The general standard of the Terrytoons cartoons was between mediocre at worst and decent at best, though there are plenty of examples of better and worse than those extremes. Never irredeemable, though there were some very weak cartoons both in their earlier and later output, but also never classic despite some actually very good work in the mid-late-40s for example. The music was always the best asset, while the animation improved vastly over time.
On the other hand, the story however was very nearly always the sore spot even in the best Terrytoons cartoons, and the characterisation and the gags were hit and miss. All of this is obvious in pretty much all the 1949 Terrytoons cartoons. There were a few good cartoons, with 'Dancing Shoes' being the best with a 'A Truckload of Trouble' and 'A Cold Romance' close behind, and also some lacklustre ones which were most of the non-recurring character cartoons. 'Paint Pot Symphony' is one of the non-recurring character cartoons from the year and while not a great cartoon in itself it is easily one of the better ones, and one of the better 1949 Terrytoons cartoons.
'Paint Pot Symphony' as said is not great. Its weakest asset is predictably the story, which is very slight (near-non existent in fact), very basic and holds very few surprises.
Also, for my liking 'Paint Pot Symphony' gets off to a bit of a slow start with the set up being a little too long.
Really though, there is not an awful lot to criticise. Or at least in my book. The animation is great and one sees how far this aspect has come on since the studio started, Terrytoons would never have been able to do animation as elaborate and ambitious in movement as this in the 30s. It is nicely detailed, lively and colourful, with a vividly rendered setting and vibrant colours that don't look garish, and the movements are remarkably smooth and cleverly synchronised. The best aspect though is the music, which is full of characterful energy, emotion and lush orchestration. It also synchronises brilliantly with the action, not only adding to it but enhancing it.
There are a fair share of amusing moments, almost all of them visual and in the dancing. While the story is not perfect or special, it is charming and fun once it gets going and is not near as silly as it could easily have been. The concept does sound silly and too cutesy but 'Paint Pot Symphony' was generally neither and the energy once it gets going is infectious. The trio of characters are colourful in personality and engaging.
Summing up, not great but worth watching. 7/10.