The Top 10 Good Things About The Modern Fairly Odd Parents Episodes

When I was a child, I always watched Nicktoons and one of those certain shows that I always enjoyed was Butch Hartman's 'Fairly Odd Parents'. Starting life as a series of shorts for Nick's Oh Yeah Cartoons; the Fairly Odd Parents was a 2000s cartoon that revolved around a simple-minded 10 year old named Timmy Turner, whose life is made miserable by his evil babysitter Vicky. That is until he's given 2 fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda who use their magic to improve Timmy's life and all shenanigans ensue. Since it's first run the show has been known for showcasing Hartman's signature style of cartoony animation, gag related humour as well as the consequences of using magic and wishes (if they were possible in reality). I'm not gonna lie, at the time this was becoming popular; the Fairly Odd Parents was one of my favourite shows as a child. I liked how unique the premise was with how it mixed fairy tale aesthetics with modern comedy; I remember being obsessed with the magical antics of Timmy and the memorable cast of characters as well as the variety of stories it told. Sure the writing wasn't always strong, but it totally made up for it with its humorous lines, colourful visuals and clever execution of morals.

But after the tv movie "Fairy Idol" aired, the series went on a year-long hiatus; which resulted with many fans to assume that the magic had ended. To put a long story short, our favourite fairies returned with a new character Poof, Cosmo and Wanda's not godchild. The fans of the show thought, what could possibly go wrong?
Sadly this stunt resulted in splitting its fan base as well as the general audiences down the middle. For many fans; the addition of Poof as the "4th wheel" was seen as "jumping the shark through a pair of giant scissors". So to speak. The writing is not as clever they say, all the comedy has become obnoxious they say, and the characters have become prey to 'Flanderization' they say. I don't know whether it's because most of the fans grew out of the show, or that maybe they have a point.

As for my two cents on these 2008-Present episodes; well while I can't take the show seriously anymore because it doesn't take it's self seriously, I actually think the Fairly Odd Parents still has it's good moments. I mean think about it; there's probably a good reason why Nickelodeon and Butch Hartman decided to bring it back, and as you can imagine a lot of money and attention was put into these episodes. Like all tv shows these later Fairly Odd Parents episodes shouldn't be ignored, because it's good to see where all that effort pays off. Prepare to wish to be a kid again, here's my list of what I consider the redeeming qualities of The Modern Fairly Odd Parents Episodes.

10. Poof's Design

Whether you think Poof was necessary or not, you can't deny how cute his design is. During his appearance, I just thought he looked adorable being a baby and what not; so Poof never really bothered me, part of that comes from the fact that I couldn't resist that design.

For me, Poof was a good example of how the animation crew can design cute things. With his round body, big eyes and sweet smile; even if he doesn't do anything it's that design that makes the character stick out. Nothing more I can say but I consider this one of the cutest designs the show has offered, just as he was intended. I mean there's no way you can make Poof not cute?

........Shut up.

9. Balance of Flour

When Timmy and his fairies visit Jorgen's grandmother Nana Boom Boom's bakery, they discover Nana's Brownies, which she made for the annual bake-off between the fairies and the anti-fairies. It's not long till Poof gets addicted to the brownies and eats the entire batch before Nana and Jorgen can make more Timmy and Cosmo (who also want the brownies) steal the recipe by processing it into Timmy's brain. As soon as Anti-Cosmo and Wanda find out, they are bent on taking the recipe for themselves.

For me, this episode is what how you'd imagine what the show would do with a cooking contest, but things get into much higher stakes here. We also learn a bit of the history of Fairy World, as it turns out the baking contest determines the fate of who gets god-children. It has you guessing how everyone is going to get the brownie recipe, and it has you concerned. However I don't want to spoil how this episode turns out, so check it out for yourself if you haven't. All I can say is that it's a recipe for a good episode.

8. Freaks and Greeks
When Timmy's parents go to a Greek-themed party, he and his fairies decide to have a Greek party of their own. So they visit Mount Olympus, in which the gods and goddesses like Zeus, Poseidon, Dionysus and Artemis are there celebrating. But due to an accident; Timmy destroys Mount Olympus so the gods now have their party at Timmy's house. Not only does Timmy try to get rid of them before his parents get back home, but he has to protect their glass figurine collection.

