Hi I'm Dranzerstorm
You may remember me as a regular contestant on the caption battle contest.
Welcome to Retro Retrospective, my world dedicated to the old guard of the Otaku world; expect some reviews of the old & obscure, and in-depth geeky knowledge with the occasional top ten and I now have a logo.
Little info about me
Well I'm British and I'm in to all things animated and nostalgia.
I've grown up with every cartoon going and have watched hundreds of anime.
Oh and to answer a question I was asked once, no I don't wear glasses in real life, I would wear Loke's sunglasses though.
Now onto the companion list of 10 live action shows, I already did an exclusive British list so lets do the others.
Honorable Mention
Sesame Street
I'm bound by my rules on Pre-School shows and the fact that this has alot of animation as well as live action doesn't really make it a candidate on this list, however I will never say a bad word against this show.
10. Pee-Wee's Playhouse
A bizarre world from the mind of actor Paul Reubens, Pee-Wee's playhouse was the madcap adventure that was designed for kids with ADHD.
9. Are You Afraid of the Dark?
A surprise Canadian hit which managed to really scare you and while the safety filter was on and most of the stories ended in safety, the occasional darker ones would really catch you out and of course many jumped on that opening sequence.
8. Bill Nye the Science Guy
If you want your science lessons to be insanely awesome then Bill Nye has you covered, a fast paced comedy show full of song parodies and endless amounts of science to make your brains work overtime after schools.
7. Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Bit of a grey area as it travels the fine line between kids show and adult but I watched a lot more of this when I was younger rather than older. Watch a young Will Smith live it up with his rich Aunty and Uncle in Bel-Air. Time to make you feel old now. Will Smith is now older than Uncle Phil was in the show. To be honest Will Smith just doesn't age anyway.
6. Saved by the Bell
Before Nickelodeon and Disney packed the world with nothing but Live Action Kids shows, Saved by the Bell was the show that pretty much started the whole trend, while suffering a bit from being in the Pink Cadillac era of tv (High School setting that feels like the 50s but with plenty of 90s trends) it still manages to be significant in this day and age but it does show it's age.
5. Sister Sister
Nickelodeon's breakthrough hit that gave way to others like it, Sister Sister showcases the lives of Tia and Tamara who get separated as infants but reunite as teens under unique single parents Fashion Designer Lisa and Limo Driver Ray. One of the few twin plots that doesn't go for the obvious tropes and occasionally played some powerful moments such as when they finally learn about their birth mother.
4. Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Melissa Joan Hart originally started with Clarissa Explains It All, my sister was obssessed with it and the brother and sister dynamic in that show really put me off but Sabrina, Hart's more famous work was a lot more entertaining and really gave the live action sitcom market a boost in what can be accomplished with technology at the time.
3. MIghty Morphin Power Rangers
Haim Saban is a genius, without him I think anime would be dead because he saw something in Hurricane Rangers that would make a fortune over in the west and it did. This was Power Rangers and while it has become a cheese fest it's a very entertaining cheese fest, welcome to the world of Japanese TV and all it's weirdness.
2. Kenan & Kel
A cult classic and one of the few that's remembered among all my friends. Kenan & Kel showcases comedian friends Kenan and Kel as they get into bizarre situations usually by dumb luck or poor judgement and made even more famous for the "Who Love's Orange Soda?" line. It's so well remembered Nickelodeon started doing reruns again. (Or maybe they are desperate to win back diminishing viewers for their channel)
1. Wishbone
Now for something adorable.
Wishbone was a story telling show as the title character would tell a story from the point of view of a dog obviously done by voiceover who would replace the story main character with Wishbone himself, these were famous literacy works that may even be taught at school, everything from Shakesphere's works to Dickens, from legends like Robin Hood to old folk tales like Journey to the West. Yes Wishbone covered Saiyuki.
It was charming and had a sense of whimsy and Soccer the Dog (Actual name) is so adorable!
