Kristopher Kolumbus Jr.

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.

Have a lot of respect for Bob Clampett and, while not one of my all time favourite characters, Porky Pig is always a very easy to like character. Unfortunately, like another Clampett Porky Pig cartoon 'Chicken Jitters', 'Kristopher Kolumbus Jr.' is not a particularly good representation of Clampett, whose distinctively wild style only comes sporadically in the visuals. Other than that this is a pretty subdued and, as much as it pains me to say it, bland effort from him, somehow it didn't feel like Clampett.

Porky fares better. He is likeable and amusing and he feels much more of a lead than in other cartoons where he is a lead but actually feels like under-utilised support.

Mel Blanc is outstanding as always. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor.

The animation is pretty good, with a few moments of Clampett wildness, apart from the odd less than smooth transition and not particularly flattering designs for the native characters. Mostly though, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail.

Saving the particularly good element until last, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.

However, the story is very flimsy and sadly it doesn't have the momentum or excitement to make this easy to overlook. Pacing wise, 'Kristopher Kolumbus Jr.' is pretty dull, something that you don't usually associate Clampett with.

The energy levels are hurt by that 'Kristopher Kolumbus Jr.' has very little attention grabbing action and that very little is amusing, let alone funny or humorous. The lack of memorable or engaging supporting characters doesn't help, with the natives being over-caricatured in a way that may be questionable today even though not uncommon back then.

Only exceptions in terms of the humour and supporting characters are the sea serpents and Blanc's voice acting actually plays a big part in this.

In conclusion, has its moments but easily forgettable on the most part. 5/10 Bethany Cox