As a fan of Greek Mythology, it was nice to see this show finally tackle this subject matter. It's fun to see how they interpreted these gods and goddesses, we also see how they react to what the modern world has to offer; though it makes me wonder how fairies have a modern lifestyle while the gods don't. But anyway, you feel for Timmy as he has to put up with the Gods' rowdy behaviour. However, this episode does raise some questions towards the end like why couldn't Wanda just fix Mount Olympus with the snap of a finger; but it works for the sake of a story. Nitpicking aside it's still a party of an episode that incorporates something I'm fascinated by in its own Fairly Odd way.

7. The Fairy Beginning

Fans only seem to remember the ninth season for how it retconned previous episodes, so of all things, it decided to end it off with an origin episode. When Jorgen tells Cosmo he never graduated from Fairy Academy, which will result in Cosmo losing his job. To investigate who could have sabotaged Cosmo's chances of passing, he tells the gang his school days. The episode continues to show what Cosmo, Wanda, Jorgen, Juandisimo, The Tooth Fairy and Cupid were like in their teen years, and how they came to be who they are today. There are even some similarities to Hogwarts with the Fairy Academy. It combines the flashback episode and a mystery aspect to make you guess how things turn out for these characters. It's decent how the show decided to give us a little prequel to cap off this season; though considering it continued to go on this long, I kind of wish this is how they cap off the entire series. But don't take my word for it, give this episode a look if you're still curious about the show's history.

This episode also has a scene that kinda makes fun at Trump's expense, but I think I've made enough fun of Trump at this point.

6. Bad Heir Day
We all know Denzil Crocker as the series' main antagonist and his determination to capture Timmy's

fairies and use them for his own purposes. But his character has managed to stay consistent throughout the series and has not been 'flanderised' in the least, Some viewers have even said that Crooker is the highlight of the later seasons. However, it's this episode that shows Crooker still has some goodness in his heart despite his gradual descent to madness. On Crooker's birthday, he decides that he wants to have a child and start a family After failed attempts to find one, Timmy then loses Poof at Crocker's home. Poof then accidentally ends up wearing Crocker's outfit, leading Crocker to believe that Poof is his son. This leads to Crocker showing Poof his plans and life goals, while Timmy looks for him.

Out of the Crocker episodes from the Modern Era, this is probably the most heartfelt. It feels genuine to see Crocker bond with Poof, even if he's not aware that's his so-called heir is a fairy baby. That and how Poof gives Crocker the experience of having a child of his own. People say that Poof didn't have much of a purpose, but this is one of the cases in which he did. It's also a nice change of pace to have an episode where Crocker's isn't diabolical or villainous, it shows a more human side to him. It shows that Crocker's former self is still deep within him; as he offers Poof kindness, even if it's in his own way. Because of this; you start to feel for him, it's also nice to see Poof warm up to Crocker the more they spend time with each other. It has it's fair share of funny and heartwarming moments, 'Bad Heir Day' is anything but bad.

5. Micecapades

For those who don't know, my favourite cartoon of all time is 'Tom and Jerry' so what happens when you combine that cartoon with this cartoon? You get this. So this episode starts with the boys watching "Sleazy and Cheezy", a version of the classic cat and mouse duo in the show's universe (probably so the creators wouldn't get sued). Wanda decides to turn off the tv because she's concerned the cartoon may be a bad influence on Poof. As for Timmy, he is forced to have Vicky look after him while his dad has to tend to a special kind of cheese he got. When Poof sees Timmy defending himself, he's reminded of 'Sleazy and Cheezy" and turns Vicky to a cartoon cat and Timmy into a cartoon mouse.


Now, this is not the first and only time Vicky and Timmy assume the roles of Tom and Jerry, they pretty much did this in the tv movie "Channel Chaser". But here they take this idea and build an entire episode around it. This episode is a good homage to the classic T&J shorts; capturing the slapstick, and cartoon violence they're known for, in that Fairly Odd Parents style. When it's not paying homage to the animated works of Hanna Barbera;  it manages to way to tie these plot points together, laced with a sense of timing and energy much similar to the aforementioned cat and mouse cartoon. Much like 'Freaks and Geeks', I do wish the ending could have used a bit more fine-tuning. But as it is; it does a good job paying tribute to an iconic cartoon, so T&J fans including me can appreciate it.

