Chilly Willy's best cartoons were perfect examples of how a potentially one-joke character and concept could end up actually being a perfect mix of the cute and the funny with a lot of colour and good comic timing to go with it.
Paul J. Smith's first Chilly Willy cartoon, the character's debut 'Chilly Willy', was great and among the best Chilly Willy cartoons, but generally his 60s-onward output (there are also cartoons from Alex Lovy, Jack Hannah, Sid Marcus and notably, in terms of being responsible for the two best of the series, Tex Avery) has been nowhere near as good. Some are decent, but generally they're average at best. 'Chiller Dillers' is one of the best Chilly Willy/Maxie efforts and among the better Chilly Willy cartoons of the late 60s. It's worth watching primarily because Chilly and Maxie are a good team, if not quite as much as Chilly is with Smedley, and are always watchable.
The animation is scrappy and constantly looks like it was done in a rush, especially in the first part, with flat colours, simplicity taken too far and the characters (especially Maxie) being carelessly drawn. Chilly is drawn well and some of the backgrounds, especially at the start, are nice.
Story-wise, 'Chiller Dillers' is as pretty thin as ice and has its predictable (in a supporting character objecting to being disturbed and taking matters in its own hands which has happened more than once in previous Chilly Willy cartoons) moments.
However, as said Chilly was drawn well and the backgrounds were nice at times. Walter Greene's music is lively and rousingly, cleverly and beautifully orchestrated and fits very well. Love the opening title credits music and the music Maxie and Chilly play, it was so much fun seeing them with instruments.
In terms of timing of the gags, 'Chiller Dillers' is sharper than most late-60s Chilly Willy cartoons while the gags themselves are funny and have more variety than most Lantz-studio cartoons from this period (particularly when directed by Smith). The supporting character here is one of the better ones of this period too.
Maxie is an amusing and likable supporting character who doesn't make one miss Smedley too much and Colonel Pot Shot is a good foil.
Chilly is adorable and is also a lot of fun, with his actions speaking far louder than words. Prefer him when silent but he still makes an impression even when speaking sparingly. He may be a nuisance to his opponents but he wins the viewer over with his cuteness and timing. Daws Butler and Grace Stafford do good jobs as ever.
Overall, very nicely done. 8/10 Bethany Cox
