Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.
That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons (primarily the earlier ones of the 40s to the early 50s, once Paul J. Smith took over in the late 50s onwards the cartoons became very hit and miss) are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. 'Franken-Stymied' is one of his best early 60s cartoons and one of the best of his later output overall. As well as having a fun and creepy atmosphere when necessary, it's the closest in a while to capturing the manic energy of the early/original Woody Woodpecker cartoons from the 40s-mid-50s.
As for Woody himself, he is manic and very funny and while he is a pest he's not an unbearably obnoxious or overplayed one. He is supported well by the scientist and especially the robot.
Jack Hannah's involvement has something to do with it perhaps. He does such a great job with making the characters as strong as possible, while providing some of the funniest and most imaginatively gags of any Woody Woodpecker cartoons in a long time. While the animation is still a bit simple and rushed-looking in the drawings (low budgets and time constraints being the reasons), the colours and attention to detail are vastly improved from most Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period being much more vibrant and meticulous.
The story is very predictable and could have done with a little more variety but the energetic pacing helps make it involving. The music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it.
Grace Stafford does a great job as always, and although Daws Butler's imitation of Peter Lorre is not great he is still very entertaining.
Overall, one of the better later Woody Woodpecker cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox
