Cattle Battle

While the characters of Roland and Rattfink were pleasant enough and well contrasted, their theatrical series generally never quite did it properly for me, with only three being rated above a 6 and all the others being either 5 and 6. Meaning that none are mediocre at best or less, but there is nothing to get excited about on the whole with the general lack of creativity in story and humour hurting them. One of the studio's more middling theatrical series.

'Cattle Battle' is the final Roland and Rattfink cartoon. While it is not one of the series' best, like 'A Pair of Sneakers', 'Robin Goodhood' and 'War and Pieces', it is the best cartoon since 'Gem Dandy' and the funniest since 'War and Pieces' (quite a bit better than the previous three cartoons). Not a great cartoon or anything exceptional, but for all its unevenness it's quite entertaining and does have a good deal to enjoy. Not half bad for a final cartoon for a series that was really running out of ideas on the most partway through.

Unsurprisingly, as it is the case with all the Roland and Rattfink cartoons, even in the best ones, the story is the opposite of creative. Basically the same plot of most of their cartoons albeit in a different setting and one that did increasingly become tired, also a type of story and setting that is quite old and not varied enough. The gags are amusing and there isn't a shortage of them, but there is nothing hilarious really here (the horse comes closest though) and they are gags that are quite similar to those in other cartoons.

Although the setting in 'Cattle Battle' is vividly done and the colours are appealing, the animation again like most of the later cartoons is rushed-looking and some of the backgrounds look as if there was too little time to give them more detail and depth, they look underdeveloped. Roland is likeable enough and his type of role suits him quite well but his personality is overshadowed by those of the other characters.

Rattfink though has always been the better, more interesting and funnier character of the two and his snide, crafty villainous personality is dead on. His chemistry with Roland is enjoyably anarchic. Actually found the horse to be the best-faring character, very compelling personality and good comic timing. Lennie Weinrib as ever has fun voicing the characters.

Gags-wise, there is not much mind-blowing, though nothing necessarily misfires, but the dialogue is very entertaining indeed, quite witty and quite a bit funnier. Some of Rattfink's funniest dialogue of the latter cartoons is here in 'Cattle Battle'. There is plenty of energy too and the music is suitably cheerful and fits nicely.

In conclusion, decent end to a variable series. 6/10