Love Me (T)o..ony Tuesday 2015: The Beatles (The 1960s Cartoon)

Hi everyone.
Andrew here welcoming you to another edition of Toony Tuesday.

And wouldn't you know it, this one is something you may have never known about, despite the subject being the biggest and most influential musical band of all time.
And what it churned out is one of the most craziest, wackiest, absurd, surreal...and brightest, charming, funniest and underrated classic cartoons of all time.

It's 1960s animated series The Beatles.



This series, created and produced by Al Brodax, is exactly what you think: It’s about the Beatles going on tours, recording music, having fun, torturing Ringo and getting mobbed by fangirls. But under the surface, there’s more than that. There’s helping two octopuses fall in love, going down a hole to another (Aztec) world, a battle inside the Eiffel Tower for fashion designs, going gaga for ghosts and aliens, being a makeshift version of The Three Musketeers and many many examples of plots that the writers may have pulled out of their asses but are based on the legendary discography of the Fab Four themselves.

And now, a history of me with this series:
One day, a few years ago, I was screwing around on Wikipedia, looking at schedules for Saturday Morning cartoons on the Big Three Networks (NBC, ABC and CBS), and under the schedule for the Alphabet was a certain cartoon. And it would change the way I saw cartoons forever.
When I first watched the series, I didn’t know what I’ve gotten myself into. A cartoon starring The Beatles? Awesome! But I saw more. The Beatles getting into some crazy situations and barely getting out of them with the Power of Music--their music. Hilarious. I was instantly hooked, and would watch many times since. I’ve enjoyed everything this show offered.

The Fab Four are caricatures of the real band in the show.
They all lack a Liverpudlian accent, wear mop-tops and Edwardian suits (at the time where the band doesn’t even do that anymore in real life), and travel to some part of the world where some shit happens to them, and they saved the day with performing some song with instruments that just appear out of freaking thin air.


And now, a bit about the Cartoony Beatles themselves:
John is the leader--a bad one. He’s also lazy, slouchy and doesn’t do his leader job justice.
Paul is the neat, poised and stylish, yet devious, happy and excited second-in-command.
George is occasionally superstitious, appreciative of other cultures and usually leans on something with slyness and weird crooked smile. He also has one of the strangest accents any foreign character has in all of television animation; his accent isn’t Liverpudlian...or even British. Instead, it’s some mix of other European accents--but what is it? Irish? Scottish? Asian? Who could tell which?
Ringo rounds out the band as the goofy-looking idiot of the four. His shaggy mop-top, larger-in-size clothes, scatterbrained mind and big-ass nose aren’t the only factors make him the butt of many a joke.
(Seriously, my main gripe with this show is that their treatment of Ringo is so irritating. I know he's stupid sometimes, but does he really deserve their crap on him? Sometimes makes me think they deserve their own abuse in the Sing-Along segment.)
Between the off-putting misadventures and brutal dry humor between them, it’s clear that all four of the Beatles enjoy being friends and are always looking out for each other. It’s few times in between, but moments like them are wonderful to watch. The band themselves makes this show.

I’ll be honest about the animation: it’s very shoddy and messy. It’s understandable when the ink and paint is outsourced to three different studios in three different countries (Artransa Park Studios in Australia, TVC Animation in the United Kingdom, and some studio in Hollywood, CA in the USA), but it helps in that it gives some wonderful colorful scenes and moments that are just fantastic to see, especially the songs they make. So much effort paying off in such a grand way.
Even if some of the movements are the same damn ones in every short.

The humor is extremely off the wall. It’s hard to explain, but almost everything you see here will either make you laugh or wonder what odd, twisted, warped version of reality this show is. But I think that adds to the humor, and makes it work great.

What makes this series extra special is the Sing-Alongs.
In this segment, spliced between the half-episodes, a member of the Fab Four, usually either Paul, George or John, introduces one of their songs and asks the viewers to join them with lyrics appearing on-screen. Ringo appears in the place of the stage "prop-man" to try to set-up the performance, but because of his incompetence, always makes it a large mess. And it really makes no sense whatsoever when this is happening in their own apartment in Season 3--but hey, Rule of Funny.
What makes these so great is, not only because of the music playing, but also because of the influence it set upon its young viewers, when the lyrics helped them learn to read. Which was a wonderful thing to hear about.
Also, no bouncing ball here. Just lyrics. All Awesome-ness.

The Beatles Cartoon became a big hit on ABC during its’ original run. Many viewers, young and old(er) turned in every Saturday morning (or afternoon, where Season 3 aired) to see what misadventure the Fabs got into, and what song they played to get out of it (or what strange-as-shit plan they succeeded with to escape with a song playing in the background). And in many respects, it works. The humor is still very hilarious, the animation (while crap) is still perfectly happy and colorful, the songs are still timeless, the episodes are still worth your time, and the Fab Four are still Fab-y half a century later. And even though this came way before my time (and barely came after my parents times), I can still appreciate this series for being what it was--an animated series based on The Beatles and their songs, but also being the earliest example of writers possibly being high for writing such out-there yet balls-out and gut-busting humor. Must be the songs from the band that'll explain it. Yep.

It's not on DVD, but it still isn't hard to find; it's on YT. All episodes, Sing-Alongs and Beatlemania madness are there for you to consume.
So yeah, check out these series.
It's hilarious, it's rockin', it's colorful, and it's ready of your attention.
I highly recommend it, especially 50 years after its debut.
I love it, and I hope you all it too.

See you guys later.

Toony Tuesday 2015: We Bare Bears

Hi everyone.
I'm Andrew with more Toony Tuesday.
This time it's on Cartoon Network's latest original series, We Bare Bears.

Created by Daniel Chong, this animated series is based on his webcomic "The Three Bare Bears", and is about three bear brothers who try to adapt to the human society in the San Francisco Bay Area, and learn a lot about themselves and their lives along their adventures.

At face value, this series has a vibe reminiscent of Regular Show, because of the animation. It's really good, but also really simple. It's vibe is also similar to Clarence as well, because of it's light, calm humor and dialogue. Both really gives this a real nice charm.
And the three main characters add on to this; they aren’t unlikable or difficult to swallow. In fact, they’re really cool, upbeat and fun. And they enjoy each other’s company. That’s great enough for a show for me.

