Toony Throwback Thursday: Recess

I’ve watched many cartoons when I was a kid--both on broadcast (syndication and broadcast television), and on cable (both pay AND penetration). And yet one of my consistent favorites across all of these mediums is Recess.

Recess, created by Joe Ansolabehere and Paul Germain (the latter previously best known as co-creator of another iconic and beloved western animated series that starts with R, Rugrats) revolves around six fourth grade kids as they go about their young lives attending Third Street Elementary School, along with a wide, colorful range of other students whom interact with the main group, are the focus of their antics or are just there for a good joke.
These students are, in this particular order:
-T.J. Detweiler--the popular and clever leader
-Vince LaSalle--the cool and confident athlete
-Ashley Spinelli--the tough and headstrong tomboy
-Gretchen Grundler--the sharp and extroverted genius
-Mikey Blumberg--the gentle giant with the Pavarotti pipes
-and Gus Griswald, the shy (but occasionally brave) latecomer

Their attending Third Street Elementary garners mixed responses (depending on the activity), but the one period of the day they (and the other students) look forward to the most and enjoy as


It had a lot of things I loved:
-A large ensemble of kids with different personalities that resemble all kids at a normal real-life elementary school, with our main heroes standing out themselves
-A wide-ranging faculty of either wide rage or sweet cheerfulness
-How this series is modeled like -- of all things -- escape heist films (specifically when the kids want to escape the long-boring confines of the classroom for the fun, fresh air and -- of recess). Seriously, you’ll feel like you’re watching something else, despite it being a kids show. Even if you’re a kid, you feel like something was off about this one (well, at least I did)

There’s also many moments of characters (both kids and adults) realizing something about one another that changes our perspective of them.
-When Gus was introduced in the second half of the very first episode "The New Kid", and his new friends did his best to remove the titular title most new kids get at Third Street, leading to his awesome moment of confronting King Bob to get his name back. And he does.
-When Vince praises on about his big brother Chad and accepts him as a geek. (Before the Big Bang Theory, nerds were always seen as scum of the school campus. So watching this episode and watching Vince love his big bro no matter what makes me humbled.)
-When Principal Prickly was hypnotized to being 6-years-old and the kids see something new (and odd) in him and enjoy a new perspective of their grumpy-but-well-meaning principal
-And in “Weekend at Muriel's”, Spinelli goes to Ms. Finster’s house for a weekend while her parents are away. After a while when she (and us) expected Finster to be her loud, boring disciplinarian self, she realizes this and begins a self reflection, of which she loosens up and shows Spinelli how she has a good time. Spin enjoys it and leaves with more respect for Finster than ever, and we’re treated to a newer, more mellow and more fun Ms.  Finster (at least for that episode, because she’s back to being a cruel, soulless old meanie by the next episode [with some open shades of her having a good time in several later episodes.])
-and many more too hard to list

If you’ve ever wondered why this show lasted nearly a decade on television in reruns (on ABC Kids after 1SM ended, and on Disney Channel & Toon Disney)? Those reasons are why. Most kids watching could relate to at least one of these kids , remember the times of having fun at recess at their school, laugh at the jokes about them or the Third Street Elementary faculty, well up from the Tear Jerking moments, feel swelling after the Heartwarming moments, and cheer in astonishment from witnessing a character (and ANY character) perform an action that is too awesome for words (and there were many).

When I began watching this series for this review again, I was immediately transported back to my childhood, watching the title sequence and listening to the theme song--humming along to it of course, excitedly waiting for another episode to begin. And when it begins, I sit and stare at the TV as the action unfolds, laughing or feeling good from every other moment.

Ehh, sure, it wasn’t all the way perfect; there were some notable episode/moments that didn’t go well with everyone over the years. Take “Nobody Doesn’t Like T.J.” for instance, in which T.J., apparently the coolest kid on the playground, finds out that Gordy doesn’t like him. Teej tests his temperament to turn Gordy to his team, but failed. The problem here is that he’s forcing Gordy to like him, but this gives the latter even more reason (well one reasonable reason--since he has none at the start) to dislike the former. This half-episode did have a message that needed to be told in a kid’s show--”not everyone can like a certain person”. Or was supposed to, But the execution was not a figure 8, instead showing itself like this--”people can dislike you for no good reason, and it’s okay!”. It just didn't work the way the writers intended.

But for episodes that I'd find great. there are many across this one to list (so I'll get to that another time)

These kids find recess as escapism from life, and I find Recess as escapism from real life.
And that is why I love Recess.

Thanks for joining me here, everyone. And I'll be back next month with something special involving a certain weekly block full of summer (hint: this series aired as part of it). See you in September!

I'm Andrew, and may the good toons be yours!

Too-oo!ny Tuesday: Woo-oo! (DuckTales Reboot | Special One-Hour Premiere Episode!)

If there’s a reboot everyone needed (but wasn’t asking for)...it’s this. And if there was a new show everyone who hasn't watched the original for should watch, it's this.

Woo-oo! It's the 2017 reboot/remake/re-imaging(/re-whatever) of DuckTales.

This reboot on Disney XD features the same old characters we knew, loved and grew up with all these years--just with new voices, traits and personalities and even outfits. This hour-long episode aired on August 12 in a very surprising marathon stunt. This episode aired literally all day--as in 24 times for 24 hours

There are also changes between the two versions:
In the original, Donald Duck has left for the Army, and gave guardianship to Scrooge MCDuck.
In the reboot, Donald is having a hard time with the “Eweys” and has to go to a job interview, and asks Scrooge to watch them.

And back to the Characters changing in personalities:

-Scrooge was indifferent, pretty stingy and a little grumpy yet more upbeat; now, he’s just super stingy and grumpy--he’s no longer as excited about his adventures as he used to be, and is even super glum as well, as his company has to cut back on the works on such, and sell the artifact he’s found to keep it going. It’s really sad that this guy is really down after all these years of being one of the best and most jovial explorers in the world.
Although I definitely believe he’ll mellow more and become more upbeat as the series progresses.

-The Duck Trips have always had their own personalities, as it seems (even though most of the times I’ve seen them on TV they were pretty much, the same boy with three different shirts and rhyming names), but this version takes it another way:
-Huey is smart and sensible if not a
-Louie is more laidback and jerkish (or--as the other triplets even call him--“the evil one”)
-Dewey is more reckless, stubborn and headstrong
And to top it off, they get their own outfits too.
Also, in the original, they already knew that Scrooge was their great uncle, and were pretty unexcited about living with him (more than seemingly because of his grumpy attitude and skinflint behavior) while uncle Donald had set off for the Navy. Here, they never knew Scrooge was their great uncle and was a little off the wall when they learned of it, unfortunately under the consequence of of his and Scrooge's years-long beef. Fortunately, it can only get better (and worse?) from here.

I love this change, because while I don’t think too much about the triplets when I see them, I just feel they have too much of the same personality. So I’m glad they all have a different personality; it’ll be great to see them be foils to one another (and to Webby as well) instead of being the same boy three times over.

-Webby has become more excitable, observant, confident, strong and brave--unlike the original, which many viewers and critics claimed as “boring” and “uninteresting” (with the OG Duck Trips even not liking her from the start) from what I’ve heard. Also from what I’ve heard, the writers wanted to give her a more positive, likable and flesh-out personality--which is what they’ve succeeded with her here. (It's fair to say that she's become one of my favorite characters of the series because of that...and more.)

-Donald is still his ill-tempered, down-on-his-luck self; but here it takes a more painful turn: he and Uncle Scrooge had a falling out years ago and haven’t spoken or have been kind to each other since. Their strained relationship doesn’t get any better when the triplets inadvertently tag along on their first adventure with Grunkle--ahem, I mean Uncle Sta--I mean Scrooge. Then there’s his fears that his nephews would get hurt or even killed while on treks with Scrooge (which are understandable).
And there’s this I love about him: while he will get screwed over a lot, he’s still not giving up on what he wants to do, His determination is limitless and he won’t let his unlucky disposition get him down. While he’ll still get into unlucky predicaments (some of which I’m sure will annoy me), he’ll actually join the rest of the Duck/McDuck Family on their crazy, dangerous world treks this time around. I have a feeling he’ll be one of my top favorites in this series. (well, it makes sense, as he’s been one of my all-time favorite Disney characters)
Orginal-wise, he went off to the Navy...and was nothing more than a glorified cameo from then on out. He did make more appearances, but he wasn't really important to the series unlike his nephews. Here, he's just as important as the rest of the family, and will take

-Instead of servant Duckworth from the original, he's replaced by Betina Beakly, Scrooge's sweet, motherly and sensible yet brawny and badass maid

-And then there's Glomgold .
In the original, he was pretty much a mirror image of Scrooge (maybe funhouse mirror, because of his square glasses and kilt). But here, the producers decided to give him his own design and nationality change. making him heavyset and a South African feigning a Scottish accent and look. (You see, in the comic series, he was South African; but in the original, he was as much a Scot as Scrooge. Here, he's back as a South African, complete with a lie that he's a Scotsman to get a leg up on Scrooge's empire in the worldwide artifact scouting industry. *phew* Oh yeah, and he's so devious he'll resort to murdering people to get what he wants. Yep, he's/they're going there.)

As for Launchpad McQuack, he’s still his lovable yet dimwitted self. You can’t change that.
These characters are real likable, well-made at the start and perfect for development later on.


And don’t get me started with the voice acting. (Well, actually please don’t; I already mentioned that in an episode of Maroon Mondays Live back in May, and I was already pretty pleased/excited/overwhelmed by the actors chosen. )

(so )

The animation looks like a hybrid of both the original and a comic book; it’s crisp, smooth, and rich (like Scrooge’s bank account), yet wide-reaching and perfectly colorful. I’ve watched a lot of cartoons with a shockingly expansive palette yet this one still manages to surprise me with its ink and paint use.

And before you mock me about it (and I’m being very generous, because that would mean people are actually talking to me), look at the establishing shots and backgrounds instead of the characters’ clothes, and you’ve got great eye-candy of a series.

And that extends to the Title Sequence, with a new spin on that theme song everybody loves and wants implanted into their brains until the end of time.

Everything just shines here.
The animation is beautiful, and everything you need to know about the series is shown in full view here.
-Our heroes going on a typical adventure, and Our villains chasing them;
-Scrooge reaching for his iconic (I assume) #1 Dime.
-Launchpad getting distracted from piloting a plane by giving us (or the air? can't really tell) a saluted greeting (Maybe if you look from a certain angle).
-And (something I haven't known about before), some righteous recreations of the works of comic book genius (and creator of the comic series that these shows are based on) Carl Barks

Then there’s the change in story:

The original was cartoon deep in action and adventure. This series continues aspects of both, but also includes bits and pieces of mystery and takes a slightly more darker tone.
AND BEFORE YOU ALL HAWK UP GRAVITY FALLS, lemme tell you this: yes, it does involve a story grounded in mystery...AND THAT’S IT. Before you all make any more comparisons: How Louie wears a hat like Dipper, how Webby is sweet, hyper and waaaaay into something like Mabel (along with both wearing similar outfits--including to a sweater and s), how Scrooge is grumpy yet mischievous like Stan (along with both carrying canes and wearing fancy hats), or how Launchpad is a kind yet dimwitted adult like Soos--oop, oh wait, I’m doing it. Well, anyway, just because they both have mystery aspects embedded in that, it doesn’t mean they’re one and their same. In fact, it’s becoming a thing now that annoys me-- people comparing newer shows to Gravity Falls just because they all share a genre and barely similar characters. It’s happened before with Welcome to the Wayne, and now it’s happening with this series. While they’re all fair, it’s the fact that they JUST. KEEP. COMING. that irritates me. While I won’t tell you all to stop it, I will say this: GF IS a brilliant cartoon, but ISN’T something everyone should look at or refer to for one genre over others. It just muddies the waters for other potential viewers/fans.
But as a fan of both shows (and that a lot of people from the former are now working on the latter), it's true that I love this development and I can't wait to see how far (and how dark) the crew will take the story from here and where they'll go for a great memorable moment. I'm sure they'll do just fine.

