A Battle Royal (1936) Online

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.

1936, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch, more so than the other years even. Of which 'A Battle Royal' is one of the high middle ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the high middle 1936 cartoons. It is an unexceptional but above average cartoon that has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'A Battle Royal' is also worth a watch, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.

Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is more fluidity and visual appeal than usual, and some synchronisation is neat.

Enough amusing moments and there is zest and natural charm. Farmer Al Falfa is amusing and Kiko, much better in support than lead and this is a good example of why, is a pretty good match.

However, some of the animation in transitions is a bit crude.

Likewise, the story is paper thin and formulaic, not much new. Gags could have been more and a few better organised. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and a lot of it is pretty predictable.

Altogether, above average. 6/10 Bethany Cox

This is a cartoon in the Farmer Al Falfa series, featuring Kiko the Kangaroo. There will be spoilers ahead:

This short opens up with Al, Kiko and a smaller kangaroo playing a tune when a foreclosure notice is nailed to their home by a villain straight out of a melodrama. The villain throws them off the place, throwing furnishings at them.

Al breaks down and Kiko comforts him, when they see a carnival coming along. They see a sign advertising that $100 will be paid to anyone who can last a round with One Round Hogan. They see this as their chance to save the farm, which the villain finds hilarious, as Al isn't exactly in good shape.

They go to the coliseum, along with a large crowd of contenders for the prize. The interesting thing is, if you look close, only two sides of the ring have ropes, at least until Al gets in the ring. It saves time and money not drawing the ropes when they aren't vital. As Al waits nervously, others fight and get beaten by Hogan in one punch. As fighters enter the locker room on stretchers and holding flowers, Al gets even more nervous, until he's dragged into the ring.

Al actually dances around and lands a few punches on Hogan, before Hogan knocks him into the stands, next to the villain. As Al sits in a stupor, Kiko climbs into the ring to fight Hogan. At first, Hogan is in control, but after making Kiko groggy, waltz music starts on the sound track and Kiko starts beating on Hogan and then dancing with him, all in time to the music. The rest of the fight is Kiko punching and dancing with Hogan until she knocks Hogan out of the ring with a mighty blow, sending him directly at the bad guy. Al gets tossed into the air, with Kiko catching him in the ring. They win the prize and celebrate.

This cartoon is worth seeing.