The title sequence and theme song has to be some of the best of either in television animation of this decade so far.

While the former shows what is the entire series on a pedestal, it does it so well, and captures what we know about it so far without stretching in too much.
It’s the Bare Bears Bear-Stacked trekking across San Francisco and doing what they’re planning on doing. Recurring characters like Nom-Nom the koala and Chloe Park also appear briefly, along with parts mimicking scenes from some early episodes, like Grizzly throwing a basketball to a hoop (and missing, as shown in the first episode “Our Stuff”). It’s a perfect encapsulation of what the series is in 20 seconds, and that’s awesome.
And the theme song is just as awesome. From the first time I’ve heard it, I couldn’t stop thinking of it and smiling from it. It’s sweet, bouncy and bubbly, not to mention catchy as heck, from start to end. And what also makes it great is that it’s sung by British R&B music star Estelle. Known best for either her breakthrough song “American Boy” or her role as Garnet on Steven Universe, Either way, her being the voice of the theme song makes it fantastic.

Now to the Bare Bears themselves. The characters are likable, cool, and have their own personalities that break them apart from each other.
Grizzly, Panda and Ice Bear are three furry anthropomorphic quadruped brothers who live in a nice cozy cave near the San Francisco Bay. They go and do whatever they fancy for the day, and whatever happens, happens. All of them have a different personality that sticks them apart from each other, yet they are very close. (Although I wonder if they are brothers or just friends going by as brothers, because they’re clearly of different species. More on that later)
-Grizzly is loud, excited, and has many interests that involve himself, like getting famous on the internet or winning a burrito-eating contest. In the end when those come back to bite him, he realizes his faults and his bros come through and forgive him.
-Panda is introverted, shy, rational and emotional. He also has an attachment to his cell phone and longs for contact with the rest of the social world (I can relate to that; come on, who can’t?).
-and Ice Bear is calm and extremely prepared for whatever. He can do martial arts, can cook, has a fondness for his axe and spending time in the refrigerator. But he is an expert on a lot of things.
Also, Ice Bear in another way is very memorable. From his first line (“Ice Bear has ninja stars.”) to his actions (playing basketball like he’s Steph Curry) to his voice and mannerisms, Ice Bear has become the breakout character of the series, and has had many fans since its debut (like me).
There is so much to love about these guys:
--They’re so close, it’s creepy-they always stick together in whatever situation and rarely leave the others behind. There are times when this happens, but they are few and far in-between
(the only times this happens so far is in “Viral Video” where Grizzly ditches Panda and Ice for a limo ride with internet sensation Nom-Nom, and in “Panda’s Date” where Panda is jealous of his brothers’ new friendship with his crush Lucy, a woman he met at a farmer’s market while suffering an allergic reaction [long story]).
--They don’t fight-never have I yet seen them in a skirmish for anything. And it’s refreshing to see that. I’d be hurt on the inside if they actually got into a fight sometime down the road, because they’re too cool and sweet to each other to get into scraps like that. Although I will say that if that may happen...Ice Bear will win, no doubt.
--They’re so friendly-these guys are so sweet, that it’s kinda sickening.
--The voice actors for them are just perfect in their roles.
bring layers upon layers of personality and chemistry to their characters and also make this series amazing. Just watch this, and you’ll enjoy the voice acting as much as the Bare Bears themselves.

--The Bear Stack--the Bear Stack is a way the brothers go about. But it’s not just their usual mode of transportation, which is stacking themselves on one another in certain sequence and walk to whatever destination they're going to in San Francisco, it’s also how they show how close they are as a family. Aww. It's both funny and endearing, with a splash of charming as well. In fact, it's one of my favorites things about the series in general.

There are other characters of this series I also like.
There’s Nom-Nom, a koala/internet sensation who turns out to be more than what he lets on when he meets Grizzly; he’s quite a self-centered arrogant jerk (especially for the second he appears in the title sequence). But he voice is quite nice to hear--the fact that he’s voiced by Patton Oswalt is a huge plus.
And then there’s Chloe Park. As I mentioned earlier, she’s a young girl who’s already in college, and is of high intelligence. Despite her actions in the beginning of her first episode, the aptly-title “Chloe”, she is a very adorable, precocious, and humble young girl. There’s no way you can’t like her; from her personality, to her character, to her voice (by Charlyne Yi, best known as the voice of Ruby on Steven Universe) she's way cute. And from the moment I first watched her,I enjoyed her presence and I really wished she would appear more, and from the likeness she’s gotten so far (and the fact that she also appears in the title sequence), it seems everyone else does too, with the implement that she might appear in future episodes. I won’t blame them.
Another character I like is Lucy, a lady the brothers meet when Panda suffers an allergic reaction to nuts after eating a cookie filled with them in “Panda’s Date”, saving him by giving him a shot of epinephrine and become the girl of his dreams. She’s lovely, kind, and is definitely one to be around. She’s also voiced by Ellie Kemper (you know? Erin from The Office and Kimmy Schmidt?). Yeah, this character is just as perfect.
All of these characters I mentioned, along with a some one-shot or recurring characters in some episodes that I didn’t mention, are very likable and appealing to everyone. They bring oodles and oodles of personality and enjoyment to a series that already had personality and enjoyment already in the first place.

In conclusion: There is so much to love about this series--the light, bubbly nature; the likable characters; the snappy wit and sharp writing; the easy-yet-near-complex plots; the fantastically expandable range in music (whether incidental, background or sung), simple-yet-great animation and that it’s not edgy or overly-emotional like many other shows (not that there’s anything wrong with them, either). This series has it all, and that is why it rocks.
(...although there is one moment so far that can make you tear up immediately. That is in "Burrito", where it is revealed after Grizzly gets a large life-size burrito, that it kinda reminds him of a terrible part of his life, where he is stuck on the top of a high tree during a thunderstorm, until he is rescued by a firefighter. The guy's warm embrace is what Grizzly gets from the burrito.

