This is simply the ten cartoons that I would willingly watch over and over again, maybe not even the ones that I think are the "best" and it will become clear as I go into each one what I'm looking for in a cartoon.
Score.
2 Nickelodeon.
3 Disney.
3 WB.
1 Cartoon Network.
3 Tera Strong.
2 Grey DeLisle.
1 Mark Hamill.
#10: The Fairly OddParents. (Nickelodeon) (Created by Butch Heartman)
This will be the first only enter for Mr. Butch Heartman on this list, but make no mistake this guy is good. Having worked on Tom and Jerrry, Dexter's lab, Johnny Bravo, the Powerpuff girls and T.U.F.F.Puppy, As well as a few cartoons that I never really cared for but I will admit are at least alright.It will however be the first entries for both Tera strong and Grey DeLisle, who will show up on this list a few more times before its over.
Simple put this is one of those shows that is fun for kids, and has allot of jokes ment for adults as well, and the addition of REALLY good voice acting across the board is always welcome. Neat little things like Adam West playing a deranged former TV super hero, and just allot of very watchable stuff for both kids and adults.
#9: Phineas and Ferb. (Disney Channel) (Created Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh)
So if you have not seen this show... You don't have kids. Or teens or any Disney Philes. Simply put this show is one that I am never upset to see on TV, I don't go out of my way to watch it, but the formula it works off of is so enjoyable that its predictability is part of the draw. And I think almost all of the humor in this show operates off the ideal of making light of yourself. Because you know... your a cartoon.If you want to get me hooked on a cartoons there are two ways to do it, A: Make fun of yourself and genera. B: Treat your viewing audience with respect. And this show manages to do both nicely.
#8: Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs. (Tom Ruegger)
This show really is in the same area as both Fairly OddParents and Phineas and Ferb, It's witty it has allot of stuff of older watches, and it makes fun or itself allot. And Everything else. If there is any really confusing problem with this show its this, It seams like allot of the humor was aimed at people who wear in the know about the animation and show business community.
But Again there is not humor like self deprivating humor, and this is a very catchy show, I don't really know any one who was the right age to watch this show that did not at least like it, and many adults can still sing the theme song and know most of the jokes. I'm really surprised that I have not seen this being re-aired more on TV.
#7:Gargoyles. (Walt Disney Television Animation. - Disney Channel before there was one) (Created Greg Weisman) (Keith David, Marina Sirties, Jonathan Frakes, Brint Spinner.)
This is most likely the first entry that some of you have not seen, and it is the first one that's well... Not very cartoon...ish. This show didn't have a whole lot of humor. So what Did it have? I could make a list out of that itself. And I will.
A: Amazing Music. I always love a good musical score in a show, and it is one thing that allot of the shows already mentions have, but I mean background music in this case, good instrumental pieces
B: Story, This show was one long continuous story, one of the first cartoons to really try this.
C: Seriousness. No really the story in this thing was Serious, people died, hearts wear broken.
D: Social Issues, I don't mean that in the sense that they beat you over the head with it, It's pretty much in the same area as X-men its talking about social issues that we all face, its just hiding them very nicely.
C: VOICE ACTING! As you can see on the list up there, This show has KEITH MOTHERFUCKING DAVID as the main voice actor! If you don't know who this guy it, you still most likely know this voice. And the Addition of Marina Sirties, Jonathan Frankes and Brint Spinner.
For people who are not huge geeks that three people form Star Trek The Next Generation, And it's not like these people are just there every now and then, they are full time voice actors, all three of them playing pretty important roles. So is this show perfect? No no no... Simple put if I have to fault it for anything, It most likely takes itself a little (Way) To serious at times. And It's VERY dramatic. Its on the list for the same reason as one of my higher numbered picks, and its this reason that it's not higher up.
#6: Kim Possible. (Walt Disney Television Animation) (Created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle) (John DiMaggio, Nicole Sullivan, Patrick Warburton)
Remember what I said about Making fun of yourself in a show? Ya that's the entire point of this show, The ideal behind the show is quite frankly so stupid that If I was to explain it to some one they would most likly smack me. But A few points can be made.
A: This show is VERY Aware of how stupid the ideal is, and its pretty much built on the ed-construction of the 'super-hero' 'spy' and 'high school drama' genra.=
ge
B: Music. Simply put the theme is... Silly. But EXTREMELY catchy.
C: Voice Acting. Really there are allot of very good voice actors in this show, but really the three that I am referring to are John DiMaggio. (Bender from Futurama) Patrick Warburton. (From to much stuff to count) And NICOLE SULLIVAN! (Yes the women from mad TV) Which Brings us to the next point.
D: Characters. The characters in the show are just enjoyable, a little silly and very aware of the genre that they are in. And Nicole Sullivan is the queen of this, her character Shego is always a joy to watch, simply because she is a one character deconstruction of the super Villian / underling model. And super Villains Trusted Lieutenant, Who clearly could be in charge if she wanted to, is really smarter then her boss and simply has everything in advantage on her boss, and only puts up with him because she enjoys mocking him when he fails. (And he pays well)
In short, Its a very Fun show. Not serious at all, and it just puts me in a good mood when I watch it.
