Really like and even love quite a lot of Famous Studios' output, their later work was a bit hit and miss but their earlier work in the 40s were well made, scored and had a good deal of amusement and charm. Liked a vast majority of their Popeye cartoons, while preferring Fleischer Studios', early Casper and Herman and Katnip, enough Little Miss Audrey while Little Lulu and their Screen Songs left me mixed and Baby Huey didn't really do it for me.
Some of my favourites of theirs came from the Noveltoons series, an uneven series but an interesting one with a lot of them representing what was good about the studio when they were in their prime. 'Yankee Doodle Donkey' is not one of the series' best and a bit disappointing for a cartoon that was produced in Famous Studios' best period overall (the early/mid-40s). Despite how that sounds, that doesn't make 'Yankee Doodle Donkey' bad, mostly found it very likeable and an easy watch.
'Yankee Doodle Donkey' is thinly plotted and tends to be very predictable, especially in everything with the fleas which is reminiscent of the conflict in a lot of Noveltoons cartoons and late Fleischer Studios. What happens next is easy to figure out and the outcome at the end is never in doubt very early on.
It does tend to be a little too cute and more laughs, which mostly are from one character (the terrier), wouldn't have gone amiss.
However, can't find any fault with the animation. The vibrant atmosphere the colours provide, expressiveness in movement and facial expressions (which are of a nice dynamic variety) and meticulous attention to detail can all be found here. As is a typically outstanding music score from Famous Studios' "composer in residence" Winston Sharples. The sprightly energy, clever use of orchestration and lushness are present too. While the humour could have come more consistently and the final third is as predictable as one can get, there are still amusing moments and the running gag doesn't get grating or fatigued (a big danger fallen into a lot with running gags). What there is of the gags are amusing and well timed.
While a little too cute in places, there is a genuine natural charm here, sentimentality is just about kept at bay and despite being a WWII-set cartoon 'Yankee Doodle Donkey' avoids heavy-handedness. The donkey isn't too cloying and is easy to like but for me the other characters are more interesting, especially the terrier who has the best moments. The voice acting is fine, with Jackson Beck as the bulldog being especially so.
Summing up, above average if nothing mind-blowing. 6/10
