Gypped in Egypt (Short 1930)

Gypped in Egypt (Short 1930). 8m

“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 doesnu0026#39;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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;Gypped in Egyptu0026#39; is one of the best Aesopu0026#39;s Fables cartoons, of 1930 and overall, and also to me one of Van Beurenu0026#39;s best overall. It may not be a masterpiece or a cartoon classic, but it is so much more entertaining than most Aesopu0026#39;s Fables/Van Beuren cartoons and it is one of the few in the series to do almost everything right and not suffer from all, or most of, the usual flaws. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs what tends to be the case with Van Beuren, while it is actually one of the better looking cartoons in the series, the animation is less than brilliant. It is more detailed and more imaginative than most Aesopu0026#39;s Fables cartoons, but there is a lack of finesse in the drawing, an erratic sloppiness in movement and overdose of over-simplicity.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile still fun, the last third of u0026#39;Gypped in Egyptu0026#39; doesnu0026#39;t quite have the energy of the other two thirds, itu0026#39;s there just not as much.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, u0026#39;Gypped in Egyptu0026#39; goes at a snappy pace and not only manages to be one of Van Beurenu0026#39;s strangest and absurdist, a good thing as thatu0026#39;s their style of humour when they do it right, but also one of their overall funniest. There are a lot of gags, all of them well timed and funny, as well as wonderfully insane and almost nightmarish. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDonu0026#39;t expect it to make sense, it doesnu0026#39;t. The difference is that so much is executed so well it is much easier to forgive than with most of their efforts that donu0026#39;t excel anywhere near as much. Likewise with minding as to whether the story is flimsy (and it is as flimsy as one can get), youu0026#39;re just having too much fun to care. It is also one of their most nightmarish, there is a real creepiness, almost surrealistically so, to the atmosphere and some deliciously kooky characters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBest of all is the music score, it is typically peppy and great fun to listen to. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Synchronisation is nicely done on the whole. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll in all, surprisingly well done and one of the better Aesopu0026#39;s Fables/Van Beuren cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox”