This is one of my favorite animated shows of all time and you can say part of the big five for WB toons like "Tiny Toon Adventures", "Animaniacs", "Batman the Animated Series", and "Pinky and the Brain". This show of course makes five which was a surprise hit despite not quite as successful as the past four but as time went on has become a cult classic. This is the kind of show that you really don't see everyday as it's not that easy to describe; let's just say if David Lynch ever made an animated series and wanted to make a superhero show this would be it.
This show sort of reminds me of the graphic comic series "Madman" which are both a bit uncannily similar; seeing this show is a good hold over until they ever make a live action or animated show is fine with me. But also, a little of the comic series and animated show "The Tick" as both comic book series feature an unconventional superhero character living in a world of weird.
I like the theme song which is another of my favorite theme songs of all time as it's so catchy. But I just love the manic energy of it as well as how bizarre the lyrics of the song are which perfectly fits the show. This song would be an interesting song to sing in a choir, heck I don't see a reason why they can't try, it would be a better song to sing than any other prepicked selection which is most of the time boring crap.
The animation is great it's the usual WB tv toon animation which is fine by me as I wouldn't want it any other way. It captures that fun tone with those toons but one of the things that really set this show apart is how sometimes it included live action footage in places of the show which added to the humor and weirdness of it all.
I really love the world of Freakazoid as it's a world that one step in reality but one step away, nothing to nobody is normal, but most of all there is no real sense of time period. We see some of the human characters that look and are dressed like people from the 1950's, some of the motor vehicles, a mixture of certain customs that were outdated but somehow now back, some people that are inhuman without any origin or explanation as to how they were that way, just so much crazy crap you have to see to believe.
The show has a colorful rogue gallery that were obviously inspired by the rogue gallery from the 60's "Batman" tv show. Each of them are daft and are simply villainous for the sake of it.
Two of them whom are my favorites are Guitierrez voiced by the late great Ricardo Montauban. His character looks like a James Bond villain and sort of is one. It's just funny how smooth, charismatic, straight and serious he is that it's strange as this guy does possess a quirk or two, whether he's aware of it or not.
The Lobe voiced by one of my favorite actors David Warner. He's good in the villain role as usual. The Lobe is true to his name as he truly is a walking brain, but what I like about him is this guy is despite the typical inventive mad scientist architype I really like how he has trouble doing the simplest tasks like in one episode building a stool chair and he must kidnap Norm Abram (whom did his voice in the episode) just to make one. That's funny because it's true how sometimes the most sophisticated minds don't always know how to do things that are considered simple or there are simply some fields they're not strong in. But also, the Lobe despite a heavy intellect and ego is extremely insecure which of course make him susceptible to Freakazoid's tricks.
Dexter/Freakazoid (voiced well by Paul Rugg) is another of my favorite animated protagonists. Really like his persona and manic energy like actors Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp. His character is loveable as he is just a ball of energy, that is constantly expressive of what he feels and embraces his weirdness which is practically a norm where he lives; this guy would be at home in Portland, Oregon.
But he's does have a good heart which makes him a decent guy whom always wants and does the right thing mainly for family (well the mom and dad to be exact), friends like Police Chief Cosgrove (voiced by Ed Asner) whom look like a Dick Tracy character he's sometimes helpful and sometimes not but has a superpower of always appear out of nowhere and on time; and his girlfriend (or would be girlfriend) Stef whom is pretty but not the brightest bulb which at times makes me wonder what Freakazoid sees in her, but who am I to judge.
His character is smart but acts like a total ditz most of the time. I even like how enigmatic he is as supposedly he just has an endless amount of powers or even luck and dumb luck however you look at it; though what else the guy can do we never really know and he himself doesn't know until he does it. Though he doesn't really use superpowers much most of the time it's really just trickery or at times good or dumb luck is how he thwarts the villians.
However, what I really like about him is you sort of can emphasize a bit with him as we probably have a little Freakazoid inside us as he's a person that expressive isn't afraid to do whatever he thinks, desires or wishes to do in the spur of the moment as well as say what he wants and doesn't care what anyone thinks of him while doing it.
Like in one episode when he meets up with Norm Abram, his reaction is just priceless it's the kind of reaction we all are feeling inside whenever we meet a celebrity as their not the people we meet up with every day, I know I felt that when meeting up with Michael Biehn from the film "Aliens"; I just wonder what would happen if I meet up with Jenna Coleman or Karen Gillian from "Doctor Who".
The humor is great, it's very cleaver and funny as heck from both visual but also the verbal humor. The dialog in the show is hilarious there are just so many memorable lines and quotes. This is also the kind of humor where you might have to rewatch just to uncover more.
I like the amount of reference jokes there is along with guest voices which are a numerous as the series "The Simpsons". However, one of the things that truly make the show unique is how it really can poke fun and even have some fun with certain clichés and conventions; this sort of predates the film "Rubber" which did the same thing.
When you watch the show, you would think one thing would usually happen but then the episode suddenly pulls a 180 on you and just does something else. Or how the show would sometimes point out certain clichés and conventions then use them anyway or turn it on its head. From how Freakazoid triumphs against one of the supervillains most of the time in the superhero comics it's a final mighty blow but in this show it doesn't happen instead Freadazoid does something else that surprisingly works.
I also like there are little programs that happen during an episode of the show making this show a bit of a skit comedy. My favorite is a Johnny Quest parody which is really funny as we see the Johnny and Jesse like character do some things they're not of legal age to do like gamble at a casino. But also, there is the Race Bannon character whom is always armed with barrels, how they just magically appear in his hands is anyone's guess.
