After a consistently good to outstanding series of adaptations adapted from popular children's literature, the series titled "Storybook Classics" lasting from 1984 to 1991 (starting with a series high-point 'The Velveteen Rabbit'), Rabbit Ears Productions continued with another series of family friendly animated adaptations. This time titled "We All Have Tales" made up of tales from around the world lasting from 1991 to 1994, and like the previous series it was mostly very high quality.
'The Fool and the Flying Ship', set in Russia and based on one of Russia's classic folktales, is one of the adaptations from Rabbit Ears Productions' "We All Have Tales". Not only is it a contender for the best adaptation of this particular series, it is also to me one of the high-points of Rabbit Ears Productions' entire output. Certainly one of my favourites of theirs and a favourite of many fans of Rabbit Ears Productions' work. A fine example of why this production company and their literary adaptations should be better known. This is not nostalgia talking, actually came across a lot of them beyond childhood.
So many brilliant qualities with 'The Fool and the Flying Ship'. The illustration is some of the series' most colourful with beautifully detailed backgrounds, and the character designs have some of the most creative features of all the Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations. Have seldom seen long limbs being used so imaginatively while not looking cheap or too strange.
One of the near-consistently good to brilliant aspects of the Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations is the music. 'The Fool and the Flying Ship' is no exception, of the company's "We All Have Tales" series it is one of the most charming, most energetically characterful and most inventively used. It is very beautifully orchestrated, has a lovely jazz vibe at times that matches perfectly with the adaptation's wacky tone and a Russian folksy sound at other times that helps give a sense of time and place.
Robin Williams proves once again that he was simply born to do voice-work and his narration is even better here than his narration in 'Pecos Bill' and he was outstanding in that too. Once again he is immensely engaging and very funny, a good deal of his delivery is hilarious and enhances the already wildly entertaining material.
Moreover, 'The Fool and the Flying Ship' goes by at a fast clip without feeling rushed, which is an achievement for a story that has quite a lot going on. The story is deliciously over the top without going into too much overdrive while providing some genuine heart too. There are many witty and hilarious moments, adults are probably going to understand the humour than younger audiences more and be more amused by it (speaking from personal experience) but children will still find a good deal to laugh at as the wacky visuals and Williams' vocal delivery boast plenty of funny moments by themselves.
Concluding, brilliant and a series high point. 10/10.