The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
1942, like all the previous years for the studio, saw a series of Terrytoons that were variable. A few decent, none great, most watchable if average and a few mediocre or less. Sadly, if there was an award for the worst 1942 Terrytoon, for me it would go to 'Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar'. Really liked the concept of the cartoon, which did sound like an attempt at something different conceptually for Terrytoons (when they had run out of ideas and were recycling old ones. It was just executed badly.
As with all the Terrytoons the best asset is the music, an asset that was consistently a highlight of the studio's cartoons and a redeeming quality for their lesser output (like here). It has energy that was lacking everywhere else in the cartoon, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated and adds a lot to the action, even enhancing it. Close behind is the animation, as has been said quite a few times already this component has come on enormously over-time, it was very problematic in their early output and overtime improved to hit and miss to decent to quite good, the latter being the case here. The elaborate, more ambitious detail in the backgrounds is immediately noticeable, as is the more fluid drawing and movement and smoother transitions.
It is agreed that 'Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar' starts off well, one of my favourite openings for any Terrytoon actually and gives the impression that the cartoon would be one of the best 1942 Terrytoons cartoon, sadly that was not to be. The cat is the best character here, with an attempt to give him some personality.
'Eat Me Kitty, Eight to the Bar' deteriates after a promising start however. What seemed like an attempt at something different was executed in a practically plot-less, very predictable and disjointed fashion, the outcome is not a surprise in any way and it all plays like a stringing along of too many ideas not really relating to each other. The gags are far too few and none are remotely amusing let alone funny, furthermore a lot of the material is uninteresting and so perfunctory in timing.
None of the character engage or interest, with a bland mouse character and a bulldog whose over-seriousness jars with the rest of the cartoon. The cat character fares least badly because there are glimpses of a personality, but glimpses aren't enough. The voices sound bored.
Concluding, weak despite starting off promisingly. 3/10 Bethany Cox