Bear Raid Warden

That's what the air raid wardens used to angrily shout in all the movies of the time. It was such a common thing it became a bit of a gag. So when Barney Bear is the warden and there's a firefly that can't or won't comply, there's a comic scrap.

This is the first Barney Bear cartoon not directed by Rudy Ising. He and his partner, Hugh Harman, were no longer producing for theatrical release, nor would they return after the war. Instead, they concentrated on industrial films, a steadier market. Instead, this was the first of the series directed by George Gordon, a talented animator who had been directing occasionally since the middle of the 1930s, but kept being shoved back to lead animator. He had more success on television, where he directed 120 episodes of THE SMURFS. If you can call that success.

While not one of my favourite cartoon characters, Barney Bear was a very funny and likable character where his sluggishness was a huge part of his charm. He was also interesting for being modelled on both his creator Rudolf Ising (who also was his first voice actor until 1941) and the mannerisms of Wallace Beery.

The first Barney Bear cartoon to not be directed by Ising and the first of three cartoons directed by George Gordon, 'Bear Raid Warden' is not bad at all (quite the opposite) for the first cartoon in the series to not be directed by the character's creator. To me, it's one of the cartoons in the series that's closest in spirit to Ising's efforts. It is slight and predictable, but is also charming, well-made and amusing.

As to be expected, Barney is fun and adorable, with his personality yet to be simplified, and is easy to root for. The firefly is a good foil and a suitable pest. The animation is colourful and beautifully drawn with fluid movements and meticulous attention to detail. The amount of detail given to Barney's character design was incredibly nuanced and it was a shame that it became simplified later on and lost its special uniqueness.

Music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the impact of actions and gestures.

'Bear Raid Warden' is good silly fun, well timed and has charming appeal. Billy Bletcher does well in his first outing as Barney.

In conclusion, a solid effort for the first non-Ising-directed Barney cartoon. 8/10 Bethany Cox