As for the origin story itself, it’s a great, well-written and refreshing retake on the original’s origin story. It adds some (barely) more backstory for the characters (Donald getting a job interview; the “Eweys” living with him and being a nuisance--uhh, yeah; Launchpad being a chauffeur [and being predictably bad at it], ) and begins some more interesting, salacious and definitely entertaining adventures to come.
And then there’s the short cliffhanger at the end when Dewey looks at the painting again and see a surprise behind its ripped flap as a stowaway on Scrooge and Donald’s shipside adventure: [SPOILER ALERT] his, Huey and Louie’s mom Della Duck. With this reveal, it’s definitely setting a domino effect of storylines, new locations, and character interactions and developments that’ll leave you hanging and hungry for more. And honestly, I can’t wait for to rack my brain for it all.

This pilot was fantastic . Everything a fan or stan of the original ever wanted in a re-imagining, and everything a new fan or casual watcher would begin to love. Fantastic casting and performances, superb animation, amazing new development for the characters and a brilliant start to an equally-brilliant, fresh, new story to unravel (and for us to sit back and ).

Luna Loud Likes a Lady. Me Like Largely || Toony Tuesday: "L is for Love" (The Loud House)

Even though I've done this twice before, I'm saying this in a different fashion. But even with that, I can still admit...I did not (ever) see this coming.

But The Loud House has done it again. Another character has been revealed as a sexual orientation that isn't straight. This time it's a main character in the Loud family. And it's the least unexpected of them all.

Why I said unexpected is because Luna is a big rocker chick. And not only does she look perfectly like a rocker chick, but she definitely looks like the Loud sister to like boys and girls. And you don't have to look far. Half of the sisters are simply out of the question (won't tell which; figure it out yourself), Lori already has a boyfriend, Leni obviously likes boys (and fashion and probably nothing else), and Luan loves to joke around (it's practically her first...love! hehhehhehheh GEDDIT?!?!). And I leave Lynn out of it because she's the youngest of the five and closer to the younger sisters, so I leave her out of it (cause ew). In fact, outside of Lori, all of them have their main character traits out in the forefront so much, that there's no focus on crushes. (Which is great) So you gotta imagine my surprise when this bomb dropped on us.

The first time I learned about this, I was at a forum chat on this website you may have heard of, Toonzone. I was messing around on different threads when I came across one post about The Loud House. I read through the pages and reached that one post by another member that read this:

"Clyde has 2 dads, and Luna has been revealed to be bisexual."

From reading that, I was shocked. Not only because it happened, but also because I didn't watch the episode at first.
Where have I been all this time?!?
But let's get into it shall we?

So, Lincoln Log finds a love letter in the family mailbox. This leads the Loud-lings to have a meeting to figure out the guy (or girl) whom has a crush on one of them. So they embark to find the person whom the lust-mail belongs to, by finding their own crushes. All of the kids' crushes are pretty much parallel in personality to them (with the surprising exception being Leni, whom I expected to have a lust for the skinny, pretty-boy model type; but she actually likes this heavyset clothing store employee. This was kinda awesome that she was crushing on a polar opposite for more than just his looks. Makes me wish some of the others would too.) (I also like to say the short clips of Lily and her crush [her big teddy bear] were just uber-cute.)

So after a long, hard (and pretty clumsy) search to find the one crush--leading to this British-themed restaurant, it turns out the famous L. Loud in the love letters turned out to be their dad, Lynn Sr. (yes, that's his name, and he does share it with young female Lynn. Isn't that clever? I'm sure fans of Mr. Belvedere do.) He got the letters from their mom and his wife Rita in honor of the 20th anniversary of their first meeting and first date. (This was a very good resolution and execution. Even though I knew the ending beforehand, I still felt a little fooled by the reveal of the secret admirer, and happy for Mr. and Mrs. Loud to celebrate their major milestone. (Also, I'll never look at Lynn Sr. again without seeing him in short shorts and a crop top. Oh bollocks, what a bloody sight!) This wonderful story of a nervous crush turned a wonderful long-strong union gave their kids (especially Luna) the confidence to reveal their lust to their significant one-shot counterparts, ending it on a sweet note for what could be later on in its run...

Oh yeah, and why we're here: Yeah, Luna likes girls. (Specifically a blonde rocker named Sam.)
...That's cool.
Now, I'm not gonna a big fuss of it like I did the last time a character has a relative who's not straight (Thar being Lincoln Andrew's best pal Clyde's parents both being male). So...I'm very happy this show took another bold leap for a female character to reveal romantic feelings for another female. In fact, I'm sure this leap had to be bigger and heavier than the last because it's a female character. Which one would think would be less of a good idea to show on a kids cartoon than two males having romantic feelings (let alone in a biracial marriage).

While this series isn't the first one to make subtle, not-so-subtle, and obviously-blatant connotations to lesbianism, this took the middle option and did in the "do it at the end so everyone will take a while to realize what happened and when they realize it it'll be over" way so good. I obviously approve of this and makes me happy that children's cartoons can continue to tackle more progressive taboo topics in a progressively less-taboo way, and I'll be here rooting on.

Oh, and to talk a bit about this half-episode's counterpart "Potty Mouth", it's also a well-made, funny, heartwarming episode about baby Lily cursing (it's the word "Dang", I swear!) and the other Loud-lings have to try to get her to forget the word before an interview with a worker of an exclusive daycare center. It was funny all the way, and also sweet that all of the kids tried their best to make sure their baby sister goes to a good preschool. That's why I love The Loud House--this family loves and will anything for each other (heck, it's practically in the theme songs). I'm not gonna spoil the ending for you, but I promise it's gonna render you...a different reaction.

