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.

Speedy Gonzales is not a favourite character of mine and his cartoons, whether it's with Daffy Duck, Sylvester or other characters, are extremely variable. Leaning more towards having more average or more misses than hits, and even the hits are rarely classics. It is always interesting to see supporting characters that aren't Daffy or Speedy, and 'Tabasco Road' is a good example. It is something of an odd cartoon to receive an Oscar nomination, but it is not an undeserving one by all means and the strange on paper idea that it has works well. 

'Tabasco Road' has imperfections, none of the Speedy cartoons seen are even the best ones.

Budget and time constraints, with the budget being lower, resources being fewer and time constraints tighter, show in the animation. This aspect is very limited, apart from some good flow in how the characters move, especially in the scrappy and incomplete-looking backgrounds. 

As is the case with all Speedy cartoons, the story is basic and obvious, not an awful lot to it and the predictability factor is high.

Music however in 'Tabasco Road' is full of beautiful and clever orchestration and lively energy. The songs sung are very catchy. No cheapness or repetitiveness here whatsoever. 

Furthermore, Mel Blanc's vocals as expected are very exuberant and full of vigour, few actors have voiced multiple characters in one cartoon alone and give all of them a different identity with such conviction. Speedy is not annoying, serves a purpose and actually is in a situation where he is treated sympathetically. Pablo and Fernando though are funnier and more interesting.

The dialogue is not particularly fresh but it is quite sharp-witted and amusing and there is a crisp pace throughout. The gags are nothing innovative but raised still a number of smiles and laughs. For a Speedy cartoon, 'Tabasco Road' is very violent but not in a sadistic way. Some of the characterisations are stereotypical but not in an offensive way. 

Overall, good fun. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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