The State of Adult Animation in 2023 - Renegade Animation #130
In this episode, Captain Kaye and the Animation Guru reflect on the year that was in the world of adult animation, through the lens of shows such as Carol & the End of the World, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and Scavengers Reign.
What’s going on, everyone? This is your Captain speaking, alongside my esteemed co-host, the Animation Guru. 2023 may be over, but we still have some unfinished business to take care of, catching up on so many movies and TV shows that we missed during the year. This time, we’re focused on adult animation, particularly three shows from the last quarter that each brought something unique to the medium. Without further ado, please tune into the podcast to hear the full discussion!
Indie Spotlight: Monkey Wrench
Before we get too deep into the main topic, allow me to shine the Indie Spotlight on this wacky little intergalactic romp called Monkey Wrench, created by Joshua Palmer and co-created by NeatoTito. Imagine if you took the basic premise of Outlaw Star, but filtered it through a sugar rushed-Saturday Morning Cartoon aesthetic, and you get a series with a fun cast of characters taking on various odd jobs throughout the galaxy. There are currently 3 episodes available, and if you want to see this series continue, consider supporting their Patreon here.
“While maybe not as popular as other indie series, this out-of-this-world mix of Outlaw Star and Space Dandy is a delightful indie experience that deserves way more attention with its comedy, action, and world building.“ -The Animation Guru
Carol & the End of the World
This was the series for which I had the least expectations, and for that reason, it ended up surprising me the most. It’s an apocalyptic comedy drama, but the apocalypse is merely a backdrop for a rather intimate character study about our main protagonist, Carol, trying to find purpose in the world. I don’t know if I’ve seen another series quite like this one, it’s hard to fully explain what makes this one great until you’ve seen it for yourself.
“A surprise last-minute addition to the world of adult animation from 2023 with a methodical and grounded drama about a woman finding her drive in life and a show that's willing to explore smaller human stories.“ -The Animation Guru
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Scott Pilgrim vs the World is one of my favorite movies of all time, but I’d be lying if I said it still holds up by today’s standards. That’s why I really appreciate how Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski approached the source material this time for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. It’s not just a straight adaptation of the graphic novels, but rather a deeper exploration of these characters, their relationships to one another, and some meta commentary on both the comic and the 2010 film.
“It may not have been a 1:1 translation of the original comic, but it improves upon it in every way by diving into the relationships of the characters, intimate connections, and how avoiding your problems can lead to worse outcomes. It's definitely a step up over doing just a boring retelling of the original story.“ -The Animation Guru
Scavengers Reign
I would argue that both this series and Blue Eye Samurai represent the full potential of what adult animation is capable of. Barring the occasional moments of levity, Scavengers Reign is a sci-fi drama with the same amount of gravitas as The Expanse or For All Mankind, while using the medium of animation to bring this world and its various creatures to life. We follow various groups of characters, each with their own clearly defined motivations to survive, and reunite with the rest of their crew about the Demeter.
“This is a beautiful and atmospheric journey through the bonds we force via humans, nature, and science. A wonderful example of where we can go with adult animation and a hopeful sign of more shows like it in the future.“ -The Animation Guru
That’ll do it for this episode! Thank you all for joining us! We have provided resources for those who wish to support the victims of the Israel-Hamas war: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/, https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/, https://itch.io/b/2120/games-for-gaza, https://www.instagram.com/palestineredcrescent/, https://buildpalestine.com/2021/05/15/trusted-organizations-to-donate-to-palestine/, https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations.
