Will admit to preferring the Fleischer Popeye cartoons, their cartoons for the ever amusing and likeable character, were more consistent, were funnier, more inventive and looked better. Famous Studios' Popeye cartoons still entertained and their earlier Popeye cartoons were well made and had invention. While never unwatchable, their later ones betrayed budget and time constraints, which affected the originality and sometimes the humour.
Made during the generally best period for the Famous Studios Popeye cartoons (though not his best overall period, that was the late Fleischer period), 'Pitchin Woo at the Zoo' to me is towards the better end though not quite one of the best from 1944. It falls short of being classic Popeye, being not as imaginative as other cartoons of his, but is still well made and entertaining. Anybody who loves great animation and music, characters at the top of their game with more than convincing chemistry and comic timing that is at least good will, or at least should, get a kick out of 'Pitchin Woo at the Zoo', regardless of the state of the story.
The story is pretty thin and anybody familiar with the general formula of the Popeye cartoons may know how the cartoon plans out.
Olive's material is not as strong as Popeye's or Bluto's and she doesn't have not near as much to do. The part in the leopard cage is the part with her that sticks in the mind the most. While liking to loving most of the Popeye cartoons, have found this a lot with them.
Luckily there is enough variety and the zoo setting is colourful and made great use of, the animals have nice moments. There is a lot of energy and it doesn't let up. The ending is a surprise and is very clever and amusing.
Expectedly, the animation cannot be faulted, the backgrounds have lost none of the meticulous attention to detail, it's fluid, Popeye still looks good and is recognisable in design and the colours are wonderfully vibrant, which really does make the setting come alive. Love the music just as much, it is the highly characterful and lush music score, that fits seamlessly and enhances the action.
Popeye is amusing and likeable still and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting. Bluto is even funnier and the chemistry between the two sparkles and carries the cartoon brilliantly.
As one would hope, 'Pitchin Woo at the Zoo' boasts lots of gags that are timed beautifully and are never less than very funny, Popeye's asides and mumblings are something of a hilarious art-form of its own, and the energy never wavers. Mercer is not the only one to excel at the voice acting. Cannot imagine anybody else voicing Olive than Mae Questel, the voice actress to voice her the most (she was also voiced in some cartoons by Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines and it wasn't the same). Jackson Beck is very exuberant as Bluto.
Concluding, very enjoyable Popeye cartoon though not a classic one. 8/10