Luna Loud likes ladies.
Ludicrous? Lackluster? Lackadaisical? Lowly likely.

Lovely? Largely.

Thank you for tuning in for this special one-episode edition of Toony Tuesday. I hope you've enjoyed it. If you want me to do more episodic reviews, lemme know in the comments section or on social media.

I'll see you guys later, when I'll take a look at the highly anticipated first episode of the highly-anticipated reboot of DuckTales. See you then.

I'm Andrew, and may the good toons be yours!

Toony Tuesday: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes

In a world...where heroes come together...to save the day...and also eat, breathe and hang out...one boy, has the excitement, confidence and determination to one day be like them.
But first...he must get some planks for his mommy.

It's OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.

Created by yet another CN classic underling turned graduate (specifically former Adventure Time and Steven Universe writer, co-EP and animator), Ian Jones-Quartey, this Cartoon Network Original centers on KO, a wide-eyed, enthusiastic, precocious and optimistic young boy with only one dream: to be a hero (to be specific, the world’s greatest hero). One day, while hanging with his mom Carol at her place of business at a strip mall that is the superhero merchandising mecca, Lakewood Plaza, he visits a bodega where heroes get their gear. And after meeting the store’s two workers (and new friends) Rad and Enid, and its owner Mr. Gar, K.O. begins his journey to become a high-level hero.

I LOVE THIS SHOW!

It’s so exuberant, enjoyable, and edge-of-your-seat exciting. But this being light and bright isn’t why I love this one (well, not the only). [I can enjoy a dark cartoon almost as much] It’s also perfectly action-packed and amazingly influenced in action-based anime. The action scenes aren’t too violent but are also a joy to watch. And from a production standpoint, it’s an absolute gem.
The original music (which, I think, is like contemporary jazz or disco) is, like on Steven Universe, an audible masterpiece from opening theme through a typical to closing theme. In fact, the closing theme is sung by Jones-Quartey
’s former boss, Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar. It’s sweet, fast, fun and super catchy. (How’s that for returning the favor?) And the opening theme is just as fast, fun and catchy. When you see it, you feel pumped-up for whatever epsiode is about to begin. Even if that episode starts slow, you can’t stop that pump-up. (?)

And then there’s the anime-based animation. Sure, all of it looks like it was drawn by a 12-year-old with a great big and surprisingly consistent imagination, but it’s fantastic nonetheless. The movements of the characters are so fluid, you’d think you’d see colorful water spilling out of your electronic device. The establishing shots and backgrounds look straight out of a manga (and I say this proudly as someone who’s never read from a manga before!), and the characters’ reactions are accurate for whatever scene they’re in. While fuzzy and adorbs along the edges, everyone definitely looks ready to kick butt at any moment. And when that happens, you forget the sweet-and-soft-serve ink and paint, and do nothing but go slackjaw and awe over the mindblowing drawings of the fight scenes. And it’s not hard to melt after seeing major characters in heartwarming moments. Or K.O. in any scene.


Also a joy to watch are the main characters.
In their own ways, they command the screen and my attention.
-Enid is deliciously sarcastic and uncaring, but her glimpses of care, worry and love for her friends is absolutely sweet. (Not to mention she’s super badass)
-Radicles (also known as Rad) is almost addictive as a character. His self-bragging and showing off is not only funny but also so well-acted-out, you’d also think it was actually true.
-Mr. Gar (the former two’s boss at his bodega) is a true-blue ice-cool hero. He
-Mr. Boxman is the series’ main antagonist. He makes robots sent direct to the heroes to fight our heroes (main and side), but he has his plans for domination set for creation. His also hates love and affection (Plus, he’s voiced by VA legend Jim Cummings. That is automatically an awesome plus) .
-Carol, K.O.’s mom, is one sweet, loving mother and definitely has her son as one of her major priorities (if not her top priority). Her talk with him in “Let’s Be Heroes” in which he wants to be like the major heroes he looks up to was not only sweet but pretty awesome too.
-And lastly (but not leastly; he’s literally at the top as our protagonist), K.O.
He has big dreams to be a high level hero. But he has a lot to learn first.
He’s bright, wide-eyed, optimistic, charming, funny and (even though he’d probably hate it) kind of adorable too. Just look at his face at any point of any episode, with any disposition.

These characters (and many more in this hero-home future-world) are voiced well by great actors, including creator Jones-Quartey (who voices Rad), Ashly Burch (Enid), David Herman (Gar), Jim Cummings (Lord Boxman), and Stephanie Nadolny and Courtenay Taylor (BOTH AS K.O.). It has happened a lot of times, where I'm mesmerized by the whole cast of a cartoon, and this is the latest of these. I just love the performances of everyone involved.

I have nothing much more to say here. PLEASE WATCH THIS SERIES!!
It's really good, it's really fun and it's really exciting too.
It's on YOUR Cartoon Network! (Don't know where the Your part comes in, it's just something they do now, so I'm mocking it.) Please give it the utmost attention and respect it deserves. And please watch it enough to get the network to cut off the incessant repeats of Teen Titans Go!... but not enough to get this to be the new schedule monster... but I can handle this one, because this is actually really good...

Seriously, give it a watch, you'll definitely enjoy and love this...

This has been my review of  OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes....
And this has been Toony Tuesday... 

Thanks for checking in. I'll be back net week with a recollection of the reboot of DuckTales.
Woo-oo! Indeed.

I'm Andrew, and may the good toons be yours...! ....

Toony to the Tuesday: Welcome to the Wayne

Hey, folks.
Welcome to Toony Tuesday, and to my first thoughts on another great series Nickelodeon has in its arsenal. ...if it plans to treat it right. It's Welcome to the Wayne.