Though this show isn't going to be for everyone, if you into the Weird genre and like films like "Rubber", "Donnie Darko", as well as the comic book series like "Madman" and "The Tick" then this show is for you. But if you're not into the Weird genre then this show might not be your thing.
Freakazoid is electrifying manic weird zany fun and remember keep Portland weird.
Rating: 4 stars
This show sort of reminds me of the graphic comic series "Madman" which are both a bit uncannily similar; seeing this show is a good hold over until they ever make a live action or animated show is fine with me. But also, a little of the comic series and animated show "The Tick" as both comic book series feature an unconventional superhero character living in a world of weird.
I like the theme song which is another of my favorite theme songs of all time as it's so catchy. But I just love the manic energy of it as well as how bizarre the lyrics of the song are which perfectly fits the show. This song would be an interesting song to sing in a choir, heck I don't see a reason why they can't try, it would be a better song to sing than any other prepicked selection which is most of the time boring crap.
The animation is great it's the usual WB tv toon animation which is fine by me as I wouldn't want it any other way. It captures that fun tone with those toons but one of the things that really set this show apart is how sometimes it included live action footage in places of the show which added to the humor and weirdness of it all.
I really love the world of Freakazoid as it's a world that one step in reality but one step away, nothing to nobody is normal, but most of all there is no real sense of time period. We see some of the human characters that look and are dressed like people from the 1950's, some of the motor vehicles, a mixture of certain customs that were outdated but somehow now back, some people that are inhuman without any origin or explanation as to how they were that way, just so much crazy crap you have to see to believe.
The show has a colorful rogue gallery that were obviously inspired by the rogue gallery from the 60's "Batman" tv show. Each of them are daft and are simply villainous for the sake of it.
Two of them whom are my favorites are Guitierrez voiced by the late great Ricardo Montauban. His character looks like a James Bond villain and sort of is one. It's just funny how smooth, charismatic, straight and serious he is that it's strange as this guy does possess a quirk or two, whether he's aware of it or not.
The Lobe voiced by one of my favorite actors David Warner. He's good in the villain role as usual. The Lobe is true to his name as he truly is a walking brain, but what I like about him is this guy is despite the typical inventive mad scientist architype I really like how he has trouble doing the simplest tasks like in one episode building a stool chair and he must kidnap Norm Abram (whom did his voice in the episode) just to make one. That's funny because it's true how sometimes the most sophisticated minds don't always know how to do things that are considered simple or there are simply some fields they're not strong in. But also, the Lobe despite a heavy intellect and ego is extremely insecure which of course make him susceptible to Freakazoid's tricks.
Dexter/Freakazoid (voiced well by Paul Rugg) is another of my favorite animated protagonists. Really like his persona and manic energy like actors Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp. His character is loveable as he is just a ball of energy, that is constantly expressive of what he feels and embraces his weirdness which is practically a norm where he lives; this guy would be at home in Portland, Oregon.
But he's does have a good heart which makes him a decent guy whom always wants and does the right thing mainly for family (well the mom and dad to be exact), friends like Police Chief Cosgrove (voiced by Ed Asner) whom look like a Dick Tracy character he's sometimes helpful and sometimes not but has a superpower of always appear out of nowhere and on time; and his girlfriend (or would be girlfriend) Stef whom is pretty but not the brightest bulb which at times makes me wonder what Freakazoid sees in her, but who am I to judge.
His character is smart but acts like a total ditz most of the time. I even like how enigmatic he is as supposedly he just has an endless amount of powers or even luck and dumb luck however you look at it; though what else the guy can do we never really know and he himself doesn't know until he does it. Though he doesn't really use superpowers much most of the time it's really just trickery or at times good or dumb luck is how he thwarts the villians.
However, what I really like about him is you sort of can emphasize a bit with him as we probably have a little Freakazoid inside us as he's a person that expressive isn't afraid to do whatever he thinks, desires or wishes to do in the spur of the moment as well as say what he wants and doesn't care what anyone thinks of him while doing it.
Like in one episode when he meets up with Norm Abram, his reaction is just priceless it's the kind of reaction we all are feeling inside whenever we meet a celebrity as their not the people we meet up with every day, I know I felt that when meeting up with Michael Biehn from the film "Aliens"; I just wonder what would happen if I meet up with Jenna Coleman or Karen Gillian from "Doctor Who".
The humor is great, it's very cleaver and funny as heck from both visual but also the verbal humor. The dialog in the show is hilarious there are just so many memorable lines and quotes. This is also the kind of humor where you might have to rewatch just to uncover more.
I like the amount of reference jokes there is along with guest voices which are a numerous as the series "The Simpsons". However, one of the things that truly make the show unique is how it really can poke fun and even have some fun with certain clichés and conventions; this sort of predates the film "Rubber" which did the same thing.
When you watch the show, you would think one thing would usually happen but then the episode suddenly pulls a 180 on you and just does something else. Or how the show would sometimes point out certain clichés and conventions then use them anyway or turn it on its head. From how Freakazoid triumphs against one of the supervillains most of the time in the superhero comics it's a final mighty blow but in this show it doesn't happen instead Freadazoid does something else that surprisingly works.
I also like there are little programs that happen during an episode of the show making this show a bit of a skit comedy. My favorite is a Johnny Quest parody which is really funny as we see the Johnny and Jesse like character do some things they're not of legal age to do like gamble at a casino. But also, there is the Race Bannon character whom is always armed with barrels, how they just magically appear in his hands is anyone's guess.
Though this show isn't going to be for everyone, if you into the Weird genre and like films like "Rubber", "Donnie Darko", as well as the comic book series like "Madman" and "The Tick" then this show is for you. But if you're not into the Weird genre then this show might not be your thing.
Freakazoid is electrifying manic weird zany fun and remember keep Portland weird.
Rating: 4 stars