The Roland and Rattfink cartoons are a mixed bag and the series is one of the middling theatrical series from DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. There are a handful of good ones (i.e. 'A Pair of Sneakers' for me being the closest as far as the previous cartoons in the series go, to that standard), without ever reaching greatness. Most fit in the mixed feelings and just a little above average categories, 'Hurts and Flowers', 'A Taste of Money' and 'The Foul Kin' of the previous cartoons faring weakest, while none fitting my definition of less than mediocre.
'Robin Goodhood' to me is among the series' best, and easily the best since 'A Pair of Sneakers'. It is a familiar setting and animated twists on the Robin Hood legend were hardly novel, one of the most classic examples pre-'Robin Goodhood' being the Daffy Duck cartoon 'Robin Hood Daffy'. Yet that doesn't really stop it from being one of the most charming and funniest Roland and Rattfink cartoons, that didn't feel tired and both fit within the setting perfectly with roles fitting their personas similarly like a glove.
Do think that there are better animated Roland and Rattfink cartoons. It is vibrant and the setting is vivid, but the drawing tends to look rather rough and sketchy. The secondary characters, well the poor mainly, at the beginning are poorly drawn. Maybe it could have taken slightly less time to get going.
While it was a nice touch on paper to have some of the story told in song (and the song is quite catchy), it did distract slightly from what was going on, when the cartoon didn't really need it, and the jester character did veer on annoying. Marvin Miller voices his other characters much better, he sounds too oafish as the jester and it doesn't fit the character design.
On the other hand, did like how vividly the setting is rendered and both Roland and Rattfink are well and consistently drawn. It is difficult to not endear to the light-heartedness of the music and the song is admittedly catchy. While it is not innovative in terms of gags or story, 'Robin Goodhood' is one of the funniest Roland and Rattfink cartoons, there is no shortage of gags and they are funny. It also makes one nostalgic for Robin Hood and riffs it to very amusing and affectionate effect. The momentum doesn't slip and is always lively. The cartoon boasts two of the best moments of the whole series, one in the whole Little Red Riding Hood interlude (which could have been too cutesy but it ends on the highly amusing side) and the other with Rattfink as Santa Claus. The ending is also satisfying, though not much of a surprise.
Both Roland and Rattfink are in roles that suit their deliberately archetypal personas to a tee. Both are interesting characters here and 'Robin Goodhood' is one of not many Roland and Rattfink cartoons to have consistent characterisation rather than trying to experiment. Roland, at his most interesting in 'Robin Goodhood' in a while, couldn't have been more perfectly suited as the well-meaning outlaw and is more charismatic than usual. Rattfink is funnier and has the best moments, but his chemistry with Roland is wittier than usual and he is in delicious Snidley Whiplash mode which suited the villainous tax-payer with no problem. The writing for the two characters themselves (meaning Roland's well-intentioned rhetoric and Rattfink's snideness) is nailed, again one of too few cartoons in the series to do that. The supporting characters are fun, my favourite being the wolf, and generally the voice acting is good with Lennie Weinrib as Rattfink getting top honours.
In summation, pretty good and one of the best of the series. 7/10
'Robin Goodhood' to me is among the series' best, and easily the best since 'A Pair of Sneakers'. It is a familiar setting and animated twists on the Robin Hood legend were hardly novel, one of the most classic examples pre-'Robin Goodhood' being the Daffy Duck cartoon 'Robin Hood Daffy'. Yet that doesn't really stop it from being one of the most charming and funniest Roland and Rattfink cartoons, that didn't feel tired and both fit within the setting perfectly with roles fitting their personas similarly like a glove.
Do think that there are better animated Roland and Rattfink cartoons. It is vibrant and the setting is vivid, but the drawing tends to look rather rough and sketchy. The secondary characters, well the poor mainly, at the beginning are poorly drawn. Maybe it could have taken slightly less time to get going.
While it was a nice touch on paper to have some of the story told in song (and the song is quite catchy), it did distract slightly from what was going on, when the cartoon didn't really need it, and the jester character did veer on annoying. Marvin Miller voices his other characters much better, he sounds too oafish as the jester and it doesn't fit the character design.
On the other hand, did like how vividly the setting is rendered and both Roland and Rattfink are well and consistently drawn. It is difficult to not endear to the light-heartedness of the music and the song is admittedly catchy. While it is not innovative in terms of gags or story, 'Robin Goodhood' is one of the funniest Roland and Rattfink cartoons, there is no shortage of gags and they are funny. It also makes one nostalgic for Robin Hood and riffs it to very amusing and affectionate effect. The momentum doesn't slip and is always lively. The cartoon boasts two of the best moments of the whole series, one in the whole Little Red Riding Hood interlude (which could have been too cutesy but it ends on the highly amusing side) and the other with Rattfink as Santa Claus. The ending is also satisfying, though not much of a surprise.
Both Roland and Rattfink are in roles that suit their deliberately archetypal personas to a tee. Both are interesting characters here and 'Robin Goodhood' is one of not many Roland and Rattfink cartoons to have consistent characterisation rather than trying to experiment. Roland, at his most interesting in 'Robin Goodhood' in a while, couldn't have been more perfectly suited as the well-meaning outlaw and is more charismatic than usual. Rattfink is funnier and has the best moments, but his chemistry with Roland is wittier than usual and he is in delicious Snidley Whiplash mode which suited the villainous tax-payer with no problem. The writing for the two characters themselves (meaning Roland's well-intentioned rhetoric and Rattfink's snideness) is nailed, again one of too few cartoons in the series to do that. The supporting characters are fun, my favourite being the wolf, and generally the voice acting is good with Lennie Weinrib as Rattfink getting top honours.
In summation, pretty good and one of the best of the series. 7/10
