| TV currently has several animated popular animated | | | | unforgivable or something for which he cannot, in |
| series, offering from low-brow humour to gross-out | | | | some way, redeem himself later in the same episode. |
| comedy to intellectual fare. Now, what separates | | | | Bart is the mischievous young rebel, who, despite his |
| these is not really theme or art, but approach. | | | | poor activity in school is not really dumb, but rather |
| "Futurama" is one of my favourite animated shows, | | | | ignorant(something he has in common with a lot of |
| now canceled yet resurrected through a series of | | | | kids in the U.S. currently). Lisa is the perfect A |
| straight to DVD movies(which is the perfect solution | | | | student, that sometimes just loves to show us her |
| as far as I'm concerned). Where has it failed? Well | | | | insecurity and unexpected flaws in her seemingly |
| the futuristic settings aside, it's basically a Springfield | | | | flawless personality. And Marge is the perfect mother |
| of the future with a colourful cast of characters | | | | and housewife, still stuck in the '50s, yet somehow a |
| thrown in. Where can it go wrong? Well, in its | | | | woman of the modern age. And to round up this |
| diversity it fails to be cohesive and lacks consistency. | | | | nucleus, there are a whole lot more characters with |
| Something a lot of shows suffer from. | | | | which you can easily fall in love, all of them easy to |
| Take for instance "Family Guy". Sure, it has it's base | | | | identify with or place within your circle of friends or |
| of fans, and devoted ones as such, yet it has | | | | acquaintances. And although the show has seen |
| struggled with cancellation. Why? Because it is uneven | | | | some decline in its past seasons, it still continues to |
| and repetitive in nature, but first and foremost lacks | | | | be above-average television. |
| soul. It might revolve around an American family of | | | | "South Park" is entering its 12th season. It has |
| 5(6 including the sophisticated speaking dog), and it | | | | achieved its place in popular culture through the most |
| might deal with day to day life, but in the way it | | | | outrageous, obnoxious, disgusting and offensive |
| shrouds everything in low-brow humour, focusing on | | | | writing in the history of, well, television. I doubt |
| rapid delivery of rarely intertwined jokes, so | | | | there's something they haven't yet insulted in some |
| unrelated to one another, it fails at being a good | | | | way. But all that is just a facade for exploring |
| comedy show. It's good for certain laughs,every | | | | different issues. From gun policy in the U.S. to the |
| character in itself is a source of comedy, yet as a | | | | effect the media has on people. Every single episode |
| whole they still continue to work as individuals rather | | | | might be something you'd object to, but it has a |
| than as an ensemble. The show may have its | | | | clear message in mind, basically the writers |
| moments, but on the long run, you grow tired of it. | | | | expressing their thoughts on the subject dealt with. |
| "The Simpsons", on the other hand, a show from | | | | Which is what all creation is about, purveying one's |
| which "Family Guy" has borrowed a lot, and to which | | | | view to the audience, be it through a book, a painting |
| it owes a lot, is in its 19th season, with a successful(if | | | | or a TV show(though the latter has its misfires).I've |
| late) movie under its belt. Why has it succeeded? | | | | always said "South Park" is a "dumb" show written |
| Because it has heart. No matter how acid its satire, | | | | by smart people. |
| no matter who or what it speaks against, or for, we | | | | So what makes a successful animated series(or any |
| believe the nucleus of family at its core. We identify | | | | other sitcom for that matter)? Is it just humour? I |
| with each and every one of those characters, no | | | | think not. It must put something else on the table, be |
| matter how dumb or outrageous their actions. We | | | | it emotional charge, innovation, or tackling sensitive |
| don't have trouble believing them, because they | | | | issues. Because your average viewer might be looking |
| represent general human traits and values. Homer | | | | for comedy, but he will stay for what's beneath. |
| may do stupid things, but never something | | | | |