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.
Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best cartoons ever made by anybody. Is it 'Garden Gopher' an Avery masterpiece? Not quite. Does it show what Avery was all about, what makes his work so appealing to many and a good representation of him? Yes it is. There is really not much wrong here, the backgrounds are not always as detailed or refined as most Avery cartoons and it's one of Avery's most daring, original and wickedly deranged efforts.
However, much of the animation is very good indeed, often excellent in fact. Very rich in colour, the backgrounds have meticulously good detail when limitations don't kick in occasionally and the character designs are distinctively Avery in style and are fluid in movement. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is typically lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the action.
Can't fault Avery, whose unmistakable and unlike-any-other style is all over, nor the dynamic voice acting and the very engaging characters, especially Spike. The battle between him and the gopher is predictable in outcome but beautifully paced, always very lively, and with plenty of humour and visual invention to keep everything interesting.
'Garden Gopher' is incredibly funny throughout, hilarious even at its best which is very important in a cartoon with as many gags as this does. The story is not a new one but has enough variety and such to not make that matter so much.
All in all, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