This moment has stood out as one of the series' most memorable and beloved moments. And it can start waterworks.)
(It also makes you wonder how the three Bare Bears got together. In "Our Stuff" alone, Grizz refers to them as bros, assuming they're actual brothers, putting aside the fact that they're of different species. Oh well, I love them anyway, so I'll be cool with whatever relation they are to each other.)

We Bare Bears definitely fits the network's brand of absurd, goofy, edgy and hilarious original programming (although it's definitely not as edgy or absurd), and is a very nice fit for it. The goofy, charming and cutesy feel and the likeness of the characters hit the right spots for me right out of the gate, and the other elements make for a perfect weekly 11 minutes of your life you just might be cool with taking away. And I wasn’t surprised that it’s rated TV-Y7, whether because of the feel or not. In fact, I would’ve been shocked as heck if it was ever rated TV-PG like CN’s other shows, because it’s not the best rating for it, and it would’ve been unnecessary and unneeded. But that doesn’t matter to me, as this series is just fantastic and I couldn’t be any more happy to begin watching as soon as I did (which was five days after it’s premiere).

(In fact, I’m so happy and in love with this show, that I decided to do something I never would’ve thought of doing: I created a Tumblr page. It’s called Ice Bear-isms, where I showcase all the quotes, memes and video featuring the series’ big mute lug himself Ice Bear, along with those from Panda and Grizzly, and other featured characters too, as well as memorable moments from the series itself. Other blogs based on him and the series official page are reblogged regularly.
It’s at icebear-isms.tumblr.com--check it out and follow. And I hope you like it.
Now that the shameless plug-in is over, we now return to our regularly-scheduled review.)

I really didn’t mind the huge push it got from the network--a five night debut with the first six episodes airing during that workweek, and the first two airing in the first night--in fact, I’m happy it got this because I honestly believe it can be a big hit for Cartoon Network (and has been so far) and can be yet another memorable series for everyone to watch and enjoy.
I know this will become a success and last for a long while, because it's a kind of series for anyone (me included) to sit back and relax to, even though my television watching is a broad as the sun and the moon. I can also think that the network can and will treat it just as well as its other shows, and give it the fans and recognition it deserves and then it’ll be another piece in the puzzle of This Great Renaissance of Animation of the 2010s.
Congratulations, Cartoon Network; you have another hit on your hands.
At least I think know so, since on August 12, CN renewed the series for a second season. So it's clear that the execs at the network has given a huge liking to it; I mean that had to--they gave it a panel at Comic-Com.

And that is the another Surprise Review for another animated series I believe will be a hit for not only its network, but also for all animated television. Thank you for joining me, and I’ll see you later.

Toony Tuesday 2015: The 7D

Hey, everybody.
Let me tell you a story of seven little men who work and play in the small, yet sprouting kingdom of Jollywood. These men are those you have seen many times before in the same one other story, but this story is a little different, (okay, very different) as these men go on many different adventures without the main character of this other story in the picture. And let me tell you, this story is a wondrous story with many chapters that is worth the many page turns.
This is the story of The 7D.

The 7D is a television adaptation of Disney's immortal icon and a reason animation is the heaven of the film medium that it is today, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Developed by Tom Ruegger, best known as producer and writer on Animaniacs and creator of Histeria, this animated series began airing on Disney XD on (basically the perfect date to launch any show, meaningful or ironic) July 7, 2014. Or 7/7/14.
Here's a little history behind it: It was originally planned as an original series on Disney Junior, with the intended audience being infants and toddlers. But the execs felt it would be a better fit for the slightly older crowd. So they changed the network to XD and the producers changed the content to be a better match for the network and its viewers. And the rest is history.

I really enjoy this series. Its light and heart-y feel is a wonderful sight, its humor is light but still jam-packed with big laughs and the characters are super likable and memorable. It's a complete difference from the other series on Disney XD, which vary in darker and crazier tones (which isn't to say the characters on those shows aren't likable; they certainly are).
So let me discuss the characters themselves.

The 7D are what we've already known and loved in Snow White; they're a very wonderful and lovable ragtag group of little guys who work at the diamond mines and live in the cottage. But their personalities and quirks are what make them so memorable and awesome. And here, it's only different because of their voices (the actors are different, of course).

in the order of the theme song:
-Happy is sweet, enthusiastic and overly-optimistic, but now has a guitar and provides music (which is a perfect touch, because his voice actor is a really good singer, and his deep baritone voice is a joy to listen to [me especially]).

-Sneezy is of course know for what his name implies, but his adorkable nature and behavior, and that he's younger than most of the others here, really stands him apart from the others (which is hard to do when they all are super cool), because of his sweet, kind personality and the ability to

-Dopey is known as the favorite of the group because of his cuteness to his actions and the fact that her can make an impact in any scene, despite not speaking even a lick of English. Here, instead of not saying a sound, ha can communicate with the other Ds and other characters with whistling, which is a cool thing I don't mind much, and does bring his character to a new level of originality. (I do wonder why his mouth is partially obscured though; maybe because it costs a lot more paint cels for his lips to move.)

-Bashful is still the shy, quiet member, but, like Sneezy, is also very liked for his adorkable nature, and has also been seen for his sweet crush on the Queen and his hiding in some scenes make him more cute than just a strange dork.

-Doc is the leader (duh) and the inventor of the group. But here, he's more than that. He's dropped his stuttering, wears a cool bow tie (), and is still always there for his fellow men whenever needed (which is a lot, but that's what makes him one to look up to).

-Sleepy is a sleeper. He also reminds me of Frank Zappa (in facial pattern and voice). and...

-Grumpy should be the most memorable D of this series. He may be the angry, short-fused member, but he has a heart that beats through at times. But here, he's not grumpy all the time, and he has some insight and foresight to make him a perfect human character (well, just like the rest of the 7D).

This group of characters is an awesome group indeed. These guys are a perfect ragtag that always stick together, help each other out and make a good time for both each other and us. I love them, individually and together, and this series and its producers and writers bring some new life into then that I believe is deserved. And their voice actors () brings layers of awesome and cool into their characters and the series itself. I enjoy that they all have become, to me, some of the most memorable characters in modern-day animated television.
But they're not the only characters in this show...or the only memorable. There are other main characters that make The 7D so great and hilarious. Each of them carry their own humor and characterization that make them so watchable, even more than the Ds themselves.

