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. Although in 'Kiddie League' this isn't the manic Woody Woodpecker, he is far less toned down or subdued than he tended to be from mid-50s onwards and he and his screwball antics are fun. To me, though, his opponents are not as engaging in personality and don't contrast with him enough, so the conflict is not as strong.
'Kiddie League' has very little surprises. One knows who is going to win the game from the very beginning and, while there are amusing well-timed moments and Woody's screwball antics have enough variety to stop them from being repetitive, the gags have very predictable outcomes throughout.
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.
On the other hand, the music however is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The whole cartoon goes at a lively pace, especially in the second half.
Most of the gags, while never hilarious and predictable, are amusing and timed well and liked Woody and his antics here.
The voice work is solid, with Grace Stafford continuing to prove why she was the best voice actor for the character and the one that understood him the most.
Summing up, worth watching but mainly as a Woody Woodpecker completest (a quest to see all his cartoons, like me). 6/10 Bethany Cox
