Sunday, May 24, 2015

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.

--”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

--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.
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