Ask any creator of popular cartoons where their ideas came from and you might be surprised how much you find out; it's considered fact that the Simpsons is a yellow skinned representation of the creators own family while in anime land the likes of Evangelion are created to represent the creators depression, but what if I was to tell you that Regular Show originated from a short about an acid trip? Need more convincing? This is the story of "2 in the AM PM"
Regular Show gets away with a lot of adult jokes in an era that still finds the likes of Shezow mind corrupting. (Yeah that's a pretty stupid show to complain about) So adult works may come as no surprise when you dive into the origins of creator J.G.Quintel's work. As a student he first designed a short about a lollyman called the "Naive Man from Lolliland" which starred a character that would later be called Pops in Regular Show where said character tries to pay for a bill with candy.
However his second short "2 in the AM PM" is ten times more adult than the Lolliland short. The short begins with 2 gas station workers who sound familiar, mainly because they are the voices of Mordecai & Benson, Mordecai of course is JG Quintel while Benson is voiced by his friend Sam Marin.
Anyway the two workers are bored until they eat some candy containing acid, this is when the trippy bit begins as both characters keep turning into different things including a gumball machine and a blue jay, yeah the whole cartoon is an acid trip and those forms I just mentioned were the design choices for Mordecai & Benson for Regular Show; so the million dollar question is: Was Regular Show created from Acid Trip? Who knows? It's not my place to ask people about their personal habits; if you consider the content of Regular Show and the fact that Mordecai is the creator himself then it's possible but it's something that Quintel wouldn't want to admit.
No preview video, the short is mature rating and you know the rules by now.
Returning back to the mini-guide, this time we view the early days of Cartoon Network, only four shows this time.
1. Captain Planet & the Planeteers - 1990
A show syndicated by Cartoon Network big boss Ted Turner about a group of teenagers from various parts of the world using the powers of the elements and angst to summon a flamboyant superhero named Captain Planet to save the world from war, pollution and other bad things which we're preached not to do.
Verdict: Under so bad it needs to be seen to be believed but after a while the novelty wears off.
Fact: Although it predates Cartoon Network itself, it's still listed as a Cartoon Network creation due to it's creator being Ted Turner.
2. The Moxy Show - 1993
Hard to describe this one but I'll do my best; it's a clip show hosted by a CGI dog voiced by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait of Police Academy fame.
Verdict: To be honest my memories of this one are a little thin, while I remember Moxy the dog I don't really remember what he did.
Fact: This cartoon holds many titles, first Cartoon Network made series, first CGI series made by Cartoon Network and first hybrid animated series by Cartoon Network. On a much more negative note this show was created by Scott Fellows, the guy behind Johnny Test.
3. Space Ghost Coast to Coast - 1994
A spoof half animated talk show hosted by 60s Hanna Barbara superhero Space Ghost, in which the superhero interviews real life celebrities.
Verdict: Very clever idea which has only ever been copied once by Phineas & Ferb. Again another series I didn't see often but the stuff I did see I enjoyed.
Fact: Space Ghost Coast to Coast became the leading force that would later lead to the creation of Adult Swim.
4. What a Cartoon - 1995
A number of upcoming cartoon creators showcasing their work before the network for syndication into full series.
Verdict: The five shorts that did become shows will be talked about another time, as for the others we had a mixture of one joke shorts and a number of missed opportunities.
Fact: The series of shorts also jump started the careers of Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame and Butch Hartman of Fairly Odd Parents fame who would go to Nickelodeon.
Bonus: What a Cartoon Sequels & Clones
The Cartoon Cartoon Show, made after What a Cartoon would also bring to life, Robot Jones, Mike, Lu & Og, Kids Next Door and Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.
The Cartoonstitute brought to life Regular Show along with Fort Awesome & coming soon release Uncle Grandpa.
Nickelodeon's Oh Yeah Cartoons brought to life Fairly Odd Parents, Chalk Zone & Teenage Robot and briefly gave life to What a Cartoon reject Mina and the Count.
