Show #30: Sadsack Potato Men

We're being obnoxiously topical for a change! In light of the release of Peter Jackson's blockbuster movie it seems high time for a viewing of Rankin Bass's 1977 adaptation of The Hobbit.

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Daunted by the length of the recent live action film? Baffled by the knowledge it's only one third of the story? Never fear! This animated feature races through the plot of the book, hitting all the major story points in a trim 77 minutes. It may not be as action packed but it has possibly more detailed visuals and a lot more singing!

THE SHORT VERSION

Starring (not) Martin Freeman!

Filmed at 48 FPS!

All your favourite characters! Including Bunny-Eared Spider!

Show #29: The Cure Is Lasers

Niall and Dwayne combine their cyborg bodies via the miracle of bionic transference to form the ultimate being, DWIALL, the only one with the power capable of handling Attack Of The Super Monsters, AKA Dinosaur War Izenborg!

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An interesting experiment combining elements of traditional animation, live action rubber suits and modelwork, Attack Of The Supermonsters doesn't gel those constituent elements together as smoothly as you'd think. It is however unrepentantly silly and at least provides us with some entertaining clips and soundbites of awkward dialogue.

THE SHORT VERSION

Supermonsters

Seamless Integration

Sweet Rides

Show #28: New Cartoons The 2nd!

At the end of a sparse month of podcasting we go all in by talking about three new cartoons at once again!

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Decided to promote these episodes from bonus content status seeing as we're probably gonna be doing them again in the future. Listen in to hear our impressions and find out if these are the cartoons missing from your life!

NEW CARTOONS YOU GOTTA WATCH

TRON: Uprising

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Bravest Warriors

Show #27: The Gospel Of Mr T

We're back from the grave after yet another spot of bother. Some dastardly crooks (i.e, the dudes who kept not delivering Dwayne's computer charger) were up to no good. Can Mr T and the gang solve the mystery of The Secret Of The Sailor Madness?

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When you ask the guys who made Scooby Doo to create a cartoon for you odds are it's gonna involve mystery solving teens, and sure enough that happens here. But mystery solving teens led by Mr T? That might have legs Joe! Wretched animation and a quickly worn out premise do the show no favours, but getting to watch cartoon Mr T beat up on smugglers / ghost pirates / Panthermen and live action Mr T dispense his worldly wisdom provides some amusing novelty for a little while.

THE SHORT VERSION

Cartoon Mr T ain't nobody to mess with!

A daring escape

A man of the people

Show #26: Hammer! I Am! Hammer! They Buried Me At Sea!

Brian Smith of Dynamite In The Brain drops into a forgotten corner of the SOTSM archives to help us excavate this artifact of the lost MC Hammer dynasty, the 1991 cartoon Hammerman!

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This podcast almost didn't happen, as if some unseen force compelled us to ne'er speak a word of this awful awful vanity project, a potent example of the sort of output we could expect from a man with more money than sense. Luckily Brian is on hand to suffer through with us and even keep our spirits up with a rousing rendition of the show's opening theme.

Brian's Solo Website

Brian's Twitter

THE SHORT VERSION

The "best" animation MC Hammer can buy

Magic Shoes

Have you seen this man?

Show #25: His Afro Absorbs All Light

We must look like a right pair of jive turkeys for missing a week but such is the sheer righteous force of the Black Dynamite TV series. Can you dig it?

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One of our favourite movies got made into one of our favourite cartoons, or at least a pretty good cartoon. Hampered a bit by drawing on the gags made famous by it's live action source a little too frequently the episodes currently on offer can be hit or miss. The hits have all the power of a Black Dynamite kung-fu strike to the skull though so we're itching to know if we'll get any more of this.

THE SHORT VERSION

Cultural Insensitivity

Special Guest Stars

AAAAAAHH-SOIII!

Show #24: NO LITTLE ROK

Fighting caveman crime in a not-so-future time, we delve into the exploits of the ridiculously overpowered Hanna Barbera superhero Mighty Mightor!