4. Food Fight

Not to be confused with that episode of 'The Cramp Twins' or that god awful animated film, this season 8 episode stands out for different reasons. When Timmy and his dad can't stand Timmy's Mom's cooking, she then finds out what they both think of it. She even discovers that they've been hiding the meals she has cooked for them, so not to hurt her feelings (to which it does). Feeling guilty Timmy wishes that his mom was the best cook ever. Timmy's mom starts to cook up many extraordinary and delicious dishes with these new found skills; she even turns her kitchen into a paradise made from food that's so appetising to look at, there's even a field made of sausages. Her meals are so good that she turns her home into a restaurant, so everyone in town can taste her cooking. This also catches the attention of a german TV chief who wants Timmy's mom as a contestant on his extreme TV cooking contest, but will Timmy's mom's magic cooking skills be able to last long?

Now in previous episodes, I don't remember it being implied that Timmy's mom ever was bad at cooking. Sure there have been examples of instances where she wasn't the best cook in earlier episodes, heck the best meal she ever made was a bowl of 'cold cereal and milk'. But it works for the sake of telling a story, and in this case, it is a very good story.
What really makes this episode so good is how imaginative it can be with food, they really came up with interesting and creative visuals and designs with the different dishes Timmy's Mom has made. You can practically smell and taste these dishes, don't you just want to go through these sausage fields? But the cherry on top for "Food Fight' is the resolution at the end, which I won't spoil here. All I can is that it's a nice and touching moral that doesn't come out of nowhere. It's a well-prepared episode that'll satisfy your tastes and a real feast for the eyes. Now if you excuse me I'm going to run through the sausage fields, I FEEL SO GREASY!

3. King Chang

If you have watched the show around the 4th season; you'd know there was an overarching story with the alien character Mark Chang. In which he is forced to marry the alien princess Mandie to bring their planets together to take over the galaxy; but Mark runs away because he doesn't find her attractive (if you know Mark's alien race think that beauty is ugly and vice versa). Mandie has been determined to hunt down Mark while he has been hiding on earth ever since then. In this instalment; someone is planning on assassinating Mark's father, the king of Yugopotamia. He finds Mark so he can use him to take over the kingdom while he resides on Earth. So while Mark takes on his new responsibility, Timmy becomes a bodyguard and find out who the assassin is. It turns out to be an elaborate plan by Mandie, in order to marry Mark. But will she succeed in her evil plans and what does this mean for the fate of Mark and Yugopotamia?

The reason why I consider this a good episode is because it gives closure to a story arc the show had for a long time; the fans have been wondering the outcome of this series of episodes, and this episode doesn't disappoint at all. The action is good, the writing takes unpredictable turns, that it seems almost suspenseful. Mandie is also a bigger threat in this episode and is more intimidating as she ever was. I'm just thankful they eventually got around to giving this story arc a conclusion; it feels like Season 6 was green-lighted to make this episode, even though they could've done this in a previous season. Regardless we should thank the galaxies this show got a chance to achieve one of its goals with one of its recurring characters. And speaking of goals.

2. He Poofs He Scores

Though I also consider it's sister episode 'The Boss of Me' to have a good story; I gave it some thought and it came down to which could do more than the earlier seasons. In this episode, Timmy doesn't seem to be doing well in his little league football (soccer) game, as he keeps kicking the ball into the other team's net. His dad who's the coach; pressures Timmy to do better so he can beat his rival Dinkleberg's team, the Dinkle Ducks. So Timmy wants to wish he could win the game; but if you've been watching the show, Timmy can't use magic in a competition. So what happens; Poof get in Timmy's cereal, gets himself swallowed and ends up in Timmy's head as well. As Poof plays around with Timmy's brain, his magic causes Timmy to be a better player. But will he still be able to have these new found skills for the final match against the Dinkle Ducks?

There have been sports-related episodes in the show, and this episode pulls it off in a way the Fairly Odd Parents could do. One detail the episode does well is how the other football (soccer) teams have their own distinct identities and uniforms, that have a certain theme to them. The animators also thought of fun ways to show Timmy scoring. They could've easily made Timmy's Dad selfish and resent Timmy, but they show that he wants his son to do the best of his ability. Timmy may be exploiting Poof, but his actions also don't come from a selfish place either. It's another episode where he isn't useless as most fans think; even he doesn't mean any harm when he has fun with Timmy's brain. Its the justifications of these character's actions that make this episode a field goal in my book.

And I'll stop with the goal analogies there. Also Cosmo, you have no room to judge Timmy's intelligence.

Before I get to number 1, I like to give an honourable mention.

Fairly Oddlympics: To promote the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the makers of the show put together a special sporting event for Fairy World. When the fairies argue with the Anti Fairies and the Pixies; to see who's the best, Timmy puts together The Fