Sic 'Em toons

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Saturday, June 03, 2006

MTV2 launches their "Sic 'Emation" cartoon programming block on June 10, and last week showed a special preview show, much like the Big 3 networks used to run specials on the eve of their Saturday morning cartoon Fall season. The known quantities are reruns of BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD and the return of the cancelled claymation series CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH. B&B are still funny in their unedited glory, still making fun of bad music videos and fools of themselves. And DEATHMATCH is still clever and willing to go over-the-top in their gory depictions of all kinds of gossip-rag stars slaughtering each other in a wrestling ring. But the writing behind the clay puppetry lacks the ability to elicit real laughs. Unfortunately, that trend continues across the new shows. Celebrity-bashing is also the order of the day in WHERE MY DOGS AT?, an imaginatively animated series about a pair of stray canines voiced by comics Jeffrey Ross and Tracy Morgan as they accompany various celebs on misadventures. The problem is that the production schedule of DOGS can't be squeezed as easily as that of SOUTH PARK, meaning that some of the meanest barbs fall flat because they're out of date. Is it funny to make fun of Lindsay Lohan's unnatural weight loss a year after she decided to deal with the problem? Less polished but just as promising is Orlando Jones' THE ADVENTURES OF CHICO AND GUAPO, which transposes the spirit of Abbott & Costello on a hip-hop milieu. Jones' two fast-talking but dull-witted heroes are interns/janitors at a record company with ambitions to become rap stars, but no talent whatsoever. The simple drawing style is reminiscent of old comic-strips like MUTT & JEFF, and though the gags still aren't very funny, the fact that the show is based more on characters than on cheap tabloid material bodes well for it.

On a whole other plane comes the latest from Pixar and Disney, which looks to be another winner. CARS opens next Friday, and it brings with it quite a pedigree: directed by John Lasseter (TOY STORY), written by Lasseter and a fine bunch of story men and gagsters, music by Randy Newman, and a talented cast of name voices (Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and dozens more). This one promises to do for the world of autos what TOY STORY does for playthings. For added fun, race enthusiasts can hear the voices of a handful of real champion drivers in cameos.


SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

Here's another Disney classic on DVD:

(O) DUMBO (Buena Vista) An orphaned circus elephant is offered a psychological crutch to help him through his depression, which has surprising consequences when it helps little Dumbo learn to fly. "Big Top Edition" of the 1941 Disney favorite includes games, bonus shorts, music video, featurettes and more.

NEW DVD RELEASES

Here's a rundown of the constant stream of anime comin' at ya on DVD from around the world:

(O) ARTHUR: The Boy with His Head in the Clouds (Paramount) George has dyslexia.
(O) ARTHUR'S BIG HIT (Paramount) Violence: good or bad?
(O) ARTHUR'S CLUB RULES (Paramount) Government: democracy or dictatorship?
(O) DIAMOND DAYDREAMS Volume 3: Shoko + Akari (ADV)
(O) DR. KATZ PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST Season 1 (Comedy Central/Paramount) Comic Jonathan Katz stars as a befuddled shrink whose sessions with patients (voiced by comic guest stars) are interrupted by his demented adult son. All six episodes on one disc, plus commentraks, bonus shorts and bits from SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATER and more.
(O) FAIRY TALE POLICE DEPARTMENT Complete Series (Tango) Detectives Johnny Legend and Chris (Christine) Andersen - to restore law and order and ensure the Fairy Tales end the way they're supposed to... happily ever after. 26 episodes. All five volumes also sold separately.
(O) GARFIELD: THE MOVIE (Paramount) "Purrrfect Collector's Edition" or "Obvious Theatrical Sequel Marketing Ploy"? Whatever it's a 2-disc set that includes commentrak, puzzles, ROM extras, featurettes, music videos, cartoon short and more.
(O) GHOST STORIES Volume 5: Graduation Ghoulies (ADV)
(O) GODZILLA Original Animated Series Volume 1 (Classic Media)
(O) GODZILLA Original Animated Series Volume 2 (Classic Media) 1978 Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning TV series originally known as THE GODZILLA POWER HOUR in which the crew of a monster-hunting ship are helped out of every jam by a friendly monster that looks a bit like a Japanese movie icon.
(O) HAKUGEI: THE LEGEND OF MOBY DICK Volume 5 (ADV)
(O) HARÉ + GUU Volume 3 (Funimation) Episodes 8-10. Fishing for women and fighting monsters. Includes outtakes and more.
(O) HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Season 2 Volume 1 (BCI Eclipse) Episodes 66-98 on five discs, plus a bonus disc with commentraks, featurettes, storyboards, art cards and more.
(O) KAMICHU! Volume 1: Little Diety (Geneon) Junior high student Yurie discovers she has the supernatural power to do anything. So what will she do? Also available in a collector box.
(O) MR. MAGOO: Uncle Sam Magoo (Classics Media/Sony) Collection of the old boy's 1950s theatrical shorts.
(O) NICK JR. FAVORITES Volume 4 (Paramount)
(O) NICK PICKS Volume 4 (Paramount)
(O) OH MY GODDESS Collectors Edition (AnimEigo) Anime favorite about a college freshman who orders dinner delivered and gets the goddess Belldandy instead. Sure, it's a knock-off of URUSEI YATSURA but it's fine comic fantasy.
(O) SKY DANCERS Volume 2: The Sky's the Limit (Crash) Beware of Sky Clone.
(O) SUPERMAN: The Ultimate Max Fleischer Cartoon Collection (VCI) All 17 Fleischer cartoon shorts from the 1940s. Sure, these cartoons popup on all kinds of public domain collections, but VCI goes the extra mile of transferring from original 35mm prints and negatives, and adds on interviews and other extras, so this is the one to get.
(O) URUSEI YATSURA TV Series Volume 46 (AnimEigo)
(O) URUSEI YATSURA TV Series Volume 47 (AnimEigo)
(O) URUSEI YATSURA TV Series Volume 48 (AnimEigo)
(O) URUSEI YATSURA TV Series Volume 49 (AnimEigo)
(O) URUSEI YATSURA TV Series Volume 50 (AnimEigo) More fun with Lum, Ataru and company.
(O) VIEWTIFUL JOE Volume 3 (Geneon) Toys containing a mind control device sends kids into fits. Hey, this is a fun series and all, but why only 65 minutes on a disc for full DVD price?
(O) WANDABA STYLE Complete Collection (ADV) Pop combo Mix Juice wants to be the first band to perform on the moon.
(O) WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO?: Route Scary6 (Warner Bros.)
(O) YU YU HAKUSHO: First Battles (Funimation) A virtuous tween returns from the dead as a Spirit Detective to solve supernatural mysteries. Episodes 1-14. Also available in a limited edition with keychain.


And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's Anime Avalanche! And check in every Tuesday for the latest DVD Shopping List!

Anime Avalanche (© 2006 Brian Thomas) is our weekly animation column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.