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.
It is a shame though that "Superdoo" has always been a disappointment for me. It is a long way from being terrible and there is a lot to admire, but the episode's uneven execution sometimes gets in the way of its good intentions.
One of its biggest problems for me is even for a somewhat Doofus-centric episode that he dominated too much. What makes this a big problem is that here Doofus is not a likeable character at all, have always in "Superdoo" found him obnoxious in his dishonesty and cockiness and the mean-spiritedness is taken into extremes at times. The personality change is far too abrupt and happens implausibly fast and his overall behaviour is overdone and grates. Would have also felt more empathy too if his negative behaviour was explained better and made clear earlier than it was.
"Superdoo" also could have handled Huey, Duey and Louie more consistently too, there are times where they do show good intentions later on, but at other times in their mockery that they are less than sympathetic, uncharacteristically, and actually come over as nearly as mean as Doofus, despite having problems with Doofus' portrayal here it was at these points where sympathy was sort of felt for him. The writing has been more subtle, funnier and more likeable in other episodes, don't remember a 'Ducktales' episode with this many insults and much snideness, in a way that's more mean than witty, and it's a turn-off. Some of the woodchucks' activities didn't need to be as overly-simple as it turned out to be.
However, there is a lot to recommend. 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. Some of the writing is amusing and thought-provoking.
Absolutely loved, and always have loved, the aliens in "Superdoo", they could easily have been annoying and was always prepared for them to be pointless but actually they were very funny and their goofiness was endearing. They very nearly made the episode. There are a few particularly note-worthy moments too. The nighttime journey sequence, such as Doofus' reactions to his powers is quite a masterpiece of animation and music and there is a real sense of wonder here. The same goes for a touch seemingly inspired by one of 'ET's' most iconic images and that was charming and affectionate. Doofus' change of heart is better timed and heartfelt, the most emotional "Superdoo" gets. The voice acting is fine, there is nothing to blame them for the rare patchiness of the writing and characterisation.
Concluding, certainly far from a must miss episode and has a lot of good things, but by 'Ducktales' standards it is nowhere near close to seeing the show at its best, if anything it's a lesser episode. 6/10
'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.
It is a shame though that "Superdoo" has always been a disappointment for me. It is a long way from being terrible and there is a lot to admire, but the episode's uneven execution sometimes gets in the way of its good intentions.
One of its biggest problems for me is even for a somewhat Doofus-centric episode that he dominated too much. What makes this a big problem is that here Doofus is not a likeable character at all, have always in "Superdoo" found him obnoxious in his dishonesty and cockiness and the mean-spiritedness is taken into extremes at times. The personality change is far too abrupt and happens implausibly fast and his overall behaviour is overdone and grates. Would have also felt more empathy too if his negative behaviour was explained better and made clear earlier than it was.
"Superdoo" also could have handled Huey, Duey and Louie more consistently too, there are times where they do show good intentions later on, but at other times in their mockery that they are less than sympathetic, uncharacteristically, and actually come over as nearly as mean as Doofus, despite having problems with Doofus' portrayal here it was at these points where sympathy was sort of felt for him. The writing has been more subtle, funnier and more likeable in other episodes, don't remember a 'Ducktales' episode with this many insults and much snideness, in a way that's more mean than witty, and it's a turn-off. Some of the woodchucks' activities didn't need to be as overly-simple as it turned out to be.
However, there is a lot to recommend. 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. Some of the writing is amusing and thought-provoking.
Absolutely loved, and always have loved, the aliens in "Superdoo", they could easily have been annoying and was always prepared for them to be pointless but actually they were very funny and their goofiness was endearing. They very nearly made the episode. There are a few particularly note-worthy moments too. The nighttime journey sequence, such as Doofus' reactions to his powers is quite a masterpiece of animation and music and there is a real sense of wonder here. The same goes for a touch seemingly inspired by one of 'ET's' most iconic images and that was charming and affectionate. Doofus' change of heart is better timed and heartfelt, the most emotional "Superdoo" gets. The voice acting is fine, there is nothing to blame them for the rare patchiness of the writing and characterisation.
Concluding, certainly far from a must miss episode and has a lot of good things, but by 'Ducktales' standards it is nowhere near close to seeing the show at its best, if anything it's a lesser episode. 6/10
