While not among my favourite cartoons of all time, Birdy and the Beast is still really interesting for seeing Bob Clampett's very different characterisation of Tweety and how Tweety evolved over the years. Despite being a very early cartoon for Tweety(only his second) and that he was still developing as a character, Birdy and the Beast is great and one of Tweety's better cartoons.
The animation in Birdy and the Beast, as always with Clampett, is very good. Carefully drawn, with meticulous and here at times imaginative backgrounds and lively colours, Birdy and the Beast is a pleasure to watch visually. Who can't help but love the music score too? In unmistakable Carl Stalling fashion, the orchestration is very richly textured and melodiously mellow without ever being too syrupy, rhythmically it's sprightly and energetic and as always with Stalling the music not only sounds beautiful and matches the visuals and action brilliantly, but it also adds so much too, to the extent that even a nod of the head or a face fall has its own music cue.
Birdy and the Beast, on top of being very well-made, is also incredibly entertaining. The timing is just right with nothing rushed or drawn out, the gags are uproariously funny and quite inventive for a cartoon starring Tweety and with the cartoon containing some of Tweety's funniest and most quotable lines the dialogue has plenty of wit. The story is unsurprising and formulaic, but nonetheless bounces along nicely and with its constant fun and charm makes that a non-issue. Tweety's very "naked" early character design takes getting used to, but rather than being an under-used or pretty useless plot device like he'd become increasingly in his later cartoons he adds a lot to the story. He's actually funny here too, and while sweet in design he is refreshingly anarchic(a side that I wish was maintained in the later Sylvester and Tweety cartoons). Putty Tat is equally hilarious and a cunning adversary, the conflict between him and Tweety being dynamite in its strongest parts. While Sylvester is a much more familiar counter-part, and funnier and more interesting, you don't miss him. Mel Blanc can do no wrong.
On the overall whole, a personal favourite Birdy and the Beast is not, but it is great regardless and one of Tweety's better cartoons and appearances. 9/10 Bethany Cox
