"FREAKAZOID!: SEASON 2"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) Not Rated Available on DVD April 21 Official Kids WB site Studio: Warner Bros. Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Part of the Steven Spielberg slate of Warner Bros. cartoons from the 1990s (which also included “Tiny Toon Adventures” and “Animaniacs”), “Freakazoid!” help revolutionize cartoons leading to the new millennium. “Freakazoid!” is a parody of other superheroes, following a nerdy high school student who can “freak out” into a superhero with the help of his computer. In his final season, Freakazoid fights off diabolical schemes from the Lobe and Guitierrez, all with his spunky charm... and he might even get the girl this time.
WHAT I LIKED
Something awful happened to cartoons in the 1980s. While there were plenty of low-rent shows from the 60s and 70s (thanks in many parts to Hanna-Barbera studios), they didn’t reach their lowest form until the 1980s when they were churned out like cold and moldy White Castles.
However, in the 1990s, there was a renaissance in animation on television, led in part by Steven Spielberg. The master filmmaker managed to spearhead several new and inspired animation creations that touched the heart of not just kids but older cartoon fans as well.
“Freakazoid!” was one of those cartoons. It had an irreverence that young children wouldn’t get but college students and adults like me simply love. And as much as “Freakazoid!” was a parody of its own genre, it held its own as a superhero show. Similar to “The Tick,” “Freakazoid!” presented compelling hero stories with plenty of off-set humor.
The second season was produced with an introspective attitude that seemed to say the producers were in awe of being handed down more work. This led to some completely off-the-wall situations, including a show stopping “Hello Dolly!” homage and several moments where Freakazoid gives a nod to the villains from season one that we really never see in this season.
Along with the other Spielberg-run animated shows like “Animaniacs” and “Pinky and the Brain,” “Freakazoid!” reveled in referencing itself, giving cameos to characters from other shows, including Spielberg himself.
Freakazoid is easily has the most fun of a superhero, and he had to have been a bit of an inspiration to Syndrome from Pixar’s “The Incredibles.” The show remained fresh, even up to its series finale, which bucked mainstream attentiveness to bring in home repair guru Norm Abram as its anchor guest star. How cool is that?
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
While “Freakazoid!” was not a perfect cartoon, there were very few flaws that I saw. The animation isn’t as crisp as it is today, but it’s technology that made things better in that respect. The theme song was better than that of “Tiny Toon Adventures,” and it was actually pretty catchy.
“Freakazoid!” is a bit hard to pick up in its second season without a quick gander at its Wikipedia entry, and some of the jokes were way above the head of the kids (which is probably why it suffered a bit in the ratings), but all these complaints are actually part of its charm.
DVD FEATURES
This two-disc set includes several clever special features. First is “Liebeslied für Normadeus,” which features the series creators and crew confabbing about their memories of the series, including their thoughts on the “epic, cameo-crammed” final episode.
The series creators also come together for “A Full Season’s Worth of Commentaries (In Five Minutes or Less),” which includes their favorite moments.
Finally, Richard Stone is featured on an archival audio sampling of the “Bonjour Lobey” song.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of the Spielberg cartoon canon and superhero spoof junkies.
