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. 'Innertube Antics' popped up as a random recommendation here when reviewing one of the Rudolf Ising cartoons and was on a roll with watching lesser known cartoons from the 30s, 40s and 50s (and have been for the past four or five years or so). It didn't look or sound great from having seen stills and plot summaries but as an animation fan it was still seen anyway.
'Innertube Antics' is nothing special and actually has very little to it. It has a few good things that are done very well indeed, enough to raise it above mediocre level, but the too many flaws in the more crucial areas made it very difficult, nigh on impossible really, to rate it above average. 'Innertube Antics' isn't terrible and is slightly watchable for lesser known animation completest sake. As said, there is little that stands out and so much has been done before and much better.
There are good things. The animation is vibrantly colourful and fluid, with lovingly crafted and detail background art. Nothing looks rushed or static. Even better, and this is probably the best aspect of 'Innertube Antics', it is lushly orchestrated and very characterful in an energetic way that is not matched enough in the story and gags. Both are worth two points each of my overall rating.
Did also think that some of the violence was clever and well choreographed visually.
However, 'Innertube Antics' is let down primarily by that it is just not very funny or even amusing, the gags are too few and what there is has a recycled, tired feel. That tiredness is obvious also in the story, which is slight to the point of non existence and predictable when there is any. Pace wise, the cartoon is pretty dull due to some of the material being over-stretched to make up for the content being too little in quantity.
Personally found the lead character very unappealing and difficult to root for, not much personality and veering on annoying. The violence lacks subtlety and wit and the cleverness of some of the visuals is not consistent, too much is lazy and not always in good taste.
Overall, nothing special. 5/10.
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