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 cartoons ever made by anybody. 'Batty Baseball' may not be one of Avery's best from his finest period, but it has all of his trademarks and has a huge amount going for it. Even though it can get corny at times and the portrayal of baseball here is very interesting and lots of fun but baseball fans today will have a field day pointing out its lack of accuracy. It is a very well made, very funny, very wild and very clever and inventive cartoon, even if other Avery cartoons did all that even better and took more risks.
It is no surprise that, as with a vast majority of Avery's cartoons regardless of the period, the animation is excellent. Very rich in colour, the backgrounds have meticulously good detail and the character designs are distinctively Avery in style and are fluid in movement. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is typically lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the action.
'Batty Baseball' is never less than very funny and even hilarious frequently, managing to make baseball entertaining regardless of whether one is a fan of the sport or not. The timing is immaculate, coming thick and fast, and there are plenty of sight gags in classic Avery fashion, all hitting their mark.
Avery's directing can't be faulted. Likewise with the voice acting and the engaging characters.
In summary, very well made and wonderfully batty. 8/10 Bethany Cox
