Drawn Collectively Was an Underrated Shock-Comedy Gem
Although animation is often seen as a kid-friendly medium, animation is made simply as a lot for adults. Reveals like South Park and The Simpsons have been created to discover extra grownup themes and conditions and present among the strengths of animated materials. In comparison with live-action materials, there is not as a lot restraint on what will be executed, as funds and bodily limitations are nonexistent. To cite all-time comic Charlie Chaplin on cartoons, particularly Looney Tunes, “How can we compete? These guys do not need to cease to take a breath.”
Adult animation has come in lots of shapes and kinds, however as with all medium, some exhibits change into obscure. Lengthy-running exhibits like those beforehand talked about can change into so giant that different exhibits could have full seasons and conclude a sequence with out a lot fanfare. A few of these exhibits pushed the boundaries of decency that others have not and nonetheless managed to be entertaining. Probably the most noteworthy of those exhibits shared Comedy Central with South Park, and stays one of the infamous animated sitcoms of all time, and maybe essentially the most underrated.
Drawn Collectively Was Underappreciated
Debuting in 2004, Drawn Collectively was an animated sitcom based mostly on actuality exhibits like Huge Brother and The Surreal Life however with cartoon parodies. The ensemble solid of parodies included: Foxxy Love (Valerie Brown from Josie and the Pussycats), Captain Hero (Superman), Wooldoor Sockbat (Spongebob Squarepants), Princess Clara (Disney Princesses), Spanky Ham (Web Flash Cartoons), Ling Ling (Pikachu), Xandir (Hyperlink), and Toot (Betty Boop). The mockeries have been all positioned in a single residence the place their wild, actuality present personalities should endure their misadventures in addition to one another.
The sequence centered on extremely controversial and taboo humor, together with jokes in regards to the LGBTQ+ group, historic tragedies, intercourse and gross-out humor, a lot of which got here out of nowhere however appeared becoming. Very like the fact exhibits it parodied, every particular person match their bombastic persona, which leaned into their respective stereotypes and usually had no boundary it did not cross. Whereas exhibits like South Park centered on well-timed satire in regards to the world at giant, Drawn Collectively leaned into its shock humor. Although it lacked the tact and construction of extra critically acclaimed sequence, this labored for what the present was constructed for.
Drawn Collectively‘s episodic construction wasn’t linear, as every episode was self-contained. Episodes reminiscent of “Phrases of Endearment” leaned into its shock humor, exhibiting Foxxy as a racist stereotype and highlighting that the shock humor used within the episode was at one level commonplace. The present used the self-aware humor to focus on what viewers discover stunning. Although shock humor is often overused, Drawn Collectively understood a key side of this type of humor.
Drawn Collectively Knew Its Viewers
On high of the humor and raunchy characters, what made Drawn Collectively really stand out was that it understood its viewers. The crude humor and controversial dialogue aren’t for everybody, and the present understands that. It was by no means meant to be a important darling and reveled in the truth that it wasn’t. Although it was at its greatest when it informed a narrative and developed characters, its viewers tuned in to look at larger-than-life characters who did not care who they offended.
This truth was highlighted within the Season 2 episode “Xandir and Tim, Sitting in a Tree,” the place the episode brings in a real-life second. Within the episode, the solid is horrified to seek out out Leisure Weekly gave their pilot episode an F grade, which despatched them right into a spiral. They recuperate once they notice that they are cherished regardless of the grade and that the reviewers will not be part of their target market. Although they even acknowledge that lots of the present’s faults exist, additionally they know it is the followers which might be mandatory for the present and that is who they should appease. Leisure Weekly responded with one other F, however the followers loved the episode.
Although Drawn Collectively is kind of polarizing, it left an affect lengthy after being canceled in Season 3. Followers nonetheless purchase DVDs of the present, and it was fashionable sufficient to be added to Paramount+ to stream, so its area of interest followers nonetheless exist. The humor, the horrific moments and the twisted characters are memorable sufficient to face out. The present is way from good, however Drawn Collectively knew what it was and who watched it. There’s animation that leans into the darkest and most stunning humor on the market, and Drawn Collectively deserves to be remembered and rewatched for it.
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