Although beloved children's book author Dr. Seuss passed away in 1991, many other books he had put together were posthumously published in the years onward. The first notable one was Daisy-Head Mayzie, which follows the story of a girl named Mayzie McGrew who has a daisy sprout from her head. Around the same year that the book was initially published, 1995 to be exact, Hanna-Barbera had produced an animated television adaptation in collaboration with British animation studio Tony Collingwood Productions. As far as how the special holds up, it is a unique albeit standard Seuss story not often known by the public.
Now with a premise like a little girl who has a flower sprout from her head intact, the daisy atop Mayzie McGrew's hair is at first a curse by the school and townsfolk alike until it becomes a blessing for fame and fortune. It is a fairly straightforward narrative, which is often padded out by scenes of Mayzie being mocked that go on too long before any real plot progression goes forward. The moral of accepting loved ones over fame feels randomly slapped on, almost like the special forgot to establish it beyond Mayzie's classmates making fun of her flower head. Perhaps if the special focused more on Mayzie's struggles in school and having the flower be a symbol of an outcast in a mean spirited town, then a more nuanced conflict might have been set in stone. Otherwise, most of the characters besides Mayzie contribute little to the plot beyond being mere reactions to the flower or taking advantage of it like the generic agent Finagle, who is only somewhat memorable for being voiced by Tim Curry. For all of Dr Seuss' brilliance, he didn't always know where to properly focus his stories.
As far as anything noteworthy about the special is concerned, the iconic Seuss symbol the Cat in the Hat narrates the story and Henry Gibson does provide a warm presence to the beloved character as the featurette progresses. In fact, the cast ranging from Curry, George Hearn, Lewis Arquette, Susan Silo and more provide some fun performances and one can tell they had a lot of fun singing the insipid yet charming songs courtesy of Seuss himself. Francesca Smith sounds believably sympathetic as Mayzie herself, as she paints the appropriate picture of how an innocent child would go about life with a strange plant atop their head. In addition, Tony Collingwood's studio did a pleasant job bringing the colorfully imaginative world of Dr Seuss through the art of animation through the character and environment designs alone. Although most of the set pieces emulate a generic town, the well known wonky architecture and saturated landscapes we all know from Seuss's imagination are blown up wonderfully as the cute characters bounce around the screen in glee.
Despite a weak execution, Daysie-Head Mayzie is a cute Seuss story that nonetheless showcases the doctor's magic through its relatable lead, a charming cast and colorful animation. It's hard to say if this special is considered a cult classic by those who grew up with it, but I would recommend it more for curiosity's sake. Although Seuss has made arguably far better stories throughout his career, this story is a nice enough contender for his lesser known work that might gain a new audience for those exhausted from the Grinch and the Lorax. Besides, who else can you think of who ever had a flower sprout from their head?
