Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. 'What's Buzzin Buzzard?' may not be one of Avery's best, or among his funniest or most imaginative cartoons, but it's still well made, a lot of fun and an interesting look at rationing during the war. A war period cartoon that succeeds at entertaining and informing. Even when Avery was not at his best (like understandably when he was first starting out), he still delivered, have yet to see a bad cartoon from him.
'What's Buzzin Buzzard?' has great animation as always for Avery. Very rich in colour, the backgrounds are meticulously detailed and the character designs are distinctively Avery in style and are fluid in movement. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the action.
Even with the serious subject of rationing there is enough of Avery's wild deliciously looney humour to make it a very funny cartoon, which helps things from not getting preachy. All the content is paced in a lively fashion, and the dialogue is both witty and informative.
Can't fault Avery, whose style is all over, nor the dynamic voice acting and the very engaging characters (the Jimmy Durante Buzzard being particularly well done).
In conclusion, very well done. 8/10 Bethany Cox