Post 14 and if things are slowing down it's because I'm ill; a mixture of an eye infection and a cold is keeping me from doing long computer sessions but it should be a bit more normal come end of the week, for now lets look at some cartoons to watch while sick, bare in mind these are more based on personal opinion than my usual top ten posts so I may miss a few obvious ones but these are my favorite cartoons to watch while ill.
Honorable Mentions Classic Scooby Doo: Something obviously predictable can be quite refreshing and the older the Scooby Doo episode the better. Mike, Lu & Og: A cartoon cartoon show very rarely talked about, a well rounded island adventure that's simple to enjoy. The Mr Men Show: Because nothing is funnier than Mr Tickle with an Irish accent, there are many more accents from all over the British Isles to enjoy.
10. Kong: The Animated Series
Many candidates were considered such as the Zeta Project and 90s Spiderman but I went with Kong for bringing originality to an otherwise basic plot about King Kong.
9. Strawberry Shortcake 2003 Version
While it is a show with an obvious audience demograph, the 2003 version is at least endearing and makes for relaxed watching during the no mans hours of the early mornings or the school hours.
8. Stickin' Around
Basic art is also much easier on a sick person and you can't get any simpler than Stickin' Around. Not talked about often these days, Stickin' Around's appeal is that it's aware of it's own lack of art and backs it up with well written stories and gags.
7. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
Very much like the Strawberry Shortcake example it's endearing but in My Little Pony's case it also backs up it's charm with good writing, the original series can be good as well.
6. Eek! The Cat
I wouldn't mind talking about this show at some point, Eek! The Cat is about a cat who always seems to get hurt helping out people, sort of a Garfield with empathy.
5. 2 Stupid Dogs
The adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog as they try and work out the world around them, needless to say it got away with alot of adult jokes but it was fun enough to watch and very memorable.
4. The Fruitties
One of the first reviews I ever did on one of the strangest cartoons I've ever watched and I only ever watched this when I was ill. Basic premise of this Spanish Cartoon is talking fruit and lots of bizarre songs. Still humming the Roly Song to this day, I watched this when I was 7-8, I'm now 30, talk about leaving an impression.
3. Tom & Jerry
Other MGM shorts as well as Disney's short cartoons catalogue and Warner Bros Looney Tunes work just as well but I'm going with Tom & Jerry because visual slapstick is more effective than a dialogued one and that's what Tom & Jerry do best and with most shorts lasting 5 minutes on average its much easier to digest while bed ridden.
2. Hilltop Hospital
Okay you've probably never heard of this one, this is a British claymation cartoon about the running of a hospital using anthropomorphic animals as doctors, while it's generally aimed at younger kids it fits the bill for the most ideal show to watch while ill, mainly because your more likely to watch these cartoons while you are sick from school rather than work, mainly because being sick as an adult you'd rather be asleep and what better way to reassure a child about their illness than showcasing similar illnesses in a cartoon in a calm and soothing manner, it makes the illness in question easier to deal with.
1. Ned's Newt
Out of all the times I've been forced into watching early morning cartoons due to horrid nights of sleep, Ned's Newt was the most enjoyable. It's about a boy who buys a newt that initially doesn't do anything but then grows six foot and gains speech by eating too much Zippo for Newt, what follows is madcap adventures and it was awesome, almost made going to school bearable.
Bonus: Other than the Fruitties which I've already reviewed I'll be more than happy to review anything on this list by request, just comment as normal.
Post Number 12 and we look at the rousing world of punk rock and skater boys as we dive into late 90s Nicktoon Rocket Power.
Rocket Power is about a group of kids who indulge in extreme sports everything from Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Surfing to Ice Hockey, Roller Blading and BMXing.
Our team of extreme sports characters are Otto, Regina, Sam and Maurice; Otto is the reckless leader, Regina is the tomboy female, Maurice is the nerdy non athletic friend while Sam is the idiot friend. Together they compete in various sporting competitions while learning about the importance of friendship all set in a fictional take on a Californian Beach Town.
At the height of the 90s, Skater Punk was all the rage, Tony Hawk was at the peak of his popularity, Avril Lavigne wasn't a sellout and skate parks were the most popular places in the world, I to was part of that movement but like the era itself, it's very much a product of its time not helped by Klasky Csupo's animation style being heavily 90s.