-Hildy and Grimwald Gloom are the main antagonists of the series. They are a gloomy couple with only one plan: to destroy the 7D and Queen Delightful, rid them from Jollywood, and turn it into their personal playground from the land under. And they make kissy noises. (Eww.)
The two are a split of the character of Grimhilde the Evil Queen/Hag Witch, the antagonist(s?) of Snow White. Hildy and Grim is the mean, ruthless evil and jealous half. And they pretty much continue what she wanted to do in the iconic film, sans apple and possible death.
Despite these plans, they have been the opposite of Gloom--They're extremely enjoyable and carry a lot of laughs in each and every episode. These two give me such delight, that it feels like the 7D's joy is underwhelmig, and their scenes fill a void for me, taking it to 100%, and maybe even beyond.
Another thing that makes Hildy great is her voice actor's performance. She's voiced by fashion icon and media personality Kelly Osbourne. And since this is her first acting role, you would expect something, but nope, it's the opposite. She's absolutely fantastic, and makes the role so memorable from her performance alone. It's like the the producers had a thing going after they cast her after they heard her speak, and thought her voice would be her personality.
I'm not a fan of most of her other work, but I am a fan of her role of Hildy and that's a great thing.
Grim is also praised from me because of his voice acting by VA legend Jess Hartnell. Putting them together has been a surprising good combo in terms of voice acting and it really pulls me in.
These two are awesome for antagonists, and really carry the show to more heights. I've never enjoyed laughing from villains like I have from them. The joy from watching their scenes and listening to their dialogue just beams every time, and I just can't get enough of it.

-Queen Delightful is a queen I like to watch among many. like The Evil Queen before her, she is a monarch and possesses a Magic Mirror. Although she is her royal highness of Jollywood, she's also goofy, foolish and ditzy, but also gives some really good laughs. Like her shouting in a random moment, as seen in "The Long, Long Winter"; and her willingness to let her royal adviser, Lord Starchbottom, do the work for her.


-Lord Starchbottom is (again) the royal assistant to Queen Delightful. Despite this, he's treated as nothing but a butt monkey. His services are continually denied in favor of those of The 7D, and is I loved his dialogue and gags, and his wit and character.

All of these characters are so likable to me, it's possible not to like them. But that can't be possible, so I'm just making a point.
The humor is so enjoyable to me, and I'm a guy that has a huge broad range of humor I like (except for toilet humor; I can't freakin' stand that), so this is just perfect to me. The humor is clearly for kids, but has enough edge for adults to enjoy as well. There are jokes that adults can laugh at, but also jokes that kids can get as well without scratching their heads. And they're so light and fun, that it's makes you wonder why the execs got their hands on it in the first place. Although it not as edgy as the other shows on Disney XD, it's still great for anyone to enjoy, especially those who don't like dark humor.

It;s all of these reasons that make this series so wonderfully fun and bright and enjoyable.

So there you have at. The 7D is a great animated series for the whole family and adults to enjoy. It's not for everyone, but if you give it a chance, you just may love it as much as I do. So please watch it on

Toony Tuesday 2015: Gravity Falls--Season One

WARNING: This review contains spoilers. Trust no one.

Toony Tuesday 2015: Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (323rd) (#MaroonMay)

Hey, everyone.
You’re probably expecting another one of these, were you? Good. Anyway...

Let me tell you something, brother(s) (and sisters)!
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero is Awesome!
I mean, never in a long time have I thoroughly enjoyed a cartoon from start to finish. I can remember a few times I have recently, but this is a different case. When I mean by this, I mean from the theme song to the first half, to the second half to the credits. I can’t remember the last time this has happened in a cartoon, and after this show, I don’t think I can again.

Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, created by Jared Bush and Sam Levine, centers Penn Zero -- a kid who, while his parents are stuck in another dimension, winds up taking the reigns as a part-time superhero to stop enemies from destroying other dimensions. His friends, Boone and Sashi, are also Part-Time Heroes and join Penn on the adventures as Wiseman and Sidekick. Together they use their abilities in these dimensions to stop the evil Rippen, who is also in the strange industry as a part-time Villain, taking the reigns over the bad guys who can’t destroy the dimension they planned on (and is also the kids’ art teacher at their school), along with his sidekick Larry (who is not only also the school principal, but is also pretty bad at what he does as a evil sidekick). In these worlds, Hero, Wiseman and Sidekick face off against Villain and Bad Sidekick in whatever they’re assigned, and while they’re in a fight for dominance and victor of the day, we’re treated a display of cathartic comedy, awesome action, and occasional moments of harmless heartwarming.

Here’s the story of how I first watched this series (oh, and if you want, you can skip this crap if you want to get the good stuff):
One Saturday in May, I was at home, bored and hot. Then my sister calls me and asks if I could watch her children for her while she went off on personal errands. So for the day, I was in the living room (aka watching TV and screwing around on the laptop like a bad millennial would) while the little ones were in their room playing with their tablets. Suddenly, a recording was scheduled on the DVR for a cartoon entitled Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero.
(Back then, outside of my knowledge of the title, I’ve never had any thought of this series; no interest at all. Not after reading tweets on the Twitter TL. Not after reading discussions on it. Not even after reading an article on TheFutonCritic.com about it being renewed for a second season! Nothing came to me telling me to watch)
I was close to cancelling the recording to watch whatever I was already watching, but then decided to keep it, because whoever recorded it wanted to watch it very much. I’m so glad I did, because now I’ve become a fan, and has watched every episode so far a few times before the next batch comes in.

Today, for this review, I’ll be talking a bit about that first episode I’ve ever watched:
"Defending the Earth" and "Number One, Number Two"--the seventh episode of Season 1. And let me just say, I’ve never been excited to review for a show before. That’s right, more than Saturday Night Live, more than Over the Garden Wall, and even more than Star vs. the Forces of Evil. Which is very surprising, because I’ve been ecstatic to share my thoughts on these shows for quite a while now, and before this series came around, I was perfectly enjoying the very short number of shows I’ve been reviewing on this blog, but now, I’m more excited than usual. So, Let’s get started, because I had so much to discuss before I forget.

