Having enjoyed the live-action series, I had solid hopes for the animated series, and it did not disappoint.
While they are able to do a lot more in the visual gags department than they ever would in the live-action version (In one episode, Corey drinks a variety of paint and then proceeds to sweat it out in rainbow coloring. It's ridiculous, but it's only a small part of the episode, and doesn't distract) the show is still grounded heavily in reality. Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles are the same characters they were in the series, they're just animated. Also, Randy has become an even more integral part of the show, and he plays off the leads excellently.
This is, IMO, a nice way to keep the franchise going, while essentially making the characters ageless. They can go 20 seasons in an animated series and still look the same as they did in season one. The plotlines, for the most part, are similar to what you'd see in the live-action version, with only a few taken to the animated extreme. Also, it's been fun to see the characters as children, which would have been impossible to do on the original series, without younger actors imitating.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the passing of long-time series regular John Dunsworth, who we sadly lost right before the animated series became a reality. Thanks to animation, (And I naturally assume with the full support of the Dunsworth family) Jim Lahey is still at the trailer park, through the use repurposed archival audio from Dunsworth's many years portraying the role. Lahey's spirit resides in, of course, a liquor bottle, and, as far as memory recollects, only interacts with Randy
The first couple of episodes were a little shaky, As would be expected. I'm sure his loss hit the cast hard. But the later episodes, and all of season two, used the Lahey character very effectively, so well that it really does seem like he recorded the new lines fresh. Also, I feel that his appearances are very tasteful. He's not in every episode, but he's in enough to still feel like part of the show, and it's very much a tribute to Dunsworth, and not an attempt to cash-in on Dunsworth's likeness. Dunsworth was always an integral part of the show, and thanks to the animated series, he still is.
I've watched both seasons, and am looking forward to future seasons. It's a riot.
While they are able to do a lot more in the visual gags department than they ever would in the live-action version (In one episode, Corey drinks a variety of paint and then proceeds to sweat it out in rainbow coloring. It's ridiculous, but it's only a small part of the episode, and doesn't distract) the show is still grounded heavily in reality. Julian, Ricky, and Bubbles are the same characters they were in the series, they're just animated. Also, Randy has become an even more integral part of the show, and he plays off the leads excellently.
This is, IMO, a nice way to keep the franchise going, while essentially making the characters ageless. They can go 20 seasons in an animated series and still look the same as they did in season one. The plotlines, for the most part, are similar to what you'd see in the live-action version, with only a few taken to the animated extreme. Also, it's been fun to see the characters as children, which would have been impossible to do on the original series, without younger actors imitating.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the passing of long-time series regular John Dunsworth, who we sadly lost right before the animated series became a reality. Thanks to animation, (And I naturally assume with the full support of the Dunsworth family) Jim Lahey is still at the trailer park, through the use repurposed archival audio from Dunsworth's many years portraying the role. Lahey's spirit resides in, of course, a liquor bottle, and, as far as memory recollects, only interacts with Randy
The first couple of episodes were a little shaky, As would be expected. I'm sure his loss hit the cast hard. But the later episodes, and all of season two, used the Lahey character very effectively, so well that it really does seem like he recorded the new lines fresh. Also, I feel that his appearances are very tasteful. He's not in every episode, but he's in enough to still feel like part of the show, and it's very much a tribute to Dunsworth, and not an attempt to cash-in on Dunsworth's likeness. Dunsworth was always an integral part of the show, and thanks to the animated series, he still is.
I've watched both seasons, and am looking forward to future seasons. It's a riot.