding of the English language.
Although it takes far too long to get to the main story and the conflict that ensues, there is at least more of a discernible story than there usually is and one that goes somewhere and is coherent, even if not exciting or emotionally involving enough. Tarzan/Lord (real inconsistency with what to call him throughout) is an actual likeable protagonist, not irritating like most Dingo Pictures protagonists. The animation also manages to be better, not by much because it is still poor but there is in particular better background art and smoother movement and the characters that aren't recycled don't look creepy.
However, there is a lot wrong with 'Lord of the Jungle'. The rest of the animation is flat and sloppy, with some repetitive animation for some of the characters and simplicity taken too far. The music always sounds misplaced and never fitting with what's going on, not to mention that it has little breathing space even in scenes that are in dire need for it.
Script is juvenile, repetitious and even flatter than the animation, the early parts really do ramble. Although the story is an improvement, the pacing is still off, the early parts are aimlessly padded, and it takes forever to get going. That the viewer is left cold emotionally is also an issue.
Other than Lord/Tarzan and some of the original animals, other characters are dull and irritating with the recycled characters serving no point whatsoever to what's happening. Some of the characters' names (calling a gorilla Dragon) are disconcerting and don't fit the kind of characters they are. The voice acting is some of the best in a Dingo Pictures animation, but that doesn't stop some of it still being ill-fitting.
In conclusion, one of Dingo Pictures' best but weak. 3/10 Bethany Cox
