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 ever made by anybody. A late MGM Avery effort, 'Field and Scream' doesn't see him at his best and the main reason to see it is for completest sake. It's good, but it's not great and Avery at his best made masterpieces. With that being said, even when Avery was not at his best he fared far better than most at their worst.
Occasionally, limitations show in some of the backgrounds (in comparison to his cartoons from the 40s), but actually a vast majority of the animation is very good. The story is best forgotten, basically a series of gags. The gags themselves are entertaining and educational, misfires are few if any. They're not hilarious though and not among Avery's most inventive, a few of them seemed a little too short to me.
Some limited backgrounds and some unrefined drawing aside, the animation however has a lot of colourful colours and expressive, inventive drawing and expressions. The music from the always never less than dependable Scott Bradley is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, a lot of the action is even enhanced by the music.
'Field and Scream' is amusing and its educational elements feel relevant and don't preach. Avery directs well and the pacing and characterisations are lively.
To conclude, good but not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox