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What of the good old days? A simpler time when men were men, or Vulturemen or Tigermen or Abominable Snow Men. When cartoon studios could get away with severely restricted animation and recycled plots because them kids don't know any better. Good riddance to those days, but Mightor gets an A for effort from us if only for Alex Toth's design work and the possibilities of these characters and setting in the right hands.

THE SHORT VERSION

Hang in there baby

Discover agriculture already you lazy Vultureman

Sometimes you just gotta be a dick

Show #23: GET ME CHOPPER BACKUP

We're feeling the need, the need for speed this week as we jet off with the heroic aces of Hanna Barbera's Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron!

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Another show on the roster of The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera (and unfortunately another cartoon sealed within the Warner Archive Collection), we were a bit apprehensive to return to this concentrated shot of 90s animated action. Our luck holds once again though as Swat Kats arrives loaded with great artistry and animation and some stellar performances from the voice cast. Half-remembered images from your youth can come up trumps once in a while!

THE SHORT VERSION

The worst kind of backup.

Collateral Damage

You're alright Cybertron.

Show #22: Jetpack Hat

We're doing our part, and joining the mobile infantry with the Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles!
 Would you like to know more?



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Based off of Paul Verhoeven's film Starship Troopers, which was based off of Robert A. Heinlein's book of the same name, Roughnecks shows us that despite some janky ol' cgi its a cult classic cartoon for several reasons. Come with us as we orbital-drop into the worlds of the roughnecks.
Live forever apes.

THE SHORT VERSION

They're doing their part!

And the bugs do theirs

Wasted military budget

Show #21: AT LEAST YOU'D BE ALIVE

A podcast episode cut down in it's prime! Nevertheless we will relay to you the saga of part two of Using Corps Figures As Proxy For Brand Name Toys, aka Sky Commanders!

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In what should have been a joyous occasion we instead mark the consignment of Sky Commanders to the Warner Archives Collection never to be seen again by non-American eyes. But then again were you REALLY after an 80's cartoon about heroic mountaineering experts? If so then this is the podcast for you!

THE SHORT VERSION

In Loving Memory...

Defective Equipment

Behind those shades are the eyes of a killer

Show #20: Off A Cliff And Into A Jagged Gorge

We journey into a dark place in our time of need and try to hold back the tide of relentless despair that is The Plague Dogs.

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Having a bad day? Not yet you aren't. At least not as bad as the poor mutts in this 1982 animated film from the director of Watership Down based on the novel by the author of the same. Should you be brave enough to venture a viewing you will find a beautifully crafted piece loaded with powerful imagery that will linger in the mind long after you're done watching.

THE SHORT VERSION

Poor little dudes

Oh God...

QUICKLY! THE ANTIDOTE!

Show #19: Potato Factory?!

Demon sorcerors tearing up your city? Vampire hiding in your coffee table? Chupacabra snacking on your goats? If the answer is yes don't wait another minute. Turn on your television or computer and watch Jackie Chan Adventures Season 2!

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From prehistoric icemen to crazed druids, supernatural art thieves to dark wizards, this season sure bombards the viewer with a whole lot of stuff although due to it's insane length not all of it is the greatest. This does however give the show plenty of time to cover as many cultural stereotypes as possible!

THE SHORT VERSION

Demons

Dwayne?

You ninjas are alright

Show #18: Am I Lady?

It's a sad farewell to UNFINISHED BUSINESS, as we get a little bit dewy-eyed over Kids On The Slope!

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Something dramatic for a change! As expected Shinichiro Watanabe, Yoko Kanno and their talented compatriots deliver the goods with this great little anime about jazz and teen angst in swingin' sixties Japan. If that's all too serious for you we also have some fun reading up on strangely named manga magazines. This one's got it all!

THE SHORT VERSION

Friendship!

Jazz!

Tearful goodbyes at the train station!