Whale's Tales (1990) User Reviews (2)

One of the Worst TTA Episodes Ever

[ianlueck · 2/10 · 14 December 2014]

Among some animation fans, including myself, "Tiny Toon Adventures" was a much-needed turning point for TV animation: It feature full animation (a big improvement over the previous three decades) and a scene-specific score, which put it leagues above its competitors. Most importantly, though, it was a return to fast-paced gag-based comedy that its predecessor, Looney Tunes, was loved for.

So you can imagine my disappointment when I watched "Whale's Tales". In lieu of the usual silly tone was a sickeningly sweet story about saving a baby whale's mother from poachers wanting to use her for cosmetics. Great, so not only do we have a story that feels out of place in the Tiny Toons universe, but it also wants to be a message show. Look, I hate whales being turned into cosmetics, but this isn't the show for such a message. Where are the laughs?

Well, they are virtually nonexistent in this outing. Outside of a self-aware line or two that seemed added out of desperation, there are no laughs, because the episode doesn't even attempt to be witty or funny. In fact, a couple scenes actually make me gag, they're so cloying.

I also felt that Elmyra was totally superfluous to the story. Towards the beginning, she takes the baby whale home, Buster and Babs discover this by hearing the whale crying from outside, and rescue the whale from her house. The way it was executed, it felt like padding, because it doesn't affect the overall conflict in any way (that is, rescuing the mother whale). Why couldn't they have discovered the whale another way without involving Elmyra?

Why doesn't this get the lowest rating possible? Its score is pretty good, sweeping and grand in spots, and heavily using "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" throughout. So credit where credit is due. Otherwise, this is definitely in the bottom five for "Tiny Toon Adventures" episodes. If you go in expecting to laugh and be entertained, prepare to be let down.

Not enough of a whale of a tale

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 31 August 2020]

Am giving this quite low score, for the show, and this mixed bag of a review with a heavy heart. 'Tiny Toon Adventures' is one of my favourite animated shows and fondly reminds me of the wacky energy that classic Looney Tunes had, something that 'Animaniacs' and 'Pinky and the Brain' excelled at as well. So many of this show's episodes range between good and outstanding, and even weaker episodes are still not bad and above average.

"Whale's Tales" sadly felt rather average. Personally do not hate it as much as the previous reviewer and don't consider it that bad. But by 'Tiny Toon Adventures' standards, "Whale's Tales" is very disappointing and should have been so much better, despite not considering it that bad the previous reviewer's criticisms to me are still actually valid and agreed with. Did quite like the premise, although it did have potential traps, but the execution underwhelmed.

Shall start with the good things. The animation is vibrantly coloured and beautifully rich in detail, not just the backgrounds but also the expressions and reactions of the characters which are wonderfully loony. The music is dynamic and characterful as always and the theme song has always brought a smile to my face. Something that was the case when a child and still is now.

The voice acting is very good and all do so well with delivering material that is not really worthy of them. The baby whale is truly adorable and there are cute and mildly amusing moments. Gotcha Grabmore is quite fun and Babs is by far the best faring character here.

Unfortunately they come too far and between in an episode that by 'Tiny Toon Adventures' standards felt rather bland. There has been far wittier and much wackier writing in other episodes, those aspects are lacking here in an episode that has too few laughs. The humour is replaced instead by a cuter tone, and sadly this came over as too cloying and too sugary sweet which is not like 'Tiny Toon Adventures'.

Also found the story far too thin and with not much to it, even the tension is not there enough. Elmyra is quite nice at the beginning but serves very little point after that and of the regular characters only Babs shines properly.

In summary, disappointing but not a complete loss. 5/10