And now: my review of the episodes.
What I’ve enjoyed the most about “Defending the Earth” is mostly from Boone:
After his reveal that he has stage fright, Boone finds the courage from his friends in danger (as in Penn and Sashi being repeatedly smacked around by the small alien creature) and pictures part of the crowd in their underwear (in particular, the host), and gives his (super-duper amazing, by the way) rebuttal in front of the studio audience and billions of viewers watching on TV, all while doing a very awesome interpretive dance number. This would win over everyone (it won me over so much, I tried to do the dance. I failed).
That’s not to say I didn’t think the rest of the episode was great. There were other parts I also really enjoyed:
--At the start, after the “beam-in” (or whatever you can call it) from the Multi-Universe Transprojector (which, on its own, is awesome), President Penn wants to goof off on the Presidential Phone. Sashi says no. So instead Penn goofs off with the Presidential...pen. (Honestly, I found it a little pretentious, but it was still funny enough.)
--President Penn, Justice Boone and General Sashi are being attacked by the Alien Rippen and his alien army. The dialogue from the kids finding ways to stop them was hilarious.

"Aliens have a weakness We just need to find out what it is!" "It's not water" "It's not sunlight" "That's vampires It's not country music"

— #MaroonMay -- 4-31 (@MaroonMondays) May 17, 2015

--”I’m friends with one of the contestants.” -Larry
“NO HE’S NOT!!” -Rippen
--The challenges that Alien Rippen and Justice Boone go through.
--The part with Justice Boone talking with the talking imaginary underwear. It’s the voice of the latter that kills me every time.
--Bruce Vilanch

Don't make a mistake and never forget this: Bruce Vilanch is awesome. #PennZero

— #MaroonMay -- 4-31 (@MaroonMondays) May 17, 2015

--Also, the ending, where everyone comes together and waves to the camera like the end of an episode of Saturday Night Live.
--And Phyllis. She works at and maintains the dimensional gate at the Odyssey, an old, dilapidated movie theater the kids go to clock in for their super shifts. She's voiced by co-creator Sam Levine, and she's hilarious. I mean, she's serious most of the time, but her voice and actions are what make her so great. She doesn't appear much in this episode, though, but when you watch this series more, you'll find her as more of a laugh riot every time she's on screen. Given she's the opposite of a riot, that makes it even better.

And what I love about “Number One, Number Two” is that this is the first episode that starts with the Part-Time Villains instead of the Part-Time Heroes (who appear later); and from their point of view, we learn a little bit more about them--as in, despite Larry’s incompetence as a bad guy, Rippen realizes Larry’s loyalty and care, and this makes them good friends (although it would take Rippen to die for him to admit that). And they even hug at the end. (Awww) Larry may be--no, is--a little incompetent and...a little too close, but he really is a kind, caring, and very loyal guy and is a great friend to have. (That is when you get past his...quirks.)
Also, like the heroes, the villains get their own place with a Multi-Universe Transprojector, too.
Other parts I really liked were:
--Rippen finding a photo of himself in high school. Looking gnarly there!
--Penn trash-talking with himself. (and hitting tree trunks while making the round trips)
Also, his attempt at a British accent. It was so hilariously grating, I could just take a block of cheese to the TV screen, and it can do the work for me.
--The reveal at the climax that the part of the place they were in the episode was just a set thanks to Boone and Sashi’s work.
--Sashi trying to banter with Rippen. Actually, any time Sashi turns into a rage-filled monster. Am I wrong for laughing at her wrath upon everyone else?
--Phil. (He doesn’t say a word here, but his reaction makes me laugh)

I’m honestly so happy that this episode was the very first I watched. There were so many wonderful moments I loved and enjoyed, but the moments I mentioned stood out as the ultimate favorites. These moments left a lasting impression. Makes me happy I went through all the crap I went through that day to watch the episode. If I hadn’t, I would’ve missed out on another series I could’ve loved but was too lazy to check out. This show is a breath of fresh air that just comes at you with every passing minute, and that fresh air stays with you until the end of the end credits.

And now, let me get into the concept:
The concept of the series is just...so very imaginative.
Kids taking part-time jobs as superheroes in different dimensions saving the day from an evil-doer who also has a part-time job as said evil doer. Not only do they mold that concept into whatever they want, they throw in these really nice worlds, heroes they play and shout-outs in, that it makes you wonder if they’ve ever suffered brain damage from constant flashes of brilliant creativity. From watching the series after the fact, it’s cool seeing how well this concept is put together and put in and where the creators and other producers take it so far. You can actually tell and even feel how much work and effort they’ve put into it.

And speaking of work and effort…
let me, just for a second, mention that all five main characters have some of the coolest names I’ve ever seen in a modern-day cartoon. All of their names are so awesome, yet sophisticated as heck, you can’t help but think that the creators may have put in so much time and effort into them alone. To say otherwise makes me a darn liar.
Penn Zero has to be ironic, because he’s not a zero, he’s a ten. To be a kid that saves a different dimension on a daily basis, and yet end up with a last name like that, is the most ironic thing ever. And that’s what makes it cooler.
Boone seems like a goofy sidekick with bit of spaciness, but his name suggests he’s a international spy with a bit of kick-butt in him. And he can can hit it off with foreign chicks every movie.
Rippen is the perfect name for a villain in an R-rated psychological thriller movie everyone wanted to see, and enjoyed a lot.
Larry...well, it is a cool name anyway...and I thought I’d add his name as in I be a horrible person if I didn’t, and then leave him an odd man out.
And Sashi’s a awesome name, period.

