'The Pink Panther' "Pinkcome Tax" (1968)
Opening thoughts: 'Pinkcome Tax' is the last 1968 Pink Panther cartoon and is a worthy way to end what was overall a solid year for the series. It falls short of being great and is a little disappointing after following on from one of the series' best 'The Pink Package Plot'. Most of 'Pinkcome Tax' actually is great, but if only the final third was as good as the rest. It is still a lot of fun with all that being said and a good representation of why Pink is wholly deserving of his iconic status and why his theatrical series is the most highly regarded and best known of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' theatrical series. Which is true of most of the series' early cartoons.
Bad things: It is on the routine side story-wise.
Aside from the clever ending touch, the final third underwhelms due to going too overboard on the silliness. It could have been much funnier if paced a little less hectically and not reading of one big dumb chase sequence, which is how it turned out.
Good things: However, the animation is bright and elegant, while maintaining the minimal simplicity that has always been part of the Pink Panther cartoons' charm. The jazzy scoring also appeals as is the theme tune, as said so many times one of those theme tunes that you can't get enough of even when heard so many times you lose count.
The pace is generally brisk while not too rushed and for the first two thirds of 'Pinkcome Tax' the gags are clever and a joy to watch really.
Closing thoughts: All in all, a very good cartoon, if it weren't for the ever so slightly lacking final third it would have been a great one.
8/10.
