(Re)Animations: Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters

If you're a Halloweenie like me, then you're probably well aware of Rankin/Bass' 1967 classic stop motion movie Mad Monster Party (in the event that you're not I highly recommend a rental). But were you aware that there also exists a prequel? Released in 1972, Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters tells the story of how Frankenstein's Monster and met and married his Bride, in classic Rankin/Bass style of course.

Aside from the Karloff-esque Baron Frankenstein (this time NOT voiced by Karloff himself), most of the monsters have a slightly different appearance then their claymation counterparts but nonetheless share a common personality. Some changes to the cast include the exclusion of Peter Lorre-inspired, Yetch, in favor of a far less likeable hunchback named Igor and a loavable goof named Norman who stands in for Felix Flankin. Moving at a rapid pace, the story generally revolves around Igor falling for the Monster's Bride and trying to steal her away.

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(Re)Animations: Tiny Toon Adventures Halloween Special

"We're tiny, we're tooney... we're all a little looney."

Even though I wasn't technically a kid when Tiny Toon Adventures made its way onto the television screen I still regard it as one of the shows that had an influence on me growing up. Very much unlike Henson's Muppet Babies cartoon, which also starred pint-sized versions of its signature characters as the protagonists, Tiny Toons offered kids a bit of an edge thanks to creator Tom Ruegger's sharp sense of comedic wit.

Set in a place called Acme Acres, the show was essentially an attempt to refresh the Warner Bros. cartoon library with a mix of both old favorites and a new kind of self-assured slapstick. Lasting a total of 3 seasons, most of which I remember being on Fox's morning lineup, Tiny Toons starred a cast of new (yet familiar) troublemakers and quickly became known for pushing the boundaries of Saturday morning entertainment. One episode in particular was banned due to a segment entitled "One Beer" in which the boys (Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck and Hamton Pig) decide to down a cold one and proceed to drive themselves off a cliff and die. They DIE!

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(Re)Animations: Toxic Crusaders (1991)

They're gross, but they still get girls!

Perhaps one of Troma's most successful properties (at least in the mainstream), the concept of the Toxic Avenger is as tried and true as Spider-Man himself. If you need proof, simply Google the name and watch as hundreds of listings emerge for fan sites, toys, video games, lunch boxes and more... including this 1991 cartoon series entitled Toxic Crusaders (shown above).

Now, as a series geared towards children, there are understandably some plot points and character designs that required a more appropriate re-imagining, but the heart of the show still has that distinctive Troma tongue-in-cheek humor. Unlike the source material, Toxic Crusaders features a number of freakish outcasts (Major Disaster, Nozone, Junkyard and Headbanger) who are led by the titular Toxie in their environmentally themed battle against Dr. Killemoff, an evil alien bent on spreading smog pollution throughout Tromaville.

The cartoon, while fun, couldn't quite compare to similar movie-to-animation franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Robocop and didn't really peak my interest quite as much as the toys that it spawned. Licensed by the same company that released some of the TMNT figures, Playmates, the Toxic Crusaders action figures were pretty well crafted and came complete with bright neon colors and gimmicky accessories.

Less preachy, and more fun, than its competitor Captain Planet, Toxic Crusaders was a unique show that never really got a chance to pay its dues having only aired 5 of the 13 episodes produced. That being said, I was glad to hear that Troma didn't shovel it away somewhere. Its actually available on DVD as both a movie (featuring the first three episodes) and a Season 1 collection (Episodes 1-4). You can score them both on Troma's official store for only 8 bucks apiece.

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(Re)Animations: Mary Shelley's Frankenhole

A glorious mishmash of monsters and loose morals.

I really must give a shout-out to the lovely Tenebrous Kate, whose recent post over at Love Train for the Tenebrous Empire inspired me to write this one. You see, that's just how freaking awesome this show is. It's like a form of digital syphilis except with none of the painful genital sores... but I digress. In all seriousness Mary Shelley's Frankenhole, created by Dino Stamatopoulos of Moral Orel fame, is one of the best horror comedies in recent memory to appear on cable television (aside from Ugly Americans).

While each episode feels a little short (only 15 minutes apiece), they're crammed full of so many entertaining variants on your favorite movie monsters and pop culture that you'll find yourself re-watching them over and over just to see how many Easter Eggs they contain. One of my favorite episodes, Attack of the Were-Lawrence, is an inspired (if not altogether goofy) spin on The Wolfman wherein a pathetic Stewart Lawrence (a riff on Jimmy Stewart and Lawrence Talbot) desperately seeks someone to love him so that they can kill him only for things to go awry.

