My lifelong and undying love for animation will never go away and will always thank it for helping me through my many rough patches that are unfortunately still happening health-wise, but animation, classical music and opera and film are getting me through. Found many merits when younger, mainly Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera and Tom and Jerry, but seeing more ambitious animations and ones in foreign languages over-time actually love it even more now.
'Ducktales' was one of my favourites from Disney and overall and still consider it one of the best animated shows and one of Disney's best shows, back when they were making one of actual good quality and not stuff that has made the Disney Channels barely watchable now. This is not nostalgia talking as, as has been said by me several times before, not all childhood favourites have held up to the extent that their initial appeal is questionable. 'Ducktales' though does hold up, because it has all the qualities that made me love it in the first place and is also even funnier and cleverer today, with the material easier to understand from an adult perspective.
"The Curse of Castle McDuck" is nearly one of my favourite 'Ducktales' episodes. It is a great episode, but occasionally felt a little heavy in the exposition.
What is most striking about "The Curse of Castle McDuck" though is that it is one of the show's changes of pace, with one of the few to show a back-story for Scrooge and to explore his heritage. That, what is told to the viewer that is, both illuminated and entertained, and it helped make Scrooge even more interesting a character than he already is. Really enjoyed the mystery, maybe it could have done with more tension but the thrills and fun were more than there and it never felt obvious. More than well worth investing in.
Also incredibly well done was the episode's atmosphere. To me, "The Curse of Castle McDuck" is among the show's spookiest episodes and that is meant in a good way. It's genuinely spooky without being too frightening, have never been traumatised by it certainly, and that hound burns in the memory forever, or so it did with me. 'Ducktales' seldom faltered in the characterisation and that is no exception here. One will get much pleasure out of Scrooge's resourcefulness, and also to see him more conflicted than usual, and the nephews' willingness and good nature, as well as being able to tell them apart. Webby actually contributes to the story and is useful, not being overly cute. The supporting characters are good fun, with more to both sides than meets the eye, and the climax is a memorable one.
Expectedly, the animation is great. It is bright and colourful with lively fluid movement, smooth drawing and meticulous attention to detail in the backgrounds. The music again is dynamic and beautifully orchestrated, never jarring with the action and full of energy. Disney had many theme songs that were irresistibly catchy to the extent one doesn't forget them, and that for 'Ducktales' to me was one of the best. The writing is smart, thought-probing and funny.
Nothing to fault the voice acting for, with Alan Young taking top honours. Brock Peters was interesting casting, unusual but it worked.
Overall, great episode. 9/10
'Ducktales' was one of my favourites from Disney and overall and still consider it one of the best animated shows and one of Disney's best shows, back when they were making one of actual good quality and not stuff that has made the Disney Channels barely watchable now. This is not nostalgia talking as, as has been said by me several times before, not all childhood favourites have held up to the extent that their initial appeal is questionable. 'Ducktales' though does hold up, because it has all the qualities that made me love it in the first place and is also even funnier and cleverer today, with the material easier to understand from an adult perspective.
"The Curse of Castle McDuck" is nearly one of my favourite 'Ducktales' episodes. It is a great episode, but occasionally felt a little heavy in the exposition.
What is most striking about "The Curse of Castle McDuck" though is that it is one of the show's changes of pace, with one of the few to show a back-story for Scrooge and to explore his heritage. That, what is told to the viewer that is, both illuminated and entertained, and it helped make Scrooge even more interesting a character than he already is. Really enjoyed the mystery, maybe it could have done with more tension but the thrills and fun were more than there and it never felt obvious. More than well worth investing in.
Also incredibly well done was the episode's atmosphere. To me, "The Curse of Castle McDuck" is among the show's spookiest episodes and that is meant in a good way. It's genuinely spooky without being too frightening, have never been traumatised by it certainly, and that hound burns in the memory forever, or so it did with me. 'Ducktales' seldom faltered in the characterisation and that is no exception here. One will get much pleasure out of Scrooge's resourcefulness, and also to see him more conflicted than usual, and the nephews' willingness and good nature, as well as being able to tell them apart. Webby actually contributes to the story and is useful, not being overly cute. The supporting characters are good fun, with more to both sides than meets the eye, and the climax is a memorable one.
Expectedly, the animation is great. It is bright and colourful with lively fluid movement, smooth drawing and meticulous attention to detail in the backgrounds. The music again is dynamic and beautifully orchestrated, never jarring with the action and full of energy. Disney had many theme songs that were irresistibly catchy to the extent one doesn't forget them, and that for 'Ducktales' to me was one of the best. The writing is smart, thought-probing and funny.
Nothing to fault the voice acting for, with Alan Young taking top honours. Brock Peters was interesting casting, unusual but it worked.
Overall, great episode. 9/10
