While not one of my favourite cartoon characters, Barney Bear was a very funny and likable character where his sluggishness was a huge part of his charm. He was also interesting for being modelled on both his creator Rudolf Ising (who also was his first voice actor until 1941) and the mannerisms of Wallace Beery.
After the Preston Blair and Michael Lah unit stopped after just three (and pretty good too) cartoons, 'The Bear and the Bean', 'The Bear and the Hare' and 'Goggle Fishing Bear', Dick Lundy was the fourth director to take over the Barney series after Ising (10 cartoons), George Gordon (3) and Blair/Lah, and turned out to be the joint-longest-serving director after Ising with 10 contributions to the series. 'Barney's Hungry Cousin' (introducing Yogi Bear's home Jellystone Park) is one of his best, would also go as far to say it's one of the best Barney Bear cartoons overall. It doesn't have the frenetic pace of the contributions of the series' previous directors, but this doesn't matter with the pace being as beautifully judged and still lively as it is.
Barney's personality, less cranky and gruff compared to his original persona, and character design, much more nuanced before, have become more simplified over time. This has mattered far less with each cartoon, and he is still the fun, adorable and easy to like and root for character he always has been. The hungry bear is a very good match for him and the two have great chemistry together.
Animation is nicely drawn and colourful, if slightly lacking the finesse and meticulousness of the earlier entries of the Barney Bear series. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the impact of actions and gestures.
'Barney's Hungry Cousin' is a very funny cartoon, even hilarious (one of the series' funniest), throughout. The timing, even with the not as frenetic and more laconic pace, is still spot on. Really liked the characteristic silly charm that makes the series so likable. The voice acting is without complaint too.
Overall, one of Lundy's best Barney Bear cartoons and wonderful as a cartoon in general. 10/10 Bethany Cox