Many of the Private Snafu cartoons are very enjoyable, being very well-made, entertaining and educational with good morals and interesting historical and instructional material. Even when inept, Snafu is still very much endearing and fun for a vast majority of his cartoons.
'The Chow Hound' may not be one of the best Private Snafu cartoons, like 'Spies', 'The Goldbrick' and 'Booby Traps'. It is still however very well done and has almost all the ingredients that make the Private Snafu cartoons so worth watching in general. Snafu has admittedly been more likable in other cartoons, he is as inept as ever but he is not as endearing or as fun and comes over as reckless and selfish that one is hardly surprised that drastic measures are taken to teach him a lesson.
It's a very short cartoon and feels it, and while much of the messaging makes its point very powerfully and finds just about the right tone the part with the ghost of the bull waiting to see his flesh eaten was one morbid step too far and not for the easily creeped out.
On the other hand, 'The Chow Hound' is very well-animated though with fluid character designs, detailed and not sparse backgrounds and lively colours/shadings. Carl Stalling always did write outstanding music for the many cartoons he scored for and that is true for 'In the Aleutians', the orchestration is very lush and the pacing is characteristically lively.
As ever the messaging and instructional parts make their point in a way that doesn't preach or disturb, and the narration entertains, resonates and teaches and doesn't fall into the trap of over-explaining or being over-used. Amidst the daring concept and a concept that is really quite brilliantly done there are a few humorous moments too. Mel Blanc as ever voices with zany zest and Frank Graham is a distinguished narrator.
In summary, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
