Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- SoundtracksThe Sailor's Hornpipe
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played when the boy dog is introduced
Featured review
Yep, definitely not one of Van Beuren's best
Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
'Chinese Jinks' is definitely not one of their best efforts. Actually it's among the worst 1932 Van Beuren/Aesop's Fables cartoons, and also one of Van Beuren's worst. Very like 1930's 'Laundry Blues', also by Van Beuren and also with Asian racial stereotypes. It's not just because it's not for the easily offended, with poorly drawn ugly and offensive racial stereotypes, it's also because it's not good in quality at all.
It does contain pretty much all of the faults of Van Beuren's worst, or all the faults of many Van Beuren cartoons, while having a few good points. Van Beuren have actually done quite a number of watchable or more cartoons, a few pretty good even though imperfect. So it's not as if they are all being hated on.
Its best asset is the music score, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. Sometimes even the only good thing, like here. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Synchronisation can be sloppy however and the energy just isn't there.
The animation is not good, in fact it is downright bad most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
None of the characters are that interesting or fun, most are over-cutesy and unmemorable and others are pretty annoying. On top of being poorly drawn and stereotypical, the stereotypes actually more degrading and easier to be offended by than 'Laundry Blues'. Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and suffers from a lack of energy. It feels aimless and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere.
Basically 'Chinese Jinks' is a stringing along of gags structured in a way that's disorganised and random. Generally it is very low on laughs, actually none of it is remotely amusing. Nothing is inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them.
In conclusion, very poor in almost every department excepting the music. 2/10 Bethany Cox
'Chinese Jinks' is definitely not one of their best efforts. Actually it's among the worst 1932 Van Beuren/Aesop's Fables cartoons, and also one of Van Beuren's worst. Very like 1930's 'Laundry Blues', also by Van Beuren and also with Asian racial stereotypes. It's not just because it's not for the easily offended, with poorly drawn ugly and offensive racial stereotypes, it's also because it's not good in quality at all.
It does contain pretty much all of the faults of Van Beuren's worst, or all the faults of many Van Beuren cartoons, while having a few good points. Van Beuren have actually done quite a number of watchable or more cartoons, a few pretty good even though imperfect. So it's not as if they are all being hated on.
Its best asset is the music score, pretty much the best thing consistently of Van Beuren's output. Sometimes even the only good thing, like here. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Synchronisation can be sloppy however and the energy just isn't there.
The animation is not good, in fact it is downright bad most of the time with erratically sloppy character designs in particular while the simplistic background detail and lack of fluidity and crispness are just as difficult to ignore.
None of the characters are that interesting or fun, most are over-cutesy and unmemorable and others are pretty annoying. On top of being poorly drawn and stereotypical, the stereotypes actually more degrading and easier to be offended by than 'Laundry Blues'. Story is very slight to the point of non-existence and suffers from a lack of energy. It feels aimless and also random and disjointed. If you are looking for sense too, look elsewhere.
Basically 'Chinese Jinks' is a stringing along of gags structured in a way that's disorganised and random. Generally it is very low on laughs, actually none of it is remotely amusing. Nothing is inventive, never rising above the forgettable and there is not much absurdist about them.
In conclusion, very poor in almost every department excepting the music. 2/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•00
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 23, 2018
Details
- Runtime6 minutes
- Color
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