Something I also want to mention is the run-time. Of course, each episode features two 11-minute shorts. But the shorts themselves are something interesting to me--they go by quick! Besides the obvious (DUH), there’s this mentality about it. And to explain it more easily, I read this blog post about Star vs. the Forces of Evil by this guy I know on Facebook a while ago and a part of it explains the run-time works to the show’s advantage. The story comes in quick, the episode wastes little time getting to it, the plot draws out well, and it ends perfectly.
That’s what I gotten from this series too, and the quick-yet-efficient-and-great story and plot method works here too. And it’s astonishing. Seeing the episode start, continue, and end quick while feeling like it’s still continuing on is wonderful and even cathartic at times.
This especially when I watched another episode after this one later in the day, “The Princess Most Fair” & “Hail Larry”. I honestly thought that “Princess” would be a two-parter, since the ending felt like a sequel hook, and was saddened to learned otherwise when “Hail” first appeared on my screen (Not to say it wasn’t good, not at all). But I honestly enjoyed this production element of this series, and I think that it’s a thumbs up from me to the producers.

Next the theme song. Wow, have I never loved a theme song like this one! This is an expository theme spoken (not sung, spoken) by Penn himself about his part-time superhero job, what he does during said job (some of which are plots from episodes we've seen already) and with his friends, he's fighting evil his his way and no evil-doers will stop him. To say how awesome the theme is by how it's a spoken-word piece is an understatement. Also, the animation is awesome. To see this every time an episode starts, brings you a reminder of what amazing-ness we're in for. I applaud the animators for making this, along with the episodes itself.

And one last thing for me to rave more than I should about: the voice acting. My Gosh, I’ve never felt so happy to watch a cartoon these days and feel more ecstatic from the voices of the characters than of their actions. And it all starts with Penn, who is voiced by Thomas Middetitch, who really gives his all to this character (and then some), and I can tell he’s pretty much having fun doing so. He just adds oomph, charisma and excitement to every other sentence Penn speaks and just pulls me in every time, and I just enjoy it every time. I’ll also give credit to Adam DeVine and Tania Gunadi for their work as Boone and Shahi. It’s pretty clear that these two know what their characters are, and that they put in a lot of charm, wit, and style into their voices, and it’s clear that they have some fun with it as well. I can really sense (and in one case, even taste) a perfect amount of chemistry between these three, and it just shines through. Also, when I read online that Alfred Molina and Larry Wilmore were voicing Rippen and Larry...I just blacked out for a bit. I mean...if you noticed that Alfred Molina and Larry Wilmore are voicing characters in a TV series (especially TOGETHER!!)...you know you’re in for a fantastic experience.
I’m sorry for gushing on at this point, but could you blame me? Never in my life have I ever been blown away by a cast of an animated series before (OTGW doesn’t count, as it’s a miniseries) from the start. I can actually tell (and even feel) the chemistry from all of them, and they’re having a good time taking part in this. I’ve heard of this a lot before, but here, I can actually believe it. I can actually honestly believe that the cast is enjoying themselves when recording their lines.

And for a minute, I must discuss the guest casting.
My. God. When I looked at the article on Wikipedia, I was surprised by the list of actors that appeared in these episodes:
Henry Winkler
Beau Bridges
Elizabeth Henstridge (from Agents of SHIELD)
Adam West
Diana Rigg (from The Avengers[??]; no not the movie, but the TV series from the 1960s)
Garry Marshall
Bruce Villanch
Lauren Tom
Chris Parnell
George Takei
I mean...that’s just fucking awesome.
Whoever had the talent to secure this group of amazing actors for this show for just the first ten episodes alone(!!) needs a pat on the back and a handshake...and an Emmy...and an Annie...and whatever other awards with a female name pertaining to animation.-(Gracie?)

I’m glad I’ve discovered the series this early, because this is a very lighthearted, wonderful and awesome take on the superhero genre of TV and film. Instead of one superhero doing his one job, these kids are doing the job of any superhero ever under the guise of doing this like they’re working a summer shift at a fast-food restaurant (and speaking of which, they actually do get to do that in "Brainsburgerz", which is a really cool take on Dawn of the Living Dead). I’m so happy that it got renewed for a second season, and I hope this series lasts long (as in as long as Bush and Levine want it to be. Because that’s the cool plan, now.), because this right here continues Disney Television Animation’s long bank roll of series that are so good in every way and deserve the praise it gets (This along with Phineas and Ferb, Gravity Falls, Wander Over Yonder and Star vs. The Forces of Evil; along other shows I haven’t watched yet like Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja and Star Wars: Rebels, which I also should watch sometime). Disney XD has become a different network because of its focus on the animated shows, and it really seems to be working. And it's with these shows that I think give it a resurgence of relevance and praise to me.

In the end, Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero is the best. Congrats to the cast and crew for...well, everything.
Good night, everybody.

Toony Tuesday 2015: Harvey Beaks (#MaroonMay)

Surprise! Again!!

Hey, everyone. Andrew here once again for another review of another series deserving of becoming a classic. Soon.
Today, I will be review the newest Nicktoon, Harvey Beaks.
This series premiered on Nickelodeon on March 28, 2015, after the 28th annual Kids Choice Awards, in it’s plum new-show after-show time slot. And to be quite honest, I was surprised about it, because I’ve never heard of it before. I’ve never followed developments of it online, no one has ever told me about it, I’ve never gotten a full understanding about it, and I’ve never noticed it ever.
And I’m disappointed about it now.

I’ve never noticed Gravity Falls existed when that premiered,
and even I knew about it a couple episodes in. And I knew a lot.

So what about this show that has gotten everyone talking so highly about it?
The series is created by CH Greenblatt, well-known to animation fans as the creator of Chowder and a writer/storyboard artist on SpongeBob SquarePants (he left at a good time). Again, it premiered after the 28th annual Kids Choice Awards, and began airing regularly soon after.
The series is about the titular Harvey Beaks, a shy, sweet, timid, well-meaning young male bird who meets two wild, crazy, offbeat and goofy imps, Foo and Fee. While their new friendship seems rocky, the new group become more well-bonded and close through many new adventures within the magical forest of Littlebark, made to make Harvey loosen up and become more open and spontaneous in life.

