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.
Have a good deal of respect and appreciation for Bob Clampett, more often that than not, and while not quite one of my favourite Looney Tunes characters (prefer those with consistently stronger, funnier and interesting personalities) Porky has always been very easy to like. 'Pied Piper Porky' is another example of being a good representation of them both, if not among the best efforts of either.
More so Clampett than Porky though. Porky is still very likeable and very effectively plays it straight. Even though his material is not as strong as that for the supporting characters (especially the mouse, the funniest and most interesting character in the cartoon) and their personalities to me stood out more.
Clampett brings his usual wacky, zany style, in visuals, humour and pacing, to 'Pied Piper Porky'. It may not be him at his most anarchic but this is a long way from tame Clampett, and is evidence of Clampett having his distinctive style early on despite it not always coming out in his pre-peak period.
Mel Blanc is outstanding as always. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor.
Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail, plus it is very imaginative. Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.
'Pied Piper Porky' is lightning-speed energetic that one completely forgets the slightness of the story, and is also incredibly inventively timed and very funny, if not uproarious. There is not really that much wrong here, just that Porky as a lead character pales in comparison to the support somewhat, especially the mouse.
In summary, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
