A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.
Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation. The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her.
The animation, as always, in 'On With the New' is extremely good, being beautifully drawn, crisply shaded and meticulous in detail. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic.
'On With the New' is cute with adorable babies that aren't too bratty when misbehaving. The voice acting is good.
However, 'On With the New' is paper thin on story and conflict and there is nothing really that's funny or even remotely amusing. Which makes it less easy to forgive the lack of creativity or the risqué and surreal edge.
Betty's personality is so toned down by now that she comes over as bland. While the cartoon is cute, sometimes it does get on the wrong side of saccharine sweet.
In conclusion, average Betty Boop. 5/10 Bethany Cox
