Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. Is it 'Cock-a-Doodle Dog' an Avery masterpiece? Not quite. Does it show what Avery was all about, what makes his work so appealing to many and a good representation of him? Yes it is. The pace is a bit rushed at times in the timing of the gags, there are a lot and come at you in the most relentless of fashions. Occasional limitations show in the background art too when budgets weren't quite as big.
However, much of the animation is very good. Very rich in colour, the backgrounds have meticulously good detail when limitations don't kick in occasionally and the character designs are distinctively Avery in style and are fluid in movement. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is typically lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the action.
Can't fault Avery, whose unmistakable and unlike-any-other style is all over, nor the dynamic voice acting and the very engaging characters, especially Spike. 'Cock-a-Doodle Dog' is incredibly funny throughout, hilarious even at its best which is very important in a cartoon with as many gags as this does. The story is not a new one but has enough variety and such to not make that matter so much.
Overall, very well done and distinctively Avery if not quite quintessential Avery. 8/10 Bethany Cox