The Swing Symphony series was an interesting if inconsistent series of cartoons. Tending to have in common great animation and even greater music but also tending to be virtually plotless and with the characters and writing varying. Its best cartoons are very good and its lesser ones are still quite watchable, none are inherently bad. A good deal of Walter Lantz's work ranges between well worth watching and must sees, even if some theatrical series are better than others.
'Pass the Biscuits Mirandy' is not one of the best Swing Symphony cartoons by all means, others have more originality and more consistent energy. It is though an entertaining and extremely well animated and scored cartoon on the whole, and shouldn't be overlooked. There is some less than subtle stereotyping, which does let the cartoon down considering that it not only would make some cringe now it was easy to be offended by back then.
Like almost all the Swing Symphony cartoons, the story is very slight to the point of being non-existent (being pretty much a series of gags). It takes a little while to get going and there is not much original here.
While some of the stereotyping in the series was overlookable, this was less so because it was not just stereotyping but it did look like mocking.
Having said all this, 'Pass the Biscuits Mirandy' has a lot of good things. The best thing about it of course is the music, which is indeed outstanding. Lush and lively with creative arrangements and exuberantly performed all round. The animation also impresses, the colours are vibrant and the attention to detail is rich with nothing stiff or static.
Gags are plenty and while none of them are hilarious they are all very amusing and a lot more inspired than expected, the use of sound effects surprising and fun. Loved the use of the biscuits and the ending is great fun. The energy level once the cartoon gets going is very high and the characters are a lively lot, with the titular character carrying the cartoon with great personality.
In summation, not great but worth watching. 7/10.
'Pass the Biscuits Mirandy' is not one of the best Swing Symphony cartoons by all means, others have more originality and more consistent energy. It is though an entertaining and extremely well animated and scored cartoon on the whole, and shouldn't be overlooked. There is some less than subtle stereotyping, which does let the cartoon down considering that it not only would make some cringe now it was easy to be offended by back then.
Like almost all the Swing Symphony cartoons, the story is very slight to the point of being non-existent (being pretty much a series of gags). It takes a little while to get going and there is not much original here.
While some of the stereotyping in the series was overlookable, this was less so because it was not just stereotyping but it did look like mocking.
Having said all this, 'Pass the Biscuits Mirandy' has a lot of good things. The best thing about it of course is the music, which is indeed outstanding. Lush and lively with creative arrangements and exuberantly performed all round. The animation also impresses, the colours are vibrant and the attention to detail is rich with nothing stiff or static.
Gags are plenty and while none of them are hilarious they are all very amusing and a lot more inspired than expected, the use of sound effects surprising and fun. Loved the use of the biscuits and the ending is great fun. The energy level once the cartoon gets going is very high and the characters are a lively lot, with the titular character carrying the cartoon with great personality.
In summation, not great but worth watching. 7/10.
