'Salt Water Daffy' (1941)

Opening thoughts: A vast majority of Walter Lantz's work ranges between well worth seeing and must watches, even if some theatrical series are better than others (not unexpected as that is true of pretty much every animation director). He was responsible for some misses, especially in his later work which saw lower budgets, tighter time constraints and old premises repeating themselves, but on the whole he hit more than he missed. With some of his best work being excellent.

1941's 'Salt Water Daffy' is not one Lantz's best cartoons, but it is also a long way from being one of his worst. It may not be one of his funniest or most original, but it is well above average and the not so good aspects are more uneven than downright bad. As far as Lantz's work goes, 'Salt Water Daffy' is somewhere in the middle, one of those cartoons that does a lot right while a little lacking in other areas. Definitely worth a look if not a must see or a cartoon that is repeat viewings worthy.

Good things: 'Salt Water Daffy' does have many good things. The best thing about it is, somewhat predictably (not meant in a derogatory way), the music, which is fantastic throughout the entire cartoon. Even when the story is uneven in pacing the energy and character in the music are consistent and in a great way. It is just so infectious and clever. The animation is lush and colourful with very rich attention to detail in the backgrounds and well drawn characters.

Voice acting is fine, Mel Blanc was a voice acting god and very few voice actors delivered the mix of entertaining and educating narrations in the way Robert C Bruce did. The narration entertains and teaches. The opening is absolutely great and the first half is full of funny gags. The characters are compelling.

Bad things: Just wish on the other hand that the second half was as good. The story is thin and predictable when there is any and it shows when the pace slackens significantly in the second half.

Gag count is lower too and the quality of them is uninspired and fatigued. The ending is not much of one.

Closing thoughts: Overall, starts great but loses momentum later.

6/10.

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Spot-gags involving the Navy, culminating in some expressive war games.

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Salt Water Daffy

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