Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.

The nine (Fleischer did the tenth, and there were two Sentinel Louey cartoons also adapted from Otto Soglow) The Little King cartoons from Van Beuren based on the work of Otto Soglow are generally among Van Beuren's better efforts. 'On the Pan' however, while a long way from Van Beuren's worst, is among the weaker The Little King cartoons.

'On the Pan' has a fair share of good elements. One expects Van Beuren cartoons to generally not be well animated. That's not the case with 'On the Pan', the studio's Soglow adaptations come to think of it were all among their better-looking cartoons and showed more detail and crispness. It may not quite be as visually ambitious as the first The Little King cartoon 'The Fatal Note' but the improvement in quality is huge.

Music as always with Van Beuren, very nearly always the best thing about their cartoons and sometimes the only good thing, is lively and beautifully and cleverly orchestrated. The Little King is an appealing lead and the eagle character, with a Jimmy Durante vibe, is amusing. The pace is lively enough in places and it occasionally amuses.

However, 'On the Pan' is very flimsy in story and there are other places that begged for more momentum. What not enough there is of the humour is pretty charmless and only mildly amusing at best.

Regarding the supporting characters, only the eagle engages. The cannibals are neither interesting or entertaining, and while there are more offensive stereotypes in other cartoons in general and even in other ones from Van Beuren regardless of whether they were typical or not of the era the ones here are not really ones to take kindly to. 

In summation, watchable but one of the lesser Van Beuren The Little King cartoons. 5/10 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.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

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.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

The Little King visits Africa with his entourage. He is captured and is very nearly cooked and served up on a platter as a birthday treat for the chief.

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On the Pan

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