China

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit works in a laundry shop in Chinatown in this one. It's a late synchronized sound cartoon: no talking or singing, but lots of music -- the IMDb credits Mickey Rooney as voicing Oswald, but since the only thing he says is some gibberish at the very end, I think this is an error.

The background on this one is very elaborate, with a repeating street scene of immense detail at the beginning. The gags in the piece are provided by a lot of items-come-alive jokes: locks, irons, wash tubs, long underwear, everything in this cartoon does things and evinces an attitude. It would quickly become wearisome except for the elaborate details of the background artists.

Despite Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and his cartoons being popular and well received at the time, they have been vastly overshadowed over time by succeeding animation characters. It is a shame as, while not cartoon masterpieces, they are fascinating for anybody wanting to see what very old animation looked like.

Walter Lantz did have some good Oswald cartoons, as well as some lacklustre at best ones. 'China' is unfortunately one of the lacklustre efforts. It is intriguing for its exotic setting and the very elaborate animation, but does little new or interesting with an idea done to death in cartoons to much better effect.

Best thing about 'China' is the animation, which is more elaborate than most Lantz Oswald cartoons and there are some visually striking moments rich in detail and with the right amount of smoothness. Oswald's gestures, expressions and movements are quite natural. The music, of which there is a lot of, is full of energy and evocative flavour, and the synchronisation shows little sign of sloppiness.

Oswald, while deserving of more to do in his own cartoon, is still fun and likable.

'China' has some lacking elements too on the other hand. As ever the story is paper thin and doesn't have the energy seen in the animation or heard in the music. If the material was good they may have been a little more forgivable, but there is very little if anything that is funny, let alone inventive, here, too much suffering from being too predictable and drawn out.

Sound can lack resonance and Oswald deserved more to do.

In summary, lacklustre. 4/10 Bethany Cox

THE STORY & GENRE -- Chinese laundry comes to life. Witchcraft? Oswald Rabbit from Walter Lantz.

THE VERDICT -- Enough to keep you interested and amused.

FREE ONLINE -- Yes.