The third of four Beaky Buzzard cartoons, the previous two being 'Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid' (the best one) and 'The Bashful Buzzard' and being followed by 'Strife with Father', 'The Lion's Busy' is a pretty good cartoon.
Friz Freleng, responsible for some of my favourites and in his prime period, has done better before, during and since 'The Lion's Busy' (as well as worse). The story is slight and fairly predictable, also slightly repetitive on occasions. The humour, while still executed fine, generally doesn't come close to the best gags in 'Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid', nor is there dialogue quite as memorable as the shoe leather insult in 'The Bashful Buzzard'.
Beaky however is still a cute and amusing character, while never being too cloying, overly-dumb or annoying. Leo the Lion is a fun foil and the best generally of Beaky's non-Bugs supporting characters.
The animation is bright in colour, fluid and rich in detail and smooth in movement and design. Ever demonstrating why he has always been my personal favourite of the Looney Tunes composers, Carl Stalling provides yet another energetically characterful, beautifully orchestrated and cleverly action-enhancing music score.
Even though, as said, never hilarious, there is some very amusing dialogue. Same with the gags, fun and well animated but there are more hilarious and more inventive around. Mel Blanc's voice work is terrific as always.
Overall, quite good but not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox