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(Re)Animations: Swamp Thing

"Swamp Thing, you are a-mazing. You fight everything... nasty."

When it comes down to muck-encrusted man plants, Swamp Thing is numero uno in my book (sorry, Man-Thing) and despite having infiltrated popular culture back in the mid-late 80s you don't hear much about the elemental wood walker these days. It's a shame really. I think that no one really knew what to do with the poor guy except Alan Moore, whose comic book re-boot would go on to redefine not only the Swamp Thing character but an entire genre.

It all began with what should have been an über intelligent horror flick, Swamp Thing (1982) (directed by Wes Craven) instead spawned an unfocused superhero-driven sequel, a horrid television series and a (begrudgingly) Captain Planet-inspired cartoon. There seems to have been a trend of these environmentally-conscious toons aimed at young kids during the early 90s, including the previously mentioned Toxic Crusaders.

All complaints aside, there are still a few really cool fan moments that carried over into the animated series including the "Un-Men" (monstrous mutant henchmen of villain Dr. Anton Arcane) and some nifty special effects such as when Swamp Thing "teleports" by creating a new body from roots and plant life much like a G-rated version of Frank's rebirth in Hellraiser.

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(Re)Animations: Invasion America

Watch the skies.

A product of director Steven Spielberg and writer Harve Bennett, Invasion America (1998) is the first action-oriented "made for prime time" animated series that I can remember watching. Though not the first of its kind, FOX's The Simpsons, ABC's The Critic and USA's Duckman all precede it in that late night arena, the show was unique in both its presentation and clever mix of X-Files meets E.T. storyline.

The miniseries first aired on The WB's late night programming block and centered around a young man named who discovers that he's half alien and half human and (wait for it) must stop the two worlds from going to war against one another. While it may sound like your typical science fiction fare, the show was actually pretty well written and, despite falling into some of the Saturday morning 'toon dialogue, managed to last an entire season in a notoriously tough demographic.

Nonetheless the show has never seemed to find its audience and much like the recently deceased Heroes (NBC) series was left abruptly cut short. It was re-edited and broadcast on the Kids WB! programming, but once again failed to attract enough interest to justify any new episodes. Having re-watched it myself recently I can attest to the show's indecisive nature, as it tries to be relevant to both young adults and children, but also recall it being one of the only cartoons that my father and I could watch together during dinner. Besides, I'm willing to give it a few bonus points for being produced by the same studio that gave us the similarly ill-fated Toonsylvania (DreamWorks) and winning a Prime Time Emmy Award.

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(Re)Animations: The Brothers Grunt

If you're a fan of strange, psychedelic-induced animation then chances are you've probably seen one of Antonucci's productions. With his beginnings in traditional animation (Smurfs, Scooby-Doo, The Flinstones), Antonucci would go on to find great success with his first solo project Lupo the Butcher (1987). With Lupo, Antonucci garnered enough attention at independent film festivals both in the U.S. and in Europe to lead him towards more commercial work, most notably with MTV and Cartoon Network. It was during his time that Antonucci produced what are perhaps his most well-known creations: The Brothers Grunt (1994) and Ed, Edd, and Eddy (1999).

Gross. Disorienting. Nonlinear. Created back in the heyday of MTV (re: Liquid Television) The Brothers Grunt is (in a nutshell) a frat boys worst wet dream in moving picture format. According to Wikipedia:

The series centered around an ensemble cast of pale, rubbery humanoids distantly related to human beings, all of them ostensibly male, wandering around in their underpants. Their main food staple is cheese; nevertheless they are able to eat other meals (at least potatoes: see episode #23 Not My Potato). Their single parent is a giant, mute aquatic individual, called Primus Gruntus Maximus, to whom they are born as embryos inside skin warts, much in the way of the Surinam Toad. They live in a monastery in an alternate universe.

The second cousin (and in many cases predecessor) to shows like Ren & Stimpy, South Park, and Beavis & Butt-head, The Brothers Grunt helped to pave the way for adult-oriented cartoons full of the taboo, fears and ugliness of everyday life. Its like getting a splinter in your eye and then giggling about it until the infection sets in. Genius.

Cancelled after only a year of syndication (1995), a total of 35 episodes were produced and aired on MTV. Unfortunately no plans have been made for a DVD release, making the only available viewing option a YouTube query away.

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(Re)Animations: Savage Dragon

It's like Robocop and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all rolled into one!

As mentioned previously, the Savage Dragon animated series was actually a part of USA channel's Action Extreme Team, a desperate ploy to boost ratings before the ultimate demise of the network's animated programming. Unlike most comic books turned cartoons, Savage Dragon was actually a pretty faithful to its source material (including Dragon's origin) and even featured numerous characters from its four-color counterpart.

It goes without saying that as a children's cartoon the series toned down a good bit of the violence and sexual innuendos, but overall it was still a satisfying adaptation. Much more successful than some of the other shows in the Extreme lineup such as WildC.A.T.S. (we're heroes, not zeros... really?). At least Dragon had a plethora of cool, mutated super-freaks. Actually it reminds me a lot of watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles growing up, only Dragon doesn't need to hide in the sewers and fights crime legitimately.

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(Re)Animations: Slaughterween

The quintessential element of every Halloween has to be a costume. I don't care how young, old or undead you are; on Halloween night everyone wears a costume. There's just something about the freedom of becoming someone or something else that instills a sense of juvenile abandon each of us. I mean what other holiday is it okay to dress up in all black and threaten to "suck tha blood" from Mrs. Flaberdash's left thigh? Or maybe you're more in the mood to get a little hairy howling at the moon while taking a crap on your neighbor's lawn? Its okay (?), cause its Halloween!

When it comes to costumes there are generally two groups: those who purchase their fright rags early and those who take a last minute gamble. Personally I find that waiting until the last week makes me more creative when it comes to designing my costume, but there are others who spend weeks (even months) stitching the perfect scare suit. Case in point is this gruesome ghoul (see insert)who stars in tonight's (Re)Animation entitled Slaughterween. Animated by Rory Cooke with music by The Brown Jam Fam, Slaughterween would be what would happen if Tim Burton had produced The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to a Tool score. Nihilistic, frantic and creative the chaos crescendos in a happy ending from Hellraiser that sees the main character's creative costume efforts rewarded by the applause of a job well done.

Be sure to check out Cooke's portfolio for more twisted pixels of disturbing violence and emotional heartache.

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(Re)Animations: Monster Force

In the year 2020, these teens decide to fight back against the corruption that is Universal Studios... or at least their monsters.

Not to be confused with either Fred Dekker's classic Monster Squad or Roy Baker's underground abortion The Monster Club, Monster Force is an early 90s era animated series that takes many of the famous monsters of Universal Studios and turns them into superheroes. Pretty cool (in theory).

Created by Universal Studios and animated by Lacewood Productions, the show's premise took place in a technologically advanced future in which a band of teenagers (Power Rangers *cough*cough*) were tasked with defeating the less fearsome forms of Universal's creature catalog including headliners such as Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Wolfman and The Mummy. Lasting only one season, the show ended before it really ever got started.

Following the formula of just about every other action-oriented 'toon geared towards the tween market back then, Monster Force did little to make itself standout from other popular series such as TMNT, Captain Planet or the aforementioned Power Rangers. It had a theme song, some "cool" power suits called EMACs (Energized Monster Armed Containment Suits), and generally just served as a way to sell toys. In fact, there is so little that I can remember of this show that I don't even think I ever bought into the toys themselves, though having looked back on them now they're pretty neat looking.

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(Re)Animations: Teen Wolf

Seriously? How could I not have known about this, an animated series based on the 1985 film Teen Wolf? Simply incredible.

Lasting 2 seasons and a full 21 episodes, Teen Wolf (aka The Cartoon Adventures of Teen Wolf in the UK) was based on the live-action film released the year prior and continued the story of young Scott Howard as he tackled the metaphorical truths of high school puberty. Set in the town of Wolverton, the series expanded somewhat upon Scott's supporting cast of friends and family including Grandpa and Grandma Howard who immigrated from Transylvania.

And would you check out that totally retro intro sequence?! They sure don't make them like they used to. It's too bad that the production company, Southern Star, went belly up or who knows what other gems may have been released. Though, the fact that they're also the same studio responsible for the CBS Saturday Storybreak sequence makes perfect sense.

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(Re)Animations: Hulk Hogan's Rock 'N Wrestling

Is there anything that Hulk-a-mania couldn't do back in the day? I mean amid a plethora of merchandise inspired by the Hulkster, which in turn made him a pop culture phenomenon, the WWF WWE even cashed in on a CBS cartoon series called Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling that awkwardly fused the mystery sleuthing of Scooby-Doo with the morality-laden heroics of Super-Friends.

Although this one came out before my time, the theme music alone is enough to get the fan blood flowing, all cheesiness aside. The cast was a literal Who's who of the wrestling roster at the time (late 1980s) and included Hogan (of course), The Great Moolah, Andre the Giant, Jimmy Snuka, Rowdy Piper, Junkyard Dog, Big John Studd, The Iron Sheik and many more. Just like in the ring, there were the good guys (babyfaces) and bad guys (heels) and the tension between the two sides often resulted in whatever hijinks ensued for any given episode.

Produced by animation giant DiC Entertainment (Inspector Gadget and The Real Ghostbusters), the show didn't fare well with fans and only lasted one and a half seasons as a result. Nonetheless, it's an interesting slice of nostalgia that unfortunately couldn't run off the fumes of Hogan's success alone and while it received a strong of VHS re-releases in the late 90s there's been no word on a DVD collector's set. I guess its true what they say: some things are just better left off dead.

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(Re)Animations: Mighty Ducks - The Animated Series

Alongside Gargoyles, Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series is one of the last cartoons of the 90s that I can remember watching that was actually worth a damn. I mean, Ducks had all of the elements necessary for a franchise of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles status: mutants, aliens, a team of equally awesome and powerful heroes, etc. Each hero even had their own archetype appearance and abilities from Duke's eyepatch and suave 007 personality to "Grin" and his behemoth strength kept in check by a peaceful nature. These guys (and gals) were made for action figures!

Having re-watched the series pilot recently (The First Face-Off), the show is still as fun to watch as it was back then. With a basic concept that involves intergalactic ducks from a planet called "Puckworld" whose passion is playing hockey, the storyline really emphasizes a lack of imagination in today's television programming. Granted, there are still a few good shows out there now, but come on: space ducks playing hockey who moonlight as super-cool vigilantes?! That's awesome!

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(Re)Animations: When Monsters Meet

With the arrival of Halloween in just a few short hours, I am satisfied to have met surpassed my goal of 31 posts in 31 days. In favor of something more predictable I have chosen to celebrate by sharing this (Re)Animation of Incredible Hulk (1980s) entitled When Monsters Meet.

As with Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Quasimodo (aka The Hunchback) is a fairly obscure movie monster that has suffered from some poor marketing. Often confused with Dr. Frankenstein's squat sidekick, Igor, Quasimodo's literary origins in fact predate many of the more popular monsters including Dracula and the Wolfman. He also suffers one of the crueler fates because unlike other creatures of the night, his affliction is neither mystical nor scientific in nature.

When Monsters Meet eloquently illustrates this as the great, great, great grandson of Quasimodo (its based on a comic after all) desires a cure for his full-time malformation while Bruce Banner/Hulk is able to make a transition between monster and man almost at will as a result of science. Its an interesting scenario that's of course conveniently solved within the show's 30 minute timeframe. Also, there's a giant bat monster so... bonus points.

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(Re)Animations: Courage the Cowardly Dog

Stupid dog! You made me look bad!

So it would seem that in all of the hub-bub of SDCC, I overlooked a very special DVD release this past Tuesday: John R. Dilworth's Courage the Cowardly Dog: Season One!

Of all the entries from Cartoon Network's early days of What A Cartoon! shorts, Courage stands in my mind as being one of the most uniquely diverse animated show I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Sitting somewhere between Tex Avery's zany, yet loveable Droopy the Dog and the sci-fi/horror misadventures of a certain Great Dane and his teenage super-sleuths, Courage was the kind of cartoon that didn't hold much back. It's one of a select few shows whose plot is simple enough to be understood by children and yet full of enough in-genre references that adults find it entertaining as well.

Another great thing about Courage is that the creators understood what worked and why so that they never had to stray too far from the formula they developed from the show's pilot (see above). It worked well enough that even though Courage wasn't quite as popular or marketable as Dexter's Laboratory or Powerpuff Girls, the show still lasted a total of 4 seasons (52 episodes) which is remarkable considering Dexter tapped out at 4 seasons as well (albeit with a few more episodes in the mix).

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(Re)Animations: Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween Special

I have to say, though sporadic, Cartoon Network has been dropping some awesome Halloween programming this year. Tonight's featured fright, Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween Special, was a real pleasure. A collection of toons from the 50s and 60s it showcases the spook-themed shenanigans of the mischievous rabbit and his crew as they encounter some seminal horror-inspired WB characters including Witch Hazel and the lesser known Count Blood Count (see insert).

Collecting 6 different stories in all, Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween succeeds in tying them together quite well thanks to some additional footage and voice-overs. Unfortunately, my favorite of the shorts entitled Transylvania 6-5000 suffers from a re-write that undermines the Count as a viable Looney Tunes character.

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(Re)Animations: Bucky O'Hare

The Ultimate Wart Removal System.

Before Starfox, before Top Gun, there was one hero who soared the skies in anticipation of the amphibian menace. His name... Bucky O'Hare, S.P.A.C.E. pilot. Along with his motley crew of anthropomorphic heroes, with names like Blinky, Bruiser and Deadeye Duck, Bucky bravely dared go where no rabbit had gone before... an action-oriented animated series.

Although the animated series, Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Menace, wasn't released until the early 90s Bucky's adventures actually date back to the late 70s when comic book legend Larry Hama (G.I. Joe) first created the "aniverse." Much like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bucky O'Hare and his crew generously lent themselves to a myriad of merchandising opportunities including a toy line, t-shirts and multiple video games. While I can only remember the toys, I've heard that the games are pretty fun as well with the arcade version even acting as a season 2 for the series.

While none of these outlets proved to be exceptional (the series only lasted one season), the property did garner a loyal fan base that boasts another comic book legend, Neal Adams (Batman), who in 2009 helmed a 3D animated reboot of the series (only a short pilot has ever been released). Overall its a fun series, if not a little overshadowed by today's space-faring heroes, and well worth a watch on a Saturday Morning while you're munching on those golden honey-O's.

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(Re)Animations Extended Play: USA's Cartoon Express

USA Channel's Cartoon Express was a mammoth block of cartoon programming geared towards a variety of shows and is partially responsible for my exposure to many of my favorites cartoons as a kid. To be perfectly honest, if it wasn't for Cartoon Express I may not have become the Strange Kid I am today.

Spanning almost a decade and a half (1980-1996), Cartoon Express was initially conceived as daytime filler for the relatively new station and primarily consisted of re-runs from the vast library of Hanna-Barbera 'toons such as Scooby-Doo, Jabberjaw, Pacman, The Flinstones and even lesser known fare like Shirt Tales (to name only a few). It was also the first major network animation block (though arguments could be made for ABC's Schoolhouse Rock! in the early 70s), predating Cartoon Network and even Nickelodeon in providing a structured schedule of animated entertainment.

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(Re)Animations: Tales from the Cryptkeeper

With the continuous onslaught of unoriginal remakes currently assaulting the horror-filled hills of Hollywood, it has become more difficult for a genuinely modern horror franchise to emerge (with the exception of Saw, but let's not go there). So it is with great affection that today's (Re)Animation reflects on a franchise that has achieved a legendary level of success, Tales from the Crypt (more specifically Tales from the Cryptkeeper).

Originating in the early 1950s as a bi-monthly anthology published by the late EC Comics, Tales from the Crypt brought to life tales of the grotesque, greedy and their eventual utterly grim demise. Alongside The Old Witch and The Vault Keeper, The Cryptkeeper portrayed the consequences of bad moral choices in all of its ghastly-comical, gory splendor. Although an attempt was made to bring the "scream team" to life on film in Amicus Production's Tales from the Crypt (1972), the series trademark black humor didn't return until HBO's tv series Tales from the Crypt (1989). Much more ghoulish in its portrayal of death, nudity and comedy (due to the lighter restrictions on premium cable networks), HBO's Tales from the Crypt was grounded by the vocal talents of John Kassir, whose cackled hackney puns as the titular Cryptkeeper have become a staple of the franchise.

Although the series ended syndication in 1996, it inspired a trio of feature-length films and even an animated series on ABC. Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993) filed down its fangs for its younger viewer, essentially doing away with the violence and adult language in favor of ghosts, goblins and monsters. Developed by Nelvana, it was the first true appearance of The Old Witch and The Vault Keeper since their EC Comics days along with The Cryptkeeper (voiced by Kassir). Lasting two seasons (not including the New Tales from the Cryptkeeper in 1999) it still makes select appearances on Canadian television around Halloween with some full episodes available online as well. For those seeking a true viewing experience, though, a season one DVD release is available at Amazon.ca.

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(Re)Animations: The Modifyers

As I eagerly await my first screening of the imminent Wolfman remake (reviews be damned), I'd like to share this insanely brilliant animated pilot for Nickelodeon entitled The Modifyers. Created by Chris Reccardi (Ren & Stimpy, Meddlen Meddows) and Lynne Naylor, the 12-minute short is beautifully animated, directed and scored with resulting in a final product that surpasses many of Nickelodeon's current programming. With a uniquely stylized art direction (mixing old London sheek and Austin Powers spy tomfoolery), the reason this series was never picked up will forever remain a mystery with me. Check out the first part above or for an interrupted view, check out Reccardi's Facebook page.

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