Top Cat

A new police chief unhinged and unhappy with officer Dibble frames Top Cat. Top Cat goes against his most craziest foe.

Hanna-Barber's prime time animated television star Top Cat returns in his very own movie. Where as Yogi Bear (2010) was put in a real environment and had an awful CGI makeover, makers of Top Cat thankfully stick close to his animation roots. The New York computer backgrounds plates have a hyper-real feel with the characters and gang a 2D flash-animated style similar to Dexter's Laboratory. 

Opening with the original styled Top Cat theme and a rework of the opening tricks and scams it oozes nostalgia. It has all the fun of the original cartoons albeit a little stilted at times. Choo-Choo, Brain, Benny, Spook, Fancy-Fancy and Officer Dibble are all present and correct even if Dibble is a little lighter here.

Packed with cons, robot police, gags, quips Top Cat is still the leader of the gang.

While scheming to get rich to feed his gang, Top Cat gets framed for stealing money from orphans and must try clear his name.

I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch this. I'm not that aware of the original 60s animated show and this movie was incredibly cheap to buy online - that it's never a positive sign. I also reviews of it and people hate this mocie... At first I could understand why, it's dead simple and very low enegry. Childish even. But then it warmed it on me... yes the jokes aren't that great but they aren't overally stupid either just simple and innocent. The animation I really enjoyed! 2D characters in 3D animated environments. I know some people hated this as it doesn't look like the 60s original, and i agree it's hardly the most impressive I've seen but the simplicity of it worked well here particularly on the 3D Bluray I watched - consistant depth for the whole runtime. The premise of the film is very simple and easy to understand as it is a kids film but some of the concepts are quite adult and deal with real world concerns such as using 24/7 video camera monitoring of citizens to fine them. The whole movie is split into two parts really, part one is about Top Cat scheming get rich quick schemes and introducing characters whole part two, is about Top Cat being framed and going to "dog" jail as "cat" jail is full. That premise of a cat in dog jail was quite funny to me and probably my favourite scenes in the film. In saying that, it's hardly an exciting film, it doesn't move overaly fast, there isn't many action scenes and the voice acting is uninspired (although not the worst I've heard.). It really does feel like an extended episode of a child's Saturday morning TV show. I can't recommend it because of those reasons yet I also don't hate it. UPDATE June 2023: I did go back and watch a portion of it in 1.5x speed, and it felt so much easier to watch! The dialouge was still clear and sounded better actually when I went back to watch the film in normal speed it sounded and looked liked everything was being played at 0.5 speed. Very odd...

Final Verdict: i enjoyed the simple animation, the consistent 3D and even some of the jokes which are admittedly pretty tame but i chuckled at a few. Annoyingly it's also slow moving and not overly exciting. It's not that it's horrible, like most other reviews would make out, it's just very... simple. I enjoyed it for what it was but it's hardly something I'd watch again either. I recommend watching in 1.5x speed (trust me).

Yesterday was the premiere here in Mexico city and I got the chance to go! and I LOVED it, watching the whole gang on screen! the Voices go great with the characters they are really similar to those from the original cartoon in fact I actually think some of the actors are the same! it reminded me of the good old times when cartoons where the best way to pass time :D besides its great for kids even if they never watched the original Top Cat .. Benny (Benito) its adorable !! all the characters are likable and fun Everyone should check out this movie not matter how old or if they like top cat it's an awesome movie and I highly recommended specially for kids! they will LOVE it! mainly because its impossible not to love Top Cat (Don Gato)!!

Top Cat is by far my favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoon. The humor was clever, especially the verbal stuff between T.C. and...who ever he was tricking at the moment, the gang of cats was fun (my favorite was Cho- cho) and I love the mood it had. It's one of those kids show I actually found myself to appreciate more as adult just for how smart it was.

While the first few five-ten minutes made ma go "Meh" , as soon the gang was reintroduce the movie actually become quite good. It's a very basic story but it those an excellent job of recapturing the spirit and the humor of the original show. All characters where… well, in character, and some of the English voice actors where dead-on perfect (especially T.C., Dibble and Benny) There where some great absurd jokes, some good Simpson-style gags that take you off gourd and play with a viewer expectation, as well some small twists and in-jokes for the fans of the original TV show (I especially love the part In the middle where Cho-cho become new leader of the gang and they spoof the opening credits with the gang recapturing all of the Top Cats tricks and felling miserably)

Yhe, the animation in this movie is far from cinematic standards but it was it's still enjoyable to watch (to be honest I was having flash-backs from computer game "UFO'S" which had identical bland of 3D and flash animation) What surprise me is the fact I actually liked the villain. When I saw this guy in the trailer for the first time I was sure I will hate this character. He was just so generic… But no! Most the jokes about how vain and angry he was actually worked an I liked how over the top he got with his plot.

I only have few nitpicks with the movie :

– I wish there where more Top-Cat/Dibble interaction. For me the hate/love relationship between the two was the heath of the show and while here their both 100% in character there's not that much dialog between the two. I wish they would had a longer scene where T.C. somehow tricks or scams Dibble. I guess it doesn't matter if your fan of the show since your already know their history together but if your new to these characters you will won't fell any friendship or relation between this two. – The show had a wonderful New York atmosphere (mainly thanks to the jazzy sound track and great backgrounds) Here It could take place in any other city. I just wish they would kept the background closer to resembling those on the show. – Cho-Cho's voice didn't sound like the original character… I wouldn't even bother to bring this up if not for the fact that they did such a great job of recapturing all other characters voices so well. – Trixie was a very generic/cliché sympathetic girl and a love interest for Top-Cat which makes here very bland comparing to the rest of the cast. This is more of personal pet pea. I just hate when they introduce a main female character and have no idea for her personality other then the fact she's a female, especially since all the feline fame fatal's from the show usually hat a lot of character. Heck! Fancy's girlfriend who appears in two short scenes appear to be way more funny and interesting… – There was one or two grow-out jokes that didn't felt in the spirit of the cartoon;

But those are just nitpicks. Over all – if you a Top Cat fan and you would love see those characters again in action then this movie should be good nostalgia trip for you, and to be honest this movie was made ONLY for Top Cat fans and you can sense the passion script writers had for the original show. Heck! I found it better then "Top Cat and Beverly Hills Cats" which felt like 20 minute of plot stretch to hour and a half. Here ad lead they had ideas and jokes to feel this time. However if your not a Top Cat fan… It's just a OK cartoon but It will entertain you . Watching this I actually wish the same guys would do another Top-Cat remake show, as the movie did manage to add some fresh light without making it too modern.

8/10 should be a fair score

Definitely the worse film of the year and struggling to think of one ever. I was a massive TC fan when I was little so was excited at being able to take my 2 boys to go and see the film. Really wish I hadn't bothered. In the interest of fairness I should point out I watched the 2D version so the 3D version may be slightly better if this was done well but based on the rest of the film I doubt it. No story and terrible animation, do yourself and your children a favour and spend your money on something else. If people go and watch this rubbish then the film companies will continue to churn out this dross knowing that parents will still take their kids.