Daffidilly Daddy

The 26 Little Lulu cartoons made during 1944-1948 (and the two made in the early 60s) were uneven (individually and the series as a general overview) but watchable.

'Daffidilly Daddy' is one of the average, take it or leave it Little Lulu cartoons, very much like 'I'm Just Curious'. Comparing it to her previous cartoons (and there were both better and worse since though they'll be talked about individually at later times), there are better ones such as 'Hullaba-Lulu', 'Magica-Lulu' and 'Beau Ties'. There are also worse Little Lulu cartoons such as 'Lulu Gets a Birdie', 'Lulu at the Zoo' and 'Lulu's Birthday Party'.

Starting with the good things, the animation is nice. The style of it may take some getting used to but when you compare this cartoon to Little Lulu's debut 'Eggs Don't Bounce' the difference is staggering, here the drawing is more refined and the colours more vibrant. Winston Sharples' music score is whimsical, beautifully orchestrated and characterful as always. The main song is infectious.

It's the two dogs that are the best characters, even stealing the show from Little Lulu as their rapport is quite fun and has some intensity, they have more personality and some of the humour is amusing (never hilarious though). The voice acting is fine.

Little Lulu has been more engaging in personality before and since 'Daffidilly Daddy', here being outshone by the dog characters. The human characters also have little to do and their personalities more like stereotypical throwaways.

The humour is only amusing in its very best parts, elsewhere 'Daffidilly Daddy' is thinly plotted, and more consistent humour and imagination are replaced by trying too hard to be cute. Like 'I'm Just Curious' the action does pick up in the second half where there is a little more meat to everything, the first half feels more like set-up but in need of more energy.

On the whole, not awful, not great, somewhere in between. 5/10 Bethany Cox