The title sequence and theme song are beautifully awesome.
The tune is a light, soft, yet groovy and jammin’ beat, guaranteed to make anyone happy and to stay in your head for a long time. The sequence is equally amazing; it shows Harvey leaving his home wna his parents and going to hang with Fee and Foo for the day. All it is here is still moving images of the main three having a great time. It really says so much from so little; it’s astonishing and warm as it is calm and sweet.

The episode I’m reviewing is “The Spitting Tree” (ugh) and “Pe-Choo!” (heh).
--
The scene in the beginning where it’s raining, but later became a spitting exhibition between the kids was really gross, and the part where princess fell down the tree was overwrought and pretentious. But the rest of it is really sweet and heartwarming, watching the friends discuss founding a new colony on the tree, and getting even more heartwarming when Foo and Fee stay with Harvey when he’s too afraid to jump off the tree and land on a pile of leaves (which the other kids land on in safety) . Also, Princess’ father is a laugh riot; his looniness and reliance and trust on crystals is hilarious.
--
In “Pe-Choo!”, Harvey tries his hardest to ride on a splashing ride at the neighborhood watering hole, which Foo and Fee ride regularly because of their overall bad behavior and icy reception by other inhabitants of the forrest. I love how Foo and Fee help Harvey be bad to get him to ride the ride, even if he can’t be because of his sweet and warm-hearted personality. That shows how much this trio cares about one another and does whatever to help out. You can just feel the emotion and love from this.

Let’s talk about the animation. When I first watched The Beaks, I seriously thought it would be a show on Nick Jr. No big deal. The animation looked like something that would air on it, and the voice acting (which I’ll get to later) sounded like such, too. So I was surprised after the preview ended to learn that it would regularly air on the main network instead. But it’s worth it, because the writing and humor is more fitting on Nick than on Jr.
It’s really beautiful and gentle, yet packs a deep, rich, well-done punch of color and shade that you can’t stop looking at in awe. It’s up there with Adventure Time, Gravity Falls and Over the Garden Wall. It’s beautiful, eye-pleasing and very enjoyable. It pretty much continuing the long trend of animated shows that are really good with so much time and effort put into their animation.

As for the characters, there’s so much to say about them, as they are such a wonderfully quiet and calm, yet amazingly bright and complex, but I can’t say as much because I get tongue-tied even when thinking about it. They’re just amazing. Among others:
--Harvey is so sweet, kind, caring and open-minded, it’s sickening.
--Fee and Foo are crazy and inappropriate at times, but that’s endearing, and their friendship with Harvey is one of the best I’ve seen in a recent cartoon so far.
--Princess is obnoxious, but she’s hilarious too. I will have to get used to her voice though.
--Dade is a jerk (mostly to Fee and Foo), but that’s because of his...closeness to Harvey. He used to be friends with Harvey before the twimps came along. Also his “closeness” is weird, but endearing, too.
Together, they’re a group of characters that will hold on to your heartstrings and play with them even during lighthearted or funny moments.

Now, I’ll discuss the voice acting.
Just like on Chowder, Greenblatt chose to have child actors voice the roles of the kid characters. The voice of the titular main character is Max Charles and Fee is voiced by Angelina Wahler. I’d also like to point out that early in the first season, there was a change up for the voice actor of Foo. In the first several episodes, he’s voiced by Jackson Brundage, with him being replaced by Matt Robinson from "Old Fashioned Dade" onward. It's obvious that it's because Brundage grew up and reached puberty.
Here, it fits amazingly, hearing kids voice kids instead of adults gives more real and raw emotion and believability into the characters, and makes a lot of episodes more enjoyable.

I looooove this series, and I’m glad I got into it when I did because had I didn’t, this would be another cartoon I would've watched later after everyone else. But this series will become yet another series everyone (not just kids) will love and appreciate for a long time. And this I say, because we need more cartoons to watch and love, because the ones we also have are terrible, and since they’re either just as popular or even more than that, we need more like these to balance the line. And I’m glad we have this to help out with.

I have a feeling that Nick has another gem on its hands. Yet I have another feeling that they’ll screw this gem horribly, just like other highly-regarded Nicktoons that were well of their prime, like Legend of Korra, Robot & Monster, El Tigre, Catscratch and Danny Phantom, among others. If Nick fucks this up, I’m never standing by them again. Truth.

Well, I wish this show, and it’s cast and crew very well. This is a show that deserves to be a hit and to stay on the air for a long while (probably 3-4 seasons). This is a breath of fresh air in the sea of farts and gross in the Nick line-up (literally), and hopefully, we’ll breathe that air for a while until the next rare breath comes in, even if we’re covered by raindrops of little animals' saliva.

Well, thanks for joining in this surprise review of Harvey Beaks, and I hope you will love and appreciate this series as much as I and everyone that loves it already have. I think you will.
Goodnight!

Toony T(wo)sday 2015: Say Uncle (The Crossover of Steven Universe & Uncle Grandpa) (#MaroonMay)

(This post was under the "A Surprise Review" banner, but is now under the "Toony Tuesday" banner because it's not a surprise anymore.)

Hi, everyone. Welcome to a special review that no one saw coming.
Literally, I just posted it without telling you guys.
It’s a review on the crossover everyone has been taking about, even before it premiered, for better or worse. A special that puts together a future classic animated series and a cartoon not many people would find even worthy of a hit.
It’s “Say Uncle”, the crossover episode of Steven Universe and Uncle Grandpa.

Before I get to the review, here are my thoughts on both series
(which air on Cartoon Network).

