Part of the challenge in creating a hit cartoon show comes in fitting it into the perfect genre to attract the largest audience. Throughout the years, cartoon creators have followed the theme of odd, unpredictable and even slightly psychedelic characterisation, storylines and artwork; and cartoon fanatics have continued to love it. In celebration of the latest Moomin instalment, MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA, out on digital platforms now and on DVD from 28th September 2015, we take a look at the shows that followed in their pioneering footsteps of strange and unusual characters and themes.
The Moomins
The Moomins are a family of white, hippo-like, fairy-tale creatures who live carefree and eccentric lives in Moominvalley. The Moomins were first introduced to the world in the 1940s by creator Tove Jansson and have since captured the hearts of children and parents alike. They made their first television premier in Germany as puppets in the late 1950s. The introduction to the world of television encouraged the creation of Japan’s first animated Moomin series, which aired between 1969 and 1970. In 1969, Tove Jansson and her brother, Lars Jansson also created a Moomin television series in Sweden called Mumintrollet (Moomintroll). More recently, Japan released another Moomin series in 1990. This Moomin instalment was dubbed, distributed and broadcasted in 124 countries.
The latest instalment, MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA, sees the Moomins, Snorkmaiden and Little My set sail for the Riviera, where, following a journey fraught with menacing storms and desert island dangers, Snorkmaiden is dazzled by the attentions of a playboy and Moomin (Tovey) learns that jealousy’s sting is the most painful of all. Meanwhile Moominpappa befriends an aristocrat and adopts the name ‘de Moomin’. An exasperated Moominmamma (Oberman) retires to the relative calm of their trusty old boat, to wait for her family to come to their senses. For the very first time, the unity of the Moomins is threatened…
Adventure Time
This American cartoon series on Cartoon Network tells the story of Finn (the human) and Jake (Finn’s dog, best friend and adopted brother who also has magical powers to transform in size and shape at will) on their adventures together in the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. The dynamic duo spend their time exploring the Land of Ooo, playing games, saving princesses and battling evil gnomes, candy zombies, village-burning hoodlums and a plethora of other unearthly creatures. Finn and Jake live their lives with the purpose of finding an adventure and having fun. Adventure Time is Cartoon Network’s highest rated show with the highest rating episode scoring over three million views.
Catdog
Catdog was a Nickelodeon series that ran from 1998 to 2005, which followed the adventures of conjoined cat and dog brothers, Cat and Dog. The two were conjoined at the abdomen with two heads, no hind legs and no tails. The brothers had very different personalities: Cat was much more refined and enjoyed things like cleanliness and opera; and Dog enjoyed chasing garbage trucks, adventures and eating (basically everything Cat hated). The series premised around the brothers’ daily lives and adventures, which included escaping the harassment of the dog gang called The Greaser Dogs.
The Ren & Stimpy Show
This show told of the lives of Ren, a haywire, intense and emotionally unstable Chihuahua, and Stimpy, a care-free and empty-minded cat. The stories usually followed along the lines of potty humour, including farts, hairballs, litter boxes and almost any “off-colour” humour. The show premiered on Nickelodeon in 1991 and ended its run in 1995.
Robot Chicken
Robot Chicken is a satirical, adult humour show on Adult Swim. The show references popular culture fads, including toys, games, television and film, including a Star Wars episode in 2008 that was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Animated Program. The style of the show is created by the old technique of stop motion animation.
The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange
The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange began as Web series “Annoying Orange,” created by Dane Boedigheimer and developed into a TV series for Cartoon Network in 2012. The plot line followed the life of Orange and his many fruity friends who all had human eyes and mouths and lived in the fruit stand, Daneboe’s. The weird and wonderful show is most famous for the Gangnam Style parody YouTube video. The show ended in 2014 with only two seasons.
The Magic Roundabout
The Magic Roundabout was a children’s animated TV show created in the 1960s by Frenchman Serge Danot. The rights to the show were bought by Joy Whitby in 1965 with the purpose of bringing the show to the UK. When aired, the content of the show was purposely kept at a higher education level and used higher vocabulary despite being targeted to children. In the show, The Magic Roundabout was a carousel that the local children once played on. It only became magical after a magical being named Zebedee cast a spell on the carousel to ensure all the children would return to play on it. The show hosts a collection of bazaar characters, including, Dougal, a dog who only eats sugar lumps; Zebedee, a magical and bouncing creature; Dylan, an easy-going rabbit; Ermintrude, a pink cow; Florence, a girl; and Brian the snail.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
The plot line of Aqua Teen Hunger Force follows the interesting happenings of three ill-mannered roommates and fast food items: Master Shake, the narcissistic milkshake; Meatwad, the dim-witted, shape shifting meatball; and Frylock, the overbearing box of French fries who identify to themselves as the “Aqua Teens.” The story-line of each episode does not usually cross the bounds into the next, but rather each episode solves its own specific trials. This year is the show’s 11th and last season. The season promises a collection of interesting and unusual events, including: time travel, celebrity chefs, shape shifting and the court deeming divorce illegal in the United States.
MOOMINS ON THE RIVIERA is out on digital platforms now and on DVD from 28th September 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment
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