Max Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.
Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest and there are other cartoons of his that fit the word gem more. There is, like so many Ko-Ko cartoons, so much to like about 'The Ouija Board'.
'The Ouija Board', being an early effort, is not one of the funniest or most imaginative Ko-Ko efforts, when the humour would become more refined and inventive later.
Live action scenes don't really interest or entertain much and the janitor character agreed is not very compelling or funny as well as not very tasteful.
A lot is done very well to brilliantly however. Love the character interplay as always, even so early on.
One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality, judging by that it's the 20s when animation techniques were not as many, as refined, as ambitious and in their infancy. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly good with some nice visual wackiness and wit.
Pacing is bright and breezy and even though not hilarious or imaginative the humour is timed well and amuses. There is a great spooky atmosphere too, very early cartoons were not always this spooky. Ko-Ko is a very likeable lead that engages throughout. Liked the cartoonist and the ghosts, the janitor not so much.
Altogether, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