This series, created by TV writer and talented composer Billy Lopez, originated as a weekly short-form series airing only on the network's website Nick.com. In my opinion, this version was a great first addition to Nick's digital clout. It was funny AND funny, was a breeze-through (almost literally too), had a great first story arc to begin a new series (and good thing it got picked up too, because will the web-short did wrap up nicely, it still felt open-ended, which thank goodness brings us here).

And just like I loved the original web-short, I love this series.

It continues the story, while also creating a new way to introduce itself, its characters and main star: the Wayne apartment building. Like in the web-short, the TV series features three kids on a mission to find the interesting, the odd, the surprising and the mysterious in Manhattan, New York's seemingly swanky pad. Who are these kids, you ask?

The Characters

Our heroic protagonists are a strongly likable bunch of kids who aren't about candy. crushes, video games or the things that annoying kids do that'll piss me off as a viewer. They're out and about solving mysteries and getting to the bottom of whatever is weird-ing them out.
-Ansi Molina is the new kid on the block; he and his parents have moved in to the Wayne, and just as he begins to enjoy his new home and new life, he runs into and meets...
-Olly Timbers, a long-time resident who is uber-curious about the deeper surroundings and goings on inside the Wayne and wants to explore the building to get to the bottom of the bigger picture mystery and . But before he ends up somewhere worse for wear is...
-Saraline Timbers, Olly's more rational and responsible (and repressed, possibly) younger sister, who also sees more than meets the eye inside the Wayne and wants to unlock the many interesting secrets it holds. And play with her toys in secret on occasion.
These three kids later come together as a team to solve the many
And if anything, this team is a great team. They

The Wayne Building itself is like...well...a certain other well-known incubator of weirdness and mystery. But unlike that other incubator, this series is more light and wacky than dark and brooding. And while I love...that show, I love that this series features a lighter and brighter take on the mystery genre on television. And the other inhabitants of the building do have serious business on their hands, but they're also a bit more silly than scary...and silly.  Characters like The Spy from Apartment 8I, Masterson, and...Flowershirt also make the series interesting, exciting and fun(ny).

--The Theme Song

I love a great theme song, and many animated series these past few years have managed to give us truly perfect, memorable and awesomely catchy theme songs and title sequences. And this series is NO exception.

This theme is a rock-able song about coming home to the hidden craziness in every nook and cranny of in the unusual complex. The lyrics, sung by , nicely reference it all. Their voices are simple but smooth and cool. The production is fast yet smooth and all the way awesome.

The races against each other and time is a joy to watch, and make this series yet another memorable gem in the encrusted...thing of 2017, AND another great original on Nick to help the pick up the network in success. And it darn well needs it. Considering a certain...well, you know.

Well, that's it for now.
This has been my review of Welcome to the Wayne.
This, of course, has been Toony Tuesday.

Please, tune in next week when I review Cartoon Network's newest original series, OK KO! Let's Be Heroes!, and as a bonus, I discuss my thoughts on another closet-busting episode of another popular Nickelodeon series. (Yep, that one). Hope you join me then.

I'm Andrew, and may the good toons be yours!

Toony Tuesday: Hotel Transylvania: The Series

When things go bump in the night…

When your house is filled with fright...

When the days won't save the greater good...

When the terror comes to y'alls neighborhood…

Come stay at Hotel Transylvania!!

We have all of the amenities to suit your ghostly comfort.

Squeaky front doors, drippy water faucets, rickety beds with fuzzy antiquated comforters (we call them UNcomforters), cleanly bathrooms with less than cleanly sundries and messy desks with shorting lights--all to make you feel right at home.

Our services are right for you--bat bellboys, sluggish concierge and the best (and scariest) workers gunning for your best hotellish experience.

So call now and join us for a ghoul time.

Just not every week cause it's not really worth a frequent visit.

This American-Canadian series has some similarities to the last series I reviewed to be produced in both countries--although mostly in Canada,

the TV adaptation of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

-Characters are younger,

-The voices are different--thanks to dime-a-dozen VAs

-The animation is Flash-driven,

-The writing is less creative, and

-It’s following  a revived trend of TV shows made after their movies.

But here’s where the similarities between them end:
THIS SHOW IS MUCH BETTER.

While the movies are okay films with great animation and alright characters (which may or may not stand because of my long-standing irritation of Adam Sandler), this series is all on the same page: middle of the road. The characters are pretty likable, the stories are really nice, the characterization is real good, and the animation is amazing. It mixes dark colors and light fantastically, with the designs of the characters looking perfectly macabre.

Dracula--one of the major characters in the films--is not a main character in this series, making his daughter Mavis the main focus. As a more or less recurring character, Drac largely left the hotel to focus on his vampire businesses; so he leaves the vacation spot to his older (and more authoritarian [or should I say Draconian, heh?] older sister (and Mavis’ aunt) Lydia. Also new to the franchise by way of the series is Hank N Stein (son of--that’s right, Frankenstein), . All of them are alright additions, but half of them are ones I probably won’t remember them as much as Mavis.

At first, I thought Drac wouldn’t be here mostly because the producers couldn’t find a VA to sound similar to Sandler and his annoying infliction of his dopey-ass trying-too-hard voice into his Dracula “impression”.

I would believe that, but I’d hope they one they hired won’t be; just do the best impression you can make just half as close as Sandler, and I’ll love your work even more.

Also, the originals are here too, but--for this show--are on a recurring basis. Honestly, since these guys were voiced by Sandler’s motley crew in the films (and yeah, they’re voiced by different people here), I won’t miss them being a major a lot here.

With these changes, it’s alright to me. Doesn’t make me angry, but doesn’t make me excited either.

This series is the second animated series to air on Disney Channel after another animated TV adaptation, Tangled: The Series (although that one, like its movie, is made by Disney). If this becomes a success like Tangled is, we could see animated series on DC again. Sure, Disney XD is still the official network for Disney cartoons, but I don’t this progress at all (Especially if/when classic Disney shows begin airing on what used to be Toon Disney again--that’s my dreeeeaaaaam). 