Now looking back, yeah it's dated but it was okay, it was entertaining and it kept Nicktoons fresh but how is this any different to Rated A for Awesome? In basic terms they are the same right down to the cast consisting of three males and one girl, the lead and the girl being related and the other two being an idiot and a geek, but the biggest difference is timing, Rocket Power came out at the right time and absorbed alot of the current trends that were still in full swing. Rated A for Awesome came out at a time where the current trends they were trying to absorb were already waning so they looked pandering in comparison.
It's possible for these sorts of cartoons to work they just need the right timing, there are so many cartoons who did that who are now dated but at the time they were cult classics. Overall Rocket Power is okay, it's dated and the concept has been reused in other shows but this one had the balance to make it work.
So same thing I did on the previous list only there are far less cartoons, same rules as before, the list has no order to it and all these shows premiered in 2015 so sit back relax and enjoy the list.
Miraculous Ladybug
An intriguing look at a French made Magical Girl series co wrote by South Korean and Japanese companies. It may look like another attempt to try and use anime style shows in Western Cartoons but this show is certainly original in plot and design and is worth a watch.
The Clangers
A British stop motion show about pink moon mice who communicate through whistles. The original show aired over 40 years ago but this updated version uses the exact same stop motion animation but runs a lot smoother. You see it is possible to reboot a show and not change anything bar the voice acting.
Danger Mouse
And Danger Mouse did exactly the same thing in it's reboot, no CGI nonsense just a secret agent mouse with all the best comedy writing you can offer a show and just run with it. British Cartoons at it's best.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel cartoons have been a bit lacking in impact lately and Guardians of the Galaxy is made for cartoons and well welcomed into Disney's growing library.
Harvey Beaks
Harvey Beaks is a reminder that Nickelodeon hasn't completely lost the plot yet, from the creators of Chowder if the character designs and humor isn't completely obvious, Harvey Beaks is starting to restore some trust back in Nickelodeon.
Star vs the Forces of Evil
It sucks that Gravity Falls has been cancelled but with this Magical Girl spoof in it's place, I'm not too worried about Disney's future in 2D animation. Funny and very clever about it's morals, Star will certainly make Disney shine again.
The Lion Guard
I'm cheating a bit as this is a pre-school show but as someone who watched the Lion King back in 1995, I welcome the Lion King world back onto Disney screens. Badly needed to balance out Disney's range that lately looks to be just Star Wars, Marvel and Disney Princess starring Frozen.
Moonbeam City
This is kinda what I imagined Regular Show being like if it were just 80s jokes. The show scratches the nostalgia trip I enjoy so much and I hope it becomes more mainstream to give older shows like Simpsons a reminder that it can be replaced.
Be Cool Scooby Doo
I didn't think this would work, the designs looked like a Family Guy sketch and it was going to be more geared towards crazy fun over serious plots. You know what after so many reboots of this, this being the 12th one, I actually kind of like it. I think it's hit it's last possible reboot, "Making Fun of Yourself" which is all it can do and it works surprisingly well, much like Pup Named Scooby Doo did in the late 80s.
We Bare Bears
At this point Cartoon Network is heading for a sorry state. Adventure Time and Regular Show will probably end soon and it's current shows, well except for Amazing World of Gumball and possibly Steven Universe aren't enough for the channel to live on. Thankfully We Bare Bears fills the gap quite nicely and manages to spoof today's culture without it being forced, and it even has some very emotional moments, which is surprising for a show of it's kind.
Well it's come to this, time to reveal my worst animated shows of all time, looking back on these made it all the more painful. Some choices come directly out of left field while others are more obvious. Let us begin.
Update: Includes new entry extending to a Top 11.
11. Pelswick
I knocked this down lower than planned as upon researching this I found out that the creator has passed away, so I'll be a little less mean to it. Basically Pelswick is about a paraplegic trying to function in normal school life. This series suffers from lack of effort as it looks cheap and with such a sensitive subject matter, didn't really achieve what it was set out to do and having scenes of bullying a paraplegic is just wrong.
