Woodpecker from Mars

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 are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He is a lot of fun here and is never obnoxious or a jerk. While not a pest, he is closer to the manic persona than he is to the toned down one he adopted in enough of his mid-50s-onward cartoons. 'Woodpecker from Mars' generally is one of the best Paul J. Smith-directed Woody Woodpecker cartoons, and one of the best ones of the late 50s.

Its only real let down is, as with most Woody Woodpecker cartoons at this point, the simplistic and rushed-looking animation. Otherwise, 'Woodpecker from Mars' is great and has one of the more imaginative and least predictable concepts/stories of all of Woody's cartoons put together.

Music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The whole cartoon goes at a snappy pace, especially in the second half.

There are some inventive moments here and the humorous elements are timed beautifully and never less than amusing. The supporting characters are fun and Grace Stafford does a fine job as always as Woody.

To conclude, one of not many great late 50s-onwards Woody Woodpecker cartoons. 9/10 Bethany Cox

. . . of the U. S. Space Force, and an infestation of xenophobic politicians who will transport anyone they deem to be different from their preferred mold of people to illegal exile, whether by rickety ramshackle bus, shoddy charter airliner or billionaire's plaything rocket to Mars. Back in 1956, a few years after America's Arsenal of Democracy had won World War Two, and the U. S. had constructed a world headquarters for the United Nations in New York City, few dreamed that our beloved Homeland could sink as low as it has by mid-2023. However, the far-seeing filmmakers at Universal could smell out a rat, whether named Tricky Dick, Ron the Gypper, G. C. I. A. Bush, W. Coke Bush, Dan Snipe, Mike Cents or Donald Tramp. Therefore, Woody falls victim to the prevailing winds in America's future.

Another hidden gem from Paul smith?! Yep, and it's a great one at that. As always, the animation is solid, with nice colors and the odd bleed over effect. Woody is just crazy here, with his desire to torture civilians being just sheer insanity. The army getting involved is when the short really takes off. With the scientist, him and woody work well together as two completely different opposites. The ending has also got to be on the best ending punch lines in a cartoon ever! The story is unique and paced well, with Gaga's that put even some of woodys earlier shorts to shame. The voice acting is also done extremely well, and I just love the part when the scientist gets electrocuted. Like Niagara fools, woodpecker from mars has a great returning factor. To put it simply, an absolute must watch and easily one of woodys best shorts ever!