Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera, Studio Ghibli and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. With significantly broader knowledge of different directors, animation styles and studios, actually appreciate and love it even more now.
As has been said a few times already, 'I Like Mountain Music' is fairly typical of Harmon-Ising, leaning towards the cute kind of cartoon with a lot of sentiment in alternative to the laugh a minute and hilarious kind, the latter being the one that a lot seem to prefer (understandably, though am hardly biased against the former). This approach has varied with Ising. In some instances it has been very sweet and charming, in others it can be cloying and too cutesy. Generally 'I Like Mountain Music' belongs in the former category, despite the danger of falling into the latter with the premise.
'I Like Mountain Music' has a lot to like although not a great cartoon, not one to completely overlook if not a cartoon to watch repeatedly.
Yes it gets a bit too saccharine in places, like with the lyrics, and it is best perhaps to not talk about the story because there really isn't much of one. Not all the characters, while charming enough, are particularly memorable.
What 'I Like Mountain Music' does so well however eclipses these problems. The animation is rich in detail for design and backgrounds, vibrant in colour and crisp. Composer for the prime-era 'Tom and Jerry' cartoons and regular Tex Avery composer Scott Bradley provides a lush and atmospheric music score. The voice acting is also on point.
It is hard not to fall in love with the fun characters even if they are not especially distinctive, and it has enough likeability and personality to not be dull. 'I Like Mountain Music' is rich in natural sweet charm and some very imaginative ideas and visuals. There is not much hilarious and the cartoon's hardly laugh a minute, but a good deal of it does raise a smile. The pace avoids being draggy and the parodies are great fun, though familiarity is in order.
In conclusion, nice and well made but not a masterpiece. 7/10 Bethany Cox