10. Fleabag Monkeyface
Two kids create another kid using a toilet as a catalyst and said kid has a Monkeyface and gross out powers which is another way of saying this show is going to be entirely gross out humor which is the lowest form of cartoon comedy. At least Megababies had the art style to emphasize how grotesque it was, this show isn't even subtle, the whole show seems to revolve around the gross out theme. Gross out humor only works if the characters in show are affected by it, it loses itself quickly if everyone accepts it as the norm.
9. Eiken
This is the only anime entry on this list, basically making fanservice as extreme as possible but oh my god, this is shameless, it's just a monstrous train wreck and pretty disgusting as well. Anime fans deserve better than this.
8. Angela Anaconda
I'm not a fan of selfish people and Angela Anaconda the hero were supposed to support doesn't deserve half the victories she gets over her enemies. The art style doesn't really make it any better, it is unique but creepy.
7. Breadwinners
I didn't think Nickelodeon could get any worst until they released this show. It's about two ducks who work as bread delivery men but the show is so poorly drawn and the comedy is just terrible. Also because the leads are basically trying to rip off Regular Show they fail so miserably it's just painful to watch.
6. I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali
Many celebrities have released themselves in animated form but Muhammad Ali's cartoon was by far the worst. Other celebrities who have done this tend to remain grounded within their specialist field. Muhammad Ali was basically portrayed as a do it all action hero which smells of self indulgence which is not how I wish to remember one of the greatest boxers in the world.
5. Monster High
I blame the Twilight films for many things, including ruining literature and wrecking a movie series that deserved better (Hunger Games) but it's biggest crime was robbing the dignity of popular monsters and degrading males.
The problem with shows aimed at girls especially the ones marketing fashion dolls is that the males not only take a backseat but are flanderized so badly that it becomes an insult to watch and they only function as an accessory. In the sexism argument, it works both ways, if some shows aimed at males portray women in a negative light then I have the right to complain about shows aimed at women portraying men in a negative light.
4. Pickle and Peanut
Congratulations Disney, you've created something worst than Breadwinners and something is all I'll ever call it as this is the worst comedy, worst animated cartoon and just the most down right annoying cartoon I've ever had the displeasure of watching and yet somehow the 3 shows ahead of this are worst than this.
3. Gormiti Nature Unleashed
I've brought this show up before, the original 2D version of the series was charming and had a lot to offer, this version offered us not one but four obnoxious male characters. It's basically having four Johnny Tests in one show. This is the worst business decision of all time, there's not even a female character or anyone with a brain.
2. The Cramp Twins
Another thing I hate is being dictated to, the Cramp Twins takes some of the worst traits from the Simpsons and makes them even more annoying than they were originally, I suppose a name like Cramp Twins does what it says on the tin, the characters will literally cause cramps, but what really gets me is they made Lucien Cramp to be the worst kind of eco-warrior. As a viewer I don't wish to be dictated to about these kinds of issues but I also don't want the same character sprouting about how horrible it is not to follow the eco path. Cartoons can be political, while I see nothing wrong with that since cartoons were originally created with propaganda in mind, but the difference between this and a proper eco animation like Ferngully is that Ferngully doesn't spend it's time telling me why pollution is bad it just lets the art style show you.
Before I show my number one let me give you a quick heads up over one cartoon I couldn't put on this list due to my reviewing rules.
Disqualified. Peppa Pig
The pre-school show Peppa Pig is the most annoying cartoon on TV, it showcases what amounts to a spoiled brat always getting her way. WHY IS THIS SO POPULAR!? *rages* *Calms down* Again because it's a preschool show and the audience can't defend it, I just can't put it on this list but it doesn't stop me hating it.
1. Three Friends and Jerry
This is the ugliest cartoon I've ever seen, it's about a kid that tries to fit in a group of other kids by getting dragged into their problems, the characters are unlikeable, hideous, I can't even talk about it anymore, it makes me vomit.
I'm glad it's over, I challenge the viewers to come up with anything worst than what I've listed.