Predating Oh Yeah Cartoons was Kablam but only Angela Anaconda was syndicated for a series later bought by Fox but did air on UK Cartoon Network.
Oh Yeah Cartoon's sequel Random Cartoons could only come up with Fanboy & Chum Chum, however Cartoon Network swooped down on another short called Adventure Time; yes you guessed right, Adventure Time was originally supposed to be for Nickelodeon but Cartoon Network bought it instead, not the first time Cartoon Network pinched a great idea from Nickelodeon having done the same with Ed, Edd & Eddy.
It's been a while since I last done a top ten list, so to compensate I shall be showing my top 10 worst Cartoon Network Characters.
Same rules as the mini-guides, only Cartoon Network made shows, so as much as I hate Johnny Test, it wasn't made by Cartoon Network.
10. Little Costume Buddy from Fat Dog Mendoza
Rated fairly low as it's not been subjected to American audiences thank god, (I'd hate to unleash such a horrible show from my own country onto the States)
As for the character, he barely has a name, looks horribly out of place and is pathetic looking.
9. Eliot from Eliot Kid
Another low grade idea from Europe, this kid annoys me through the sheer fact that he's ruining everyone's lives and never once apologizes for it.
8. Abigail Lincoln (Numbuh 5) from Codename: Kids Next Door
I'm sure Cree Summer is a great voice actress but I can't stand acting performances where all you hear is the voice actress and not the character, it doesn't help that Numbuh 5's sister is named after the voice actress.
7. Dr Wasabi from Chop Socky Chooks
Out of all the villains from every mutated fighting animal cartoon ever made, this is not only the worst designed villain but the worst villain period. What do you expect from a show about Kung Fu Chickens?
6. Bloo from Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends
For a cartoon that's meant to show creative design as a major part of the plot, they went with an obnoxious rejected blue Pac-Man Ghost as a lead character.
5. Sheep from Sheep in the Big City
Speaking of creative design, Sheep doesn't really fair any better; it's just a Sheep. 26 episodes of watching a Sheep, for a series that should've been 2 episodes long at most.
4. Johnny 2X4 from Ed, Edd & Eddy
He's that weird kid from down your street that your parents & teachers insisted you play with so he doesn't feel lonely and the first thing he does is talk to a plank of wood and makes disgusting cracking noises from his hands. (That was a real episode)
3. Lucien Cramp from The Cramp Twins
I hate preaching little kids like Lucien, especially when they are so called Eco Warriors. It's not that I don't care about the environment, I just don't want my cartoons to do the preaching. Captain Planet was charming in a so bad it's good kind of way, Lucien Cramp is Lisa Simpson level annoying.
2. Ben Tennyson from Ben 10
Half of my hate for Ben 10 comes from the fact that this cartoon came ten years too late for me, the other is they can't seem to decide what character he should be, the cocky brat or a maturing teenager. The show has got to an uncomfortable level of decay these days and seems to throw Ben's characterization away in favor of more aliens voiced by Futurama's Bender.
1. Flapjack from the Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
This was Cartoon Network getting desperate, Flapjack represents everything that's wrong with modern Cartoon Network, they ran out of original ideas so they ripped off Spongebob, and succeeded in making a character dumber than Spongebob, how do you sleep at night? Between this, Johnny Test and the dreaded summer of 2009, I'm surprised the channel even bounced back.
Not that long ago Cartoon Network introduced a block called DC Nation containing a number of new shows created by the famous comic book company, among the block we saw a number of shorts from different names from within the DC Universe but the one short which caught everyone's eyes is Amethyst Princess of Gemworld, which existed as an 80s comic series.
In this version, a geek teenage girl named Amy Winston gets sucked into the video game she's playing and is transformed into Princess Amethyst through the power of Anime Magical Girl shows.
