'The Pink Panther' "The Pink Quarterback" (1968)
Opening thoughts: 1968's 'The Pink Quarterback', the forty fourth Pink Panther cartoon, is another thoroughly enjoyable effort. It is not one of the best Pink Panther outings, and not as good as classics like 'The Pink Phink' and 'The Pink Tail Fly', though there is not much that is massively wrong with it. It is still a lot of fun with all that being said and a good representation of why Pink is wholly deserving of his iconic status and why his theatrical series is the most highly regarded and best known of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises' theatrical series. Which is true of most of the series' early cartoons.
Bad things: The set-up for 'The Pink Quarterback' is somewhat routine and the middle does drag a little.
Good things: However, 'The Pink Quarterback' still has a lot of entertainment to be had. There are some good gags throughout like with the quarter and the shoe, but the best part is indeed the ending which is inspired brilliance and funny isn't enough to describe it, it's hilarious more like. The animation is nice and simple, and looks pretty and elegant.
Furthermore, the theme tune is a timeless classic, and the music in the cartoon is catchy, appropriately orchestrated(have always loved the jazziness of it) and action-enhancing. Pink is still a cool and likable character with the comedy coming naturally to him.
Closing thoughts: All in all, not one of the classics but very good and towards the better end of the spectrum in correlation to Pink's cartoons.
8/10.