Streamlined Greta Green

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. Actually appreciate it even more through young adults eyes, due to having more knowledge of it, various animation styles, studios, directors and how it all works.

'Streamlined Greta Green' is not one of Friz Freleng's, a director who did many great cartoons and a director held in high admiration by me, best, not being one of his funniest, wittiest or freshest. For relatively early Freleng, 'Streamlined Greta Green' is one of the stronger ones though he would do much better later. It is never unfunny while not among the funniest cartoons ever, Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story, though there are signs of them definitely here (more so than most from this period).

It is quite thin in terms of story. There are not many surprises or much new.

However, the characters are lots of fun and drive the cartoon well. Their designs are visually striking and intriguing.

The cartoon has a lot of very amusing and beautifully timed gags, the best hilarious and clever, and lots of energy and wit. The conflict is nicely done and there is a good deal of cuteness and charm.

Animation is very good, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and very meticulous in detail. The music as always from Carl Stalling is outstanding, it is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it. Cannot find anything to fault the voice acting.

Overall, well worth watching. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The plot to "Streamlined Greta Green" sure reminded me of "Little Johnny Jet", a Tex Avery cartoon he made for MGM in 1953. Both feature an anthropomorphic piece of machinery that wants to be faster and more hip. In the 1953 film, it's a baby airplane that wants to be a fast jet and in "Streamlined Greta Green", it's a little touring car that wants to be a taxi and live a hot and exciting life.

The animation is nice and the story is okay...so 'okay' that I wonder why MGM re-worked the story a decade and a half later. Decent but not among the best from Looney Tunes back in 1937.

One of the Merrie Melodies cartoons named after a featured song casts cars in the role of people, including a young car who decides not to do what his mom said. The 1930s Merrie Melodies didn't have totally consistent quality, although most of them were worth seeing. The best ones featured Daffy up to his usual silliness, although he and Porky mostly appeared in Looney Tunes while the Merrie Melodies were mainly one-shot cartoons. "Streamlined Greta Green" is nothing special. I noticed that the canisters said Rose Gas, Violet Gas and Ethyl Gas, so I assume that it was a pop culture reference that we in the 21st century unfortunately won't get.

OK, but like I said, nothing special.