#5 & 4 Tie: Teen Titans. (Cartoon Network in Partnership with WB) (Created by Glen Murakami) (Greg Cipes, Tara Strong)
Right so first off just let me say that I am a huge comic book geek, and that I am a fan of the Titans Comic, And that this show is a VERY good adaptation, using just enough creative license, the right amount of humor and action, seriousness and light fun. The voice acting. (Tara Strong) is really great and has allot of people in it that you will be able to pick out by voice. (Ron Perlman) The music was... Alright BUT THE OPENING THEME is infectious, its short extremely catchy and really kind of goofy.
Where the show shines in in the few story episode it has each season and in character, simply put every one can find a character they really like, and allot of people at least like most of the main cast if not all of them. And like Kim Possible the style is a kind of fussion of anime and more traditional western cartoons, So if your a fan of anime and a comic book geek, take a look at this.
#5 & 4 Tie: My Little Pony, Friendship is magic. (The Hub = Hasbro) (Created By Lauren Faust) (Tera Strong, Tabitha St.Germain, Grey DeLisle)
OK SO.. This is in fact a show for little girls. And I totally acknowledge that. I could go into how this show has a number of factors that make it much more enjoyable then bla bla bla. It's a show for little girls. The reasons I like the show are simple.It makes me happy... No really that's it. I am in fact a VERY cranky person, and pretty unhappy most of the time, BUT! I can sit down at watch ponies. And it makes me happy. Simply put I can't be cranky after watching this show.
And to be fair it is very clever, And that's mainly for three reasons.
A: Voice acting. You will notice Tara Strong again! Also John de Lancie! (Q from Star Trek)
B: Humor, This show is again very aware of what it is and it has fun with that.
C: Characters, They are simply enjoyable and most people who people that they will be reminded of wile watching this show.
D: Writing, The show was made by Lauren Faust, who has done work on allot of stuff that people have watched and liked, Powerpuff girls, and Fausters comes to mind. And the episodes are really well put together, it will at the very least be standable for most parents to watch with there.... daughters.
Its also worth pointing out that the writing staff on the show is comprised of people who have worked on pretty much every good cartoon made in the last 20 years.
The reason this show is not actually a little higher, or at least beating Teen Titans is simple.
It's not done yet, it just finished its second seasons, and the third season is being done right now, and simply put I don't know if the show will nose dive into the ground to get better, ether is pretty easy to see.
And the show has its down sides, simply put some of the episodes are just not that great, that being said, its not like half of them are like this, its more like a few episodes per season. It should also be noted that this is the only FLASH animation show on the list. Something that normally = low production value and looking crappy.
#3: INVAIDER ZIM! (Nickelodean) (Created by Jhonen Vasquez)
I honestly don't even know wear to start with this show other then to say it is 100% Brilliant, It's so Brilliant and creative, that its creativity is pretty much what killed it. It was a show that only had two (Very short) Seasons. The show was hilarious, and character every one loved and was actually very well rated.So then what was the problem?
It was... Bizzar. And in many ways, clearly not made for younger children, its deranged sense of humor was also kind of hit or miss, ether your gonna love it and bust a gut giggling, or your going to think the people who watch this show are deranged serial killers. (People who murder lucky charms)
I would go on about this show, but really there is no way for me to sell this show, just go watch it and you will ether love it or be terrified by it. Also the Character Gir could be the most amazing thing to ever come out of TV... Ever.
#1 & 2: Tie: Batman the Animated Series. (Created by Bob Kane and Bill Figner) (Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill) (Music by Danny Elfman) (Warner Bros)
This show is on the list for so many reasons that I cant even start to explain them without tripping over myself. So I will just say this. This is most likely the greatest depiction of batman ever, And its not just me, the creators of the batman comic have pretty much stated the same thing as well.
And the show is hear because it treated its viewing audience like they are intelligent and smart enough to handle very serious and adult subject matter. This is the only show on the list I can think of that uses guns... No guns that fire "Lasers" or beams, Real guns, that really kill people. (Off screen) But you know that they die. This show kills people.
This show deals with deep emotional and mental issues, it asks serious philosophical and social issues in a way that kids will get, simply put, this show does not pull punches. And it looks and sounds amazing. (Danny elfman) The voice acting it literally second to none. And Kevin Conroy is a perfect batman, And MARK HAMILL as the Joker is amazing!
I do need to make a note about the shows that came after this "The new batman Adventures" This show is... Well very good, but not as good as before. I say before because this is just the last few seasons after this shows, and really its just a matter of shifting to a animation style that was much cheaper to produce, and that's fine, but I really missed the art deco of the first two seasons.
#1 and #2 tie: Avatar: The last air bender. (Nickelodeon) (Created by Micheal Dante Dimartino and Bryan Konietzko) (Grey DeLisle, Mark Hamill)
This show is on this list because it dose everything that I love and does it well, it treats me like a adult and has a sense of humor, and ontop of it its one of the most original shows I have seen in a long time, and has allot of very nice elements. (That it borrowed from other things) But It is still very unique for a TV show.
No explanation needed, just watch it.
No comments:
Post a Comment