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 (primarily the earlier ones of the 40s to the early 50s, once Paul J. Smith took over in the late 50s onwards the cartoons became very hit and miss) are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He's fun and is a pest without being too obnoxious, and while he is not the insanely manic character of the 40s-early 50s efforts he is closer to that to the toned down subdued persona of most of the later cartoons.
His pirate adversary is a more than worthy one, one of his better later ones in fact, having great comic timing and a formidable and rousing personality which helps make the conflict stronger than in most Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period. The voice acting is good as always.
Jack Hannah makes a more than welcome return after directing one of the better later cartoons in 'Southern Fried Hospitality', and his direction is almost certainly a large part of why 'Poop Deck Pirate' works as well as it does. He does such a great job with making the characters as strong as possible, while providing some of the funniest and most imaginatively gags of any Woody Woodpecker cartoons in a long time. While the animation is still a bit simple and rushed-looking in the drawings, the colours and attention to detail are vastly improved from most Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period being much more vibrant and meticulous.
'Poop Deck Pirate's' story very predictable and could have done with a little more variety but the energetic pacing helps make it involving. The music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it.
Overall, very well done pirate fun with Woody. 8/10 Bethany Cox