Uncle Grandpa is a bright, colorful, wacky (maybe even super wacky) and may induce vomiting and/or seizures. But...I don’t think it’s a bad show. I think it’s a good show. I enjoy the off-the-wall humor, the characters are pretty good; and the plots may be out-there, but it’s a Cartoon Network show, out-there should be part of its motto. Also, the theme song is really nice; the beat is wonderful and gives off a killer 80s vibe, so nice, it will stay in your head for a while, but I wouldn’t mind, because it’s really nice. It’s not for everyone, but if you are interested in it and do give a few episodes a try, I think it’ll be something you’ll enjoy every once in a while.
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As for Steven Universe, it’s a not-so-bright, not-so colorful-, not-so-wacky, and will induce tears and give you intense feels. And it’s a damn good show. The storylines are spectacular, the characters are awesome and the atmosphere is mind-blowing. There are moments that will make you either laugh, cry, be sad or feel good. And there will be at least one of any of these moments in every episode; even filler episodes can churn out a great moment. The writing is fantastic, the voice acting is crazy good (for both main and guest casts), and just amazes me every time. Again, it’s not for everyone, but here, at least it should be. It’s a show everyone should watch; kids, teenagers, adults, even the elderly should watch this.
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Both of these shows are great examples of Cartoon Network’s Great Rebound of the 2010’s. After the CN Real incident of 2008-2009, Cartoon Network execs of the time finally realized what "Cartoon" of Cartoon Network meant, and gave quite the turnaround that everyone was shocked and amazed would happen, with shows that are funny, shocking, astounding and memorable, like the aforementioned Steven Universe and Uncle Grandpa.
Both shows are very unique, very enjoyable, and are amazing in their own ways. Their humor, stories and characters are very different, and couldn’t be any further apart.

So why am I mentioning these two “Good” ”Gems”? [heh heh] Because both had a crossover episode that aired on April 2, of course! Making them closer together. At least, not in canon. The crossover is non-canon, so none of this exists; it’s fourth-wall breaking, so many jokes about the whole thing and the absurdity of it are abound; there’s a plot hole (LITERALLY); and it’s funny, very funny.

This review will be different from the usual format I've used on the blog before (story, then thoughts, then story again), so it will be just thoughts on the scenes and the episode itself. So let's take a look-see, shall we?

I just love the entrance UG makes in the first scene, which is not only very funny, but cool as well. And to be honest, UG looks...nice...as a fake Rose Quartz. I know, creepy. Plus from the dialogue we get of these two at this part, especially UG’s “Don’t worry, bro; None of this is canon”, it’s clear that the episode we’re about to see is an April Fools prank made by the writers of Steven Universe and that all they did is make up a good laugh, especially at the expense of SU fans who openly hated the special after announcement. I don’t watch both shows very often, and even I knew this isn’t going to be one to get crazy over for the wrong reasons. I can just hear the tears of stupid ultra joy and this review came out over a month after it first aired. And the use of an actual cannon after the fact is hilarious, with a “ship” joke, and Lars and Sadie slipping down for dear life was thrown in for extra funny.

--Also, I think, since this is non-canon, this won’t be the official debut episode in which Steven unlocks his Gem’s power. It could happen, I’m not 100% percent sure.

There are a lot of things I noticed or enjoyed once the Gems come in.
Than usual, Pearl acts more anxious, neurotic and overprotective (I think), Garnet is more angry and powerful, and Amethyst is sloppy and goofy, which tells you the behavior is different from what’s usually seen in the show, and it makes that scene heartwarming and funny. You know it’s sweet when the Gems do anything to keep Steve safe--even when the threat is a strange old man whom bends and screws over cartoon physics every time he moves.

Also, the head thing.
When they get their heads back, it’s like they’re really lost their heads, and not some animation thing. This is realized and they don’t like the feeling.
That's really funny!
Another thing that cracks me up was when the “Crystal Gems” and “Run Away” signs that appear: First the latter telling Steven and UG to run

and then Amethyst tripping over it,

showing that it’s actually there. Hilarious. And then there’s “plot hole”. They’re just throwing in everything that makes a Breaking the Fourth Wall- making episode possible. Lastly, The Three Way Sub. I really freaking want one.

The jokes in the UG-RV (meaning the Uncle Grandpa Recreational Vehicle) are Uncle Grandpa’s usual stuff, but it’s got a nice pleasant good feeling going on, and I don’t mind it all as much as everyone would make it out to be..Plus, the scene where Mr. Gus draws his own fanart of a gemsona, which is something SU fans draw as Gem versions of themselves and post onto Tumblr. His drawing is named Mr. Gusite, which also exists on Tumblr. And it’s really cool.

The thing I love most about this special is that sweet tender feeling you get when you see Uncle Grandpa and Steven bonding. It’s just like him and the kids he helps, but a little more special, because it’s a kid from a different Cartoon Network series that is even more popular and critically acclaimed. Plus the cameo appearances by Lars, Sadie and Lion just sweetens the pot here. The “ship” joke was genius, and watching Lion and…Giant Realistic Flying Tiger getting close together was sweet (especially when you realize that GRFT is a girl).

Another thing I love is this:
This special includes cameo appearances of characters from both series:

Lars, Sadie, and Lion from Steven Universe
and Hot Dog Person from Uncle Grandpa.
Thia was really nice and sweetened the episode for me even more.

The writers put everything on the wall and it stuck well. The writing is fantastic , the characters are amazing (even Pizza Steve; yeah, he’s a self-centered douchebag, but he can be cool too.), the plot is amazing and execution was phenomenal. This special is delightful and it’s something everyone should watch. Even if you’ve never seen either of these two cartoons, it’s something you should see and enjoy. It was genius idea that had a lot of interest and hatred by SU fans thanks their uninterest/hatred of Uncle Grandpa. Because of that, and the staff’s relentless jokes and trolling that the special WAS canon, this has become a wonderful, hilarious, fun and warmhearted special that everyone is now aware of, and will never forget.

Favorite Line:
“Okay, I’m ready for this this episode to end.” -Garnet

Favorite Gag: A TIE between
The ship sinking (“Our ship!” -Lars) and
Lion and Tiger’s Shack-up (Oh my!)


Thanks for joining me for this surprise review of “Say Uncle” the now-divisively-remembered crossover of Steven Universe and Uncle Grandpa. I've enjoyed this special very much, and I hope you enjoyed the review...well, I hope you

Oh, and this bit.




It featured names of child characters from Cartoon Network’s other beloved series. That was a genius use of the concept of helping out kids everywhere, and a genius use of the non-canon nature of the episode. Excuse me.

Favorite Gag: A TIE between
The ship sinking (“Our ship!” - Lars) and
The List of Cartoon Cartoon Kids
and Lion and Tiger’s Shack-up (Oh my!)

Good Mornin’--I mean, Good night!