Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna and Barbera and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now through young adult eyes, thanks to broader knowledge and taste and more interest in animation styles and various studios and directors.
Instead of featuring the work of just one director (Chuck Jones primarily in the 80s shorts and specials), there is a much more varied selection here, with cartoons also from Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery and Robert McKimson, all responsible for some great work in their careers. Bugs Bunny is one of my favourite characters in animation and ever and Mel Blanc was one of the greatest voice actors ever.
'Fifty Years of Bugs Bunny in 3 1/2 Minutes' is not bad at all, quite good actually, with a very clever premise done well, if slightly too slight and episodic, with it basically a series of cartoons that fits a theme. It cannot be denied that a lot of nostalgia is evoked and the whole concept is handled well without being over-stuffed. For my liking though it is on the too short side.
A lot of great things here. The animation has brightness and colour, fluidity and beautiful and meticulous background detail and with some inventive moments. The music is outstanding in orchestration, very characterful and how it adds to and enhances the action in the featured cartoons.
All the characters featured are always worth watching, and that's an understatement, being widely considered classic characters in animation and ever more than justifiably. Mel Blanc shows a mastery of bringing individuality to multiple characters that few others managed, being the heart and soul. The dialogue is sharp and witty and the gags are fast paced, beautifully timed and animated and very funny. Most of the characters are not wasted at all, Bugs and Wile E. Coyote are especially well handled.
The classic era cartoons featured are colourful and are amusing to hilarious, with great dialogue and gags and iconic characters not wasted at all, they fit with the theme too, and like to love most of them. Though the clips are on the too short side and a few are introduced and rounded off in a slightly jarring way.
Overall, decent. 7/10 Bethany Cox
