Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.
That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He's fun and is a pest without being too obnoxious, and is a little closer to his original manic personality (if not as much) than the very subdued personality he tended to be in this period. One feels sorry for him too. As with the butler who is just as entertaining.
'Bats in the Belfry' doesn't have an awful lot wrong. The story is slight and predictable with typical antics that are not much new.
Faring weakest is the animation. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from this period continuing through to the 60s.
On the other hand, there is much more energy than there was in a while and the conflict is more believable due to stronger personalities and a bigger contrast between the two.
The music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. Most of the gags are still amusing and well timed despite the predictability. The voice acting is good.
All in all, decent late Woody Woodpecker cartoon. 7/10 Bethany Cox