Van Bueren Studios' Cubby the Bear series comprised of just 19 (not the 17 as initially thought, having worked from an incomplete list listing the cartoons) cartoons made between 1933-1934. As much as it pains me to say it, speaking as a big animation fan, it is not hard to see why the character and the series weren't so popular and didn't last long.
Despite my love for animation, there are only to me a few above mediocre Cubby cartoons, 'The Nut Factory', 'Fresh Ham', 'Croon Crazy' and 'Goode Knight'. 'Fiddlin Fun' is one of Cubby's worst to me along with 'Love's Labour Won' , 'Cubby's Picnic' and 'Galloping Fanny', to me it is a long way from good, let alone great. The best thing about it, and this is true of a lot of Van Bueren's output, is the music score.
It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy that is sorely lacking elsewhere, doing so well with enhancing the action. There are a few amusing gags and the common Roman-era tropes were nice to spot, the cleverest 'Fiddlin Fun' gets.
Outside of those things there is not much to recommend. The animation generally is really not good even for a cartoon not made on a high budget, and it is true for the Cubby the Bear series and Van Bueren in general on the whole. It's static in movement, simplistic in background detail and sloppy in drawing, with the character expressions being pretty expressionless.
Another major problem is Cubby himself, on top of being poorly animated he is one of the blandest, most personality-deprived there is. His girlfriend is not much better.
'Fiddlin Fun' lacks the anarchic, absurdist nature one can find in a Van Beuren cartoon and compelling supporting characters. It also is not much fun, the gags are generally bland and routine in a cartoon with not enough of them. It lacks energy while the story is paper thin and obvious, also like many Cubby cartoons it doesn't go very far.
In conclusion, not much fun. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Despite my love for animation, there are only to me a few above mediocre Cubby cartoons, 'The Nut Factory', 'Fresh Ham', 'Croon Crazy' and 'Goode Knight'. 'Fiddlin Fun' is one of Cubby's worst to me along with 'Love's Labour Won' , 'Cubby's Picnic' and 'Galloping Fanny', to me it is a long way from good, let alone great. The best thing about it, and this is true of a lot of Van Bueren's output, is the music score.
It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy that is sorely lacking elsewhere, doing so well with enhancing the action. There are a few amusing gags and the common Roman-era tropes were nice to spot, the cleverest 'Fiddlin Fun' gets.
Outside of those things there is not much to recommend. The animation generally is really not good even for a cartoon not made on a high budget, and it is true for the Cubby the Bear series and Van Bueren in general on the whole. It's static in movement, simplistic in background detail and sloppy in drawing, with the character expressions being pretty expressionless.
Another major problem is Cubby himself, on top of being poorly animated he is one of the blandest, most personality-deprived there is. His girlfriend is not much better.
'Fiddlin Fun' lacks the anarchic, absurdist nature one can find in a Van Beuren cartoon and compelling supporting characters. It also is not much fun, the gags are generally bland and routine in a cartoon with not enough of them. It lacks energy while the story is paper thin and obvious, also like many Cubby cartoons it doesn't go very far.
In conclusion, not much fun. 3/10 Bethany Cox