Well, that’s my thoughts here. It’s a pretty good series; nothing special; it’s good fun.

Nice characters, even nicer animation, and is worth watching if worth your time.

What did you think of this series?

Did you like it? Is the animation up to snuff?

What characters are your favorites?

Will this be in your must-watch list?

Lemme know in the comments section below.

This has been my review of Hotel Transylvania: The Series.

This has been Toony Tuesday. Thank you for checking in.

I’ll be back soon with reviews of Chuck’s Choice

(another Canadian series that is mixed) and

Welcome to the Wayne (a web miniseries now on TV

Don’t forget to like on Facebook and follow and Twitter.

I'm Andrew...and may the good toons be yours!

TT is for Toony Tuesday Twenty17: F is for Family -- S2 is for Season Two

WARNING: This review contains major spoilers. Please do not read if you haven’t watched even half of this season yet. If you do and you complain to me, I will find you, grab you and put you through that f*ckin’ wall! (okay, not really. ...maybe.)



When I began watching this series, I was irritated...and then surprised. I actually enjoyed this show. At times very raunchy and really funny, at times very moving and VERY heartbreaking.
Since watching Season One in January 2016, I’ve become a fan. And even though I can breeze through the whole thing a lot, the fact that I had to wait about a full 18 months for the next season annoyed me so much, I wanted to put myself through a f*ckin’ wall.

And now, finally, it’s back for another season. And I’m pleased.
What it turned out to be is another story.

It’s F is for Family - Season Two.

There were a few storylines in this season that interested me the most:
--After losing his job on Christmas Eve night, our foul-mouthed, short-fused, but loving and caring(ish?) protagonist Frank is down and out -- depressed, hurt beyond all belief and pretty much close to an invalid, especially after seeing a commercial for his former employer Mohican Airways. But after being replaced in his former position by Roger Dunbarton’s mentally insane nephew Scoop, his ex co-workers want him back, even Bob Pogo--whom I thought his super-fat ass would freeze to death at the end of last season. Well, after losing weight from his camel hump full of leftovers. Oh well. Fortunately, Frank gets his buds to talk to him again.
--Sue is now a high-seller at Plast-a-ware. But because she packs products to herself and sends them to crazy, hostile  annoying people...and she hates it. Then she creates a new device to dry wet salad, like the salad spinner. (In fact, it's literally the salad spinner.) And her friend Vivian gives her what could be something to change her and family's lives forever: a meeting with the company's founder. And it all goes bad from here.
This storyline highlights the real-life problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. It was at times funny, and at times heart-wrenching to see our favorite housewife turned courageous businesswoman break down from the shitstorms of her chauvinistic male co-workers. Then there's a hope spot for her but I'll get to that later on.
--Bill is just a shy, timid little boy, thrust into the world only to be beaten, embarrassed, humiliated, heartbroken and traumatized by it with things he really didn't need to see. He tries his best to grow a spine, but it never works for him. And in this season, it gets worse. He's still a laughingstock and a magnet for bullying and getting hurt. He's still Jimmy Fitzsimmons’ main target and is mocked by other characters. Nothing goes his way.
--Vic has a new girlfriend named Cutie Pie. At first all is great, until it’s revealed she’s sleeping around with everyone behind Vic’s back. And it gets worse from there.

There are also some story-lines I didn't care as much for.
--Kevin is still a dumb smartass. After having enough of trying in school, sharing a room with Bill and putting up with Frank (despite him trying to help), he moves into the basement to start a music career. While funny at times, he can be a dick to people who really don't deserve it, especially Bill. (I honestly couldn't stand this one the most)
--Then there's Ginny, an annoying cunt of a woman who whines her tits off about why her life/marriage is crap or why people won’t be around her. then, her story gets more interesting when we meet her husband Greg, who is gay. Ginny won't accept this, and wants him to stay with her...by (unintentionally) emotionally abusing him. This was a harsh (but entertaining) take on homosexuality in the 20th century. I really couldn't care for this bitch from the moment we first met her (and since she was supposed to be disliked, that's quite an achievement). But since this story-line ended, I couldn't stand this cunt even more, and I felt super sorry for Greg. I wish they’d divorce so Greg can finally be free, and we’d never see Ginny’s irritating flat ass anymore.

There are a few pieces of foreshadowing early on this season that I picked up on right away.
-Frank and Sue are conflicted. Frank wants to have sex, and Sue doesn't. Because of their newfound poverty and risk of raising their family on one income (Sue’s), they can't risk boning. I guessed they were gonna have another child. I was proven right (seemingly) halfway through, and when Frank grabs some condoms that turned out to be the same ones his new boss Smokey pops randomly for shits and giggles (1, 2, 3, BABY!).
-When I first saw Bill almost about to get hit by a car, I knew someone was gonna get hit. I didn't expect it to be Bill’s bully Jimmy Fitzsimmons though. Since I don't like or care for him, I smiled my ass off. Also, him going off to military school made me smile my ass off. Too bad it didn't last, because we--Bill can't have nice things. (Although, I do feel sad for him now; he didn't steal the hockey puck and didn't deserve to go to military school either).

Also, these characters go through major changes and consequences this season:
-Bill becomes more aggressive and harsh as a result of everyone everyone treating him horribly...and (of course) it blows up in his face when he loses his only friend Phillip for a while, gets in more trouble and ends up having his bully run over. He does gain Jimmy’s respect and the affection of his sister at the end, so all may be pretty well for the character based on the creator.
-Kevin has sex with Vic’s girlfriend Cutie Pie, causing him to suffer psychological issues that come from this. While a male teenager may think it’s seemingly cool for him to sleep with a hot older woman, at most times it's statutory rape--which cause problems for both parties involved. And no telling when the significant other finds out. Oh wait…
-Vic is a very nice neighbor and cool, laid-back dude who'll go out of his way to help you out. Unfortunately, he's also into grass and blow, which leads him to losing his job his former format-changing local radio station. And if that wasn't enough, after he learns that Kevin had sex with his girl (from an extremely guilty Kevin himself via a 30-minute-long admission song), he snaps and shoots up his own house (fortunately no one was hurt). Fortunately, things seemingly cool down (in Vic’s case, literally, as he freezes later on).