The geek part is worth noting, as far as I know this is the first ever geek girl in western animation to become the lead in a magical action girls cartoon, with many of her predecessors being either too pink, too girly or Sabrina the Teenage Witch. To use an anime example, Amethyst is like Cecily Campbell from Sacred Blacksmith, a very capable action girl who doesn't suit the role of a refined lady or princess as defined by her title.
DC Nation only ran 7 shorts of Amethyst making a full short cartoon episode length, the story is a reenactment of Amy's video game as she goes through many challenges shes already beaten with the game's original hero, before over coming the big boss Dark Opal which she had trouble with previously when playing the game.
Whether DC takes notice of this or not remains to be seen, but it would be a huge disappointment if this cartoon never saw a full series; from the footage we did get we saw something which could be on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic levels of awesome and acceptance, something which all girls cartoon shows should aim for instead of trying to be Winx Club all the time.
As part of Cartoon Network month I'll be introducing mini-guides to all of Cartoon Network's home made shows starting with the ones made from Europe.
With all these lists I'll only be showing cartoons made by Cartoon Network and not any other company. I'll be giving a brief summary of the show and what I thought of that show whether it be good or bad. To start with I'll be talking about 9 shows made by Cartoon Network Europe in order of air date.
1. Fat Dog Mendoza - 1998
Show about a ball shaped, smart mouthed dog and his owner who is a crime fighting superhero along with a city of other Superheroes.
Verdict: Lousy story, they couldn't be bothered to properly name the lead human character and poor humor, animation isn't too bad.
Fact: UK made (Ashamed to admit) never released in US.
2. Spaced Out - 2002
Show about a family who ends up living on a space station as part of an experiment by a big business man.
Verdict: Entirely forgettable, not the best animation.
Fact: French-Canadian made, never released in US
3. The Cramp Twins - 2002
Show about twins that look nothing alike causing mischief in a city obsessed with hygiene using the same skin color scheme as "Doug"
Verdict: It's okay, voice work grates on the ears a bit, but passable as a series; animation is basic, enjoys playing the eco-warrior a bit too much.
Fact: British made, been on several networks in it's broadcast history.
4. V-Birds - 2002
British Cartoon Network's attempt at making an animated pop band to take on major chart toppers of the era.
Verdict: Don't know what they were thinking, even attempting this was stupid.
Fact: British made (Sadly) never released in US, I've covered this show before as a Cartoon Vault entry.
5. Robotboy - 2005
A Japanese sounding scientist through fear of losing his creation to his enemy sends it to a long time fan. Said creation is a Robotboy with human like personality.
Verdict: Characters tend to go in and out of favor frequently and a lot of it Stereotypes the Japanese.
Fact: British made, one of few shows to get away with minor curse words.
6. Skatoony - 2006
A part live-action game show in which kids compete against Cartoon Characters for prizes, presented by Chudd Chudders and The Earl.
Verdict: It's a nice distraction from the normal and the presenters are quite entertaining.
Fact: British made, Chudd Chudders & The Earl served as Cartoon Network UK Presenters for a while before handing duties over to a Welsh Voiceover. Series started as a web game.
7. Eliot Kid - 2008
Show about a kid named Eliot who over exaggerates every situation he's in.
Verdict: Can't stand the show, rated one of my least favorite cartoons.
Fact: British & French made, never released in US.
8. Chop Socky Chooks - 2008
Show about Kung-Fu Chickens......Thats it.
Verdict: The art style is creepy, CGI or not. Voice work is top notch, but doesn't evolve past crappy villain.
Fact: British & Canadian made through Aardman Animations who made Wallace & Gromit. Cancelled halfway through American broadcast.
9. Hero 108 - 2010
Show about a group of humans fighting to make peace with a number of animal tribes who have been tricked by a communist dictator into thinking humans are enemies.
Verdict: Clever design and originality, great characters and story; although it does become a little too childish at times.
Fact: Based on a MMORPG from Taiwan, cartoon had collaborators from the UK, France & US.
