Heap Big Hepcat

Woody's shorts from this time period, especially those directed by Paul Smith, were typically only decent at best, but nonetheless still had some charisma to them . "Heapbig Hepcat" here is a prime example of a Woody short that's fine but nothing more than that. To begin with, animation is fine here. Characters move smoothly, and colors, especially in the background, are nice and vibrant. Additionally, for a short about Indians, the stereotypes really aren't that bad, with most of the characters speaking fluent English. Conflict here also has sprits of energy here and there, and some solid albeit not spectacular gags. Favorite part has to be the scene where Mooseface is told by Woody to try 'mechanized warfare '. There's also the bit where Mooseface says "What are ya tryna do? Kill me!". Woody then responds with ,"Maybe...", some good lines of dialogue in here. The ending is also a rather unexpected but still cute surprise. However, nothing really comes above "going through the motions". Nothing really tries to go beyond what's expected, though this is still a fairly solid, if insignificant short. For that, it's worth at least a recommendation and at least one watch or viewing.

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. Luckily he's not too toned down or subdued here and brings out the manic trouble-maker and easy-to-root-for qualities well, he's fun and never obnoxious. The brave is the most, and only, interesting character in 'Heap Big Hepcat' and is an entertaining foil for Woody.

Also good is the music. It is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. There is some energy and a few of the gags amuse.

Voice acting is solid. Grace Stafford continues to prove why she was the best voice actor for the character and the one that understood him the most.

However, most of 'Heap Big Hepcat' is not very funny, a problem for a cartoon full of gags, and generally could have been livelier. The story tends to be on the strange side and suffers from being dull because of the slight structure and trying to put too much content in to mask it.

Excepting Woody and the brave, none of the rest of the characters engage with neither their personalities or comic timing strong enough. The cartoon also could have benefited perhaps from not having as many and leaving it to just the main conflict and perhaps the Indian chief but give him a stronger personality.

It is the animation that is the weak point. Time and budget constraints shows in some of the animation, which is a little rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from this period continuing through to the 60s.

Overall, average and didn't do enough for me to want to see it over and over. 5/10 Bethany Cox