When this season ended, it felt like things wrapped up, but not all the way.
-Frank and Sue are about to safe bang, but we’re gonna get another little Murphy out of it (...probably). Bill has his friend Phillip back, and some newfound respect with Jimmy Fitzsimmons (plus he [and we] get some deserved payback at Maureen), but nothing still goes good for him. At least he gets a girl’s likeness out of it. Kevin and Vic may be on good terms, but we don’t know what’s next.
It is obvious that some new storylines are coming out of this, and when I left the finale, I wasn’t all the way enjoying it like I did the first season. That season closed with open intent, and I'm left wondering what our favorite far-out family will forgo in season three. It's not gonna get better that's for sure, and if anything I might actually cry from a few moments of the next group of episodes. But I know something: A lot of swearing, some shockingly random and crude moments to fry your brain, and some heavy hitting moments to make your heart hurt and warm (some simultaneously).

I love this show, and I can't wait for what Bill Burr and the rest of the staff have for us in Season 3 next year.


Fave Characters:
Frank - his depressed state after losing his job was a powerful thing to see; so much so that getting a new job--and then a plan to get his old job back--really makes you excited for him.
Sue - her determination to get a job succeeded last time. But her determination to keep the job while dealing with sexist assholes for co-workers and her old-fashioned husband was the real challenge. To see her break down from the pressure and climb up to create the Salad Spinner (although later losing the credit) felt cathartic and redeeming (if only for a while).
-Vic - Still one of my favorite characters, I expected to end up off the deep end for taking his love of coke to the extreme. I just didn't see him getting fired from his job coming.
-Bill - He’s still getting screwed over and being called a pussy. But you can't help but root for him for trying grow a spine.
-Rosie - Still another of my favorite characters, he gets his likeness by becoming friends with Frank again and helping him out in the job department by referring him to his friend Smokey, who gives Frank a job with his delivery service. And then for the plan to explode.



Random Thoughts:
-Cutie Pie should count her blessings she wasn’t shot. If I found my woman cheating on me...well, I still wouldn’t shoot her. But I’d look like I did to scare her. Then I’d kick her out.
-Dunbarton (or should I write, Dumbarton) got what he deserve when he died via a sharp tray to his neck, thanks to dumb borderline invalid Scoop stepping on a bomb and getting blown to bits (well, halfway).
-I would feel sorry for Kevin for sleeping with Vic’s girl (in Vic’s house)... not really.
-I wouldn’t be surprised if Sue (with Vivian) and Henrietta von (Not-a-Mister-Rogers-character) Home come to blows if the lawsuit goes nowhere.
-Whatever crap I got as a kid, I should count my blessings. I'm ever so lucky I'm not like Bill.

Since season 1 was six episodes, it was obvious not a lot of character development and wiggle room to expand was to be found. Since this season nearly doubles the episode count, we get that expansion and some damn good development.

-Frank is less loud at times, and shows more of his love for his kids. He gets a new job with Rosie's friend Smokey, and takes
-Sue moves on up in her employment, and is ruined by sexual. She then creates the idea for a kitchen appliance like the Salad Spinner.
-Kevin goes through some traumatic moments this season. He fell into a frozen river (based on an incident in which he almost drowned in a motel swimming when he was a child),
-Bill is much more aggressive and jerky, to the point where he;s more of a bully to his friend Phillip. This change would later lose his friend (fortunately, he gets Phillip back and gains cool points with his bully Jimmy and cute points with Jimmy's sister.)
-Maureen shows more interest in decidedly less girly activities than last season, showing herself as more of a tomboy. If she wasn't wearing a skirt all the time, I'd see it more and more.
-Vic is still one cool dude and a very nice neighbor and friend, but after his radio station changes formats--and his girlfriend Cutie Pie changes lovers, he gets the short end (and no, not his dick) and finally shows negative emotion and snaps. Fortunately, it doesn't last long.
-Vivian isn't as plastic and vapid as she was in S1, and does show care and compassion for Sue when she jumps up to corporate. And she's a great friend when Sue's Salad Spinner is stolen by the founder Henrietta von (not Pussycat) Horne.


This was a super groovy season. The strengths were picked up, the weaknesses were mostly removed, and some great development. Like Season One, I highly recommend it. It's funny, sad and humbling. Another must watch for Netflix.

Toony Tuesday 2017: Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer

Hey everyone. Welcome to Toony Tuesday!

Today, for this edition, we're taking a look inside the wide, wonderful, wondrous, wubulous, fantastic, Super-Duper Subterranean, amazing world of...Billy Dilley.
It’s Billy Dilley’s Super-Duper Subterranean Summer.

TT is for Toony Tuesday 2017: F is for Family | S1 is for Season One

H...is for Hi.
A is for Andrew.
TT is for Toony Tuesday,
and F is for Family.

Whoever said Family Guy was the crudest cartoon after South Park needs to check this out.

Welcome to 1973, where life is comforting, everyone knows your name, dinner time is family time, the TV is sanctuary, neighbors are your friends and you can curse around the kids, smoke in the house, offend anyone of any race, and smack your kid without fear of CFS. At least that’s what I assume, because this show has nothing nice or comforting about it.

Today, I’m talking about Netflix’s neato-est Original series, F if for Family.

And don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it before this...I haven’t either. Usually most Netflix shows get some nice advertising, mostly on social media, while others slip on by and are lucky to get word-of-mouth. For every House of Cards, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Luke Cage and Daredevil; there’s a Stranger Things, Between, Lady Dynamite, Flaked and this show (at least in my experience).

