“Tokyo Pig” is easily one of the most whacked-out cartoons I’ve watched in a long time. It’s hyper-frenetic anime at its best. Usually when there’s something so high on the flicker frequency rate, it’s almost incomprehensible to normal adults. But somehow, “Tokyo Pig” is easy to follow for me.

This cartoon tells the story of a boy named Spencer with an overactive imagination. While working on a school assignment, he discovers that whatever he writes in his journal comes true. After having some fun making his family eat a dinner of sharpened pencils, he experiments by writing about a squadron of flying pigs over the city. When things get out of hand, he erases his delusions - except for one.

This rogue pig with magical powers stays with Spencer. The family eventually accepts him, and he is named Sunny Pig. Together, they have adventures accompanied by Spencer’s friends in school and the local weather girl who also serves as a disjointed narrator to the series.

This series works because the hyperactivity of the production isn’t just for effect or because that’s how things are done these days. Instead, it seems to be done that way because it’s trying to get into the mind of a child. The show runs with an attention span of only about three seconds because that’s how a kid like Spencer things. Somehow, in the midst of all the craziness, the story still comes through.

This DVD includes eight episodes from the “Tokyo Pig” series. During the course of the almost three-hour running time, Spencer and Sunny battle everything from lightning monsters to their father’s bad cooking.

The show works because it keeps the level of humor high. Not only do they have overtly humorous things happen that will make the kids laugh, but there are also plenty of opportunities to be self deprecating. There’s a nice assortment of jokes that only the parents will get - if they watch closely.

I don’t know if anyone can really take three whole hours of “Tokyo Pig,” but it’s a really cute show if taken in small doses.



Specifications: Dolby Digital Stereo Sound. Fullscreen (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.