Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch (almost all of them being in his prime era of the 1940s through to the mid-50s) and more and also still like him a lot as a character. For a 60s Woody Woodpecker cartoon, especially from the late 60s and directed with Paul J. Smith, 'Flim Flam Fountain' turned out to be better than expected. There are far better Woody Woodpecker cartoons certainly, but to have a halfway decent late Smith-directed Woody Woodpecker cartoon was really refreshing seeing as many at this point were less than average and mostly actually very weak.

It's not a perfect cartoon by all means. The animation is not great at all, or even good. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from this period continuing through to the 60s.

Gags-wise, mostly they are funnier and better timed than most of the cartoons from this period but there is a lack of variety and a few are not as well-timed. The story is very thin and although with a few more surprising touches than most cartoons from this era it's sometimes derivative and repetitive.

However, Woody is portrayed with a lot of energy and charisma and he is not as toned down as he tended to be from the late 50s onward. With this being said, he has had much more manic energy, especially in his glory days when there was far more risk-taking, and his material is still a bit too safe. Knothead and Splinter are adorable, without being too cutesy or annoying brats.

Buzz Buzzard, in his third late-60s onward cartoon, is one of Woody's better foils by far in any of his 60s efforts. He was also one of the most frequent and earliest ones in Woody's prime era and he hasn't lost what was so good about him as a character. He is both formidable and entertaining with an individual personality and his chemistry with Woody sparkles just as much in their earlier outings.

'Flim Flam Fountain' for a late Smith-directed Woody Woodpecker cartoon actually has some very amusing moments, especially some surprisingly inspired changes between Woody and Buzz, and the havoc is entertaining to watch. The pace is surprisingly lively and has more of the frenetic energy one expects from Woody Woodpecker that was generally missing in this particular period.

Further standouts are the music and the voice acting. The music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The voice acting is typically solid.

In conclusion, not great by any stretch but decent for a late Paul J. Smith-directed Woody Woodpecker cartoon. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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While on vacation in the Florida Everglades, Woody is sold the Fountain of Youth by Buzz Buzzard.

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Grace Stafford in Flim Flam Fountain (1970)

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Flim Flam Fountain

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