Co-created by by comedian and star Bill Burr (and based on his childhood) and award-winning former The Simpsons writer/producer Michael Price, this series features the Murphy family, a seemingly normal suburban Pennsylvania family with less-than-normal behavior and language.

-Frank is the patriarch with the mouth of a sailor (ironically while being a Vietnam Veteran) and the patience of a bear, working as an airport baggage handler

-His wife Sue is the sweet, humbling matriarch with barely enough in her to keep the family together, and half of that to keep herself together.

-Their kids are all kinds of something:

--Eldest Kevin is a delinquent with more time for wanting sex and weed than for school.

--Middle son Bill is shy and timid, with the bad luck in the world to bear witness to crazy stuff.

--And youngest child/only daughter Maureen may seem like a sweet little girl, but under the surface of sweet is a smart little brat with no time for empathy for other people.

-Then there’s the family’s pet dog Major; cute, yet dopey with a love for people (specifically, humping their leg)

Other characters include:
-Vic, Frank’s wealthy, womanizing neighbor;

Rosie, his wisecracking best friend at Mohican Airways;

Bob Pogo, his morbidly obese boss;

At first,

This show is a mixed bag for me.

There were some parts I liked, and others I really didn’t like.

The bad:

At first, when you listen to this Frank Murphy speak, it’s quite a turn off. (It’s like Bill Burr tried voice acting the first minute he stepped into a studio) In fact, it’s quite a turn off for a lot of the characters speaking. This show has an obnoxious abundance of swearing. Seriously, not a single fuckin’ minute goes by without a character saying a curse word (and I mean any word, whether an easy one or a strong one). It’s clearly obvious that the producers are taking advantage of the show’s being a original on Netflix to use every one of them in the book...yet they’re abusing the power. It can get grating to walk through an episode hearing Frank, let alone any character, slip up every other minute.

Also, the vulgar humor. It’s not that it doesn’t sit well with me--I can handle it, it’s because it’s kinda weak most of the time--and it’s a lot. But there some jokes I laughed at and enjoyed. (and as time passed and I watched more and more, it got more funnier. So it’s no bad blood here.)

And the good:

If the show falters with its humor, it shines with this:

Throughout the first season, there is a huge story arc involving Frank when he gets a promotion at his workplace, the hub for the fictional Mohican Airlines. And before he puts his belongings on his desk, he suffers a blow-out--not only at work with his friends/co-workers, who begin a workers’ strike after he gets chummy with the company’s CEO (and is the unwilling face of of a TV special on common racism), but also at home--where his family unravels emotionally;

-his wife Susan is frustrated with her life as a housewife and wants to start work,

-his eldest son Kevin is a slacker and pothead flunking in school,

-younger son and middle child Bill is terrorized by a bully; is cruelly mocked at school, home and the neighborhood for being a wimp (or in this case a pussy); and sees and hears things a child shouldn’t see and hear (I will never look at my nuts the same way again. *did I just write that?*),

-and only daughter/youngest offspring Maureen is a bratty little shit who gets what she wants just because she’s daddy’s little princess to Frank.

I love this story arc, because it puts actual true drama into the show, and brought in conflicts that don’t just go away at the end of an episode--they stay and continue on through the rest of the season. And I so damn well enjoy it. This series exhibits some well-executed dramatic moments with the openly-crass, super-random comedy and could actually give some of Netflix’s actual drama originals a run for their money.

--There’s also some real good voice acting throughout. As the season progressed, I got more engrossed in the acting and it was more well-done. That’s a testament to the writing by it’s staff, led by co-creator Michael Price.

--The animation is really well done.

While the character movements sometimes gets on my nerves, the drawings and coloring's here are amazing. The colors and shades look amazing (especially for the time period) and the character designs are well-drawn. Everyone looks like they’re from the early 70s and show it too.

--The series has more favorite characters than I first thought.

=Frank--for being (well, trying to be) a great father to his kids and great husband to his wife while juggling work, hanging with friends, and dealing with bad people and things (his bosses, the strike, Vic [to him]), etc.)

=Vic--for being a delightful neighbor, an awesome womanizer we all wish to be, and his many one-liners.

“Yeah, you…’fucked the shit outta me’.”

Just an all-around hilarious character.

=Bill, for being a definitely relate able kid, with his tries to grow a spine being one of the best parts of the season.

=Rosie, for being the cool black friend we wish we had, and for his side-splitting wisecracks. One against his and Frank’s boss Bob Pogo is the best and will induce a migraine from so much laughing.

Random Thoughts:

-I’m so glad that Frank doesn’t beat his kids, but because of his quickness to anger and the fact that they have done some stupid things (especially Kevin), I would believe that he would do so. Thank God we have Sue to stop him.

-Bill is voiced by a woman.... (Just putting it out there. But she does a great job, and surprising to learn when you learn this.
-Bob Pogo is me if I didn’t have a better life...and had too much access to food stamps. Christ, that man looks (and is) fucking disgusting.

-The scene from Episode 5 (you know the one) will scar you like it scarred Bill. It’s funny too.

-Major is such an adorable dog. Even if he’s a dippy, dopey dog that gets busy humping your leg.

-This will never not be funny.

(considering he actually has a wife that’ll put up with him)

This series is absolutely hilarious (with a few touches of tear jerking) and definitely a much-watch. It’s on Netflix, so you’ll need an account.
(or you can go here; you don’t need one).

And it’s also worth a watch because it’s second season is coming up on May 30. (Yep, that soon) It’s ten(?) episodes and much more of a must-watch from here. I’ll do a review live soon after watching the season at the end of the month. I so can’t wait.

So..

This has been my review of Season One of F is for Family.

And this has been Toony Tuesday. Thanks for being here.

And I’ll see you next week. Until then…

May the good toons be yours…!

“Or I’ll put you through that fucking wall!”