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 ever made by anybody. 'The Farm of Tomorrow' does not see Avery on top form and he did do much funnier and more imaginative cartoons, especially in his prime period of the 40s when he was at MGM. Of his '...of Tomorrow' cartoons (the others being 'House', 'TV' and 'Car'), 'The Farm of Tomorrow' for me is the weakest. As said many times, when Avery was not at his best he still fared much better than most other animation directors at their worst, some can only dream of having their best work on the same level as the masterpieces from Avery.
The other '...of Tomorrow' cartoons, especially my personal favourite 'House', were consistently funnier, more educational and more imaginative. 'The Farm of Tomorrow' certainly has the typical Avery lunacy, plenty of amusing sight gags and puns and some nice ideas, but not much is hilarious or standout-worthy.
Occasionally, limitations show in some of the backgrounds (in comparison to his cartoons from the 40s), but actually a vast majority of the animation is very good.
Some limited backgrounds and some unrefined drawing aside, the animation has a lot of colourful colours and expressive, inventive drawing and expressions. The music from the always never less than dependable Scott Bradley is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, a lot of the action is even enhanced by the music.
It is not a 1940s-1950s Avery cartoon without his trademark lunacy, sight gags and puns, and 'The Farm of Tomorrow' certainly all three and does them to amusing effect, though as said they didn't blow me away like those of many of his cartoons tend to. It's not heavy-handed and feels somewhat relevant, and the inventions are cool and suitably wacky in the way only Avery could do. It's very nicely paced and there are some interesting ideas that are ahead-of-their-time. Avery fares well with the directing and the voice acting is very good.
Concluding, a good cartoon but not a great one, which for Avery is slightly disappointing. 7/10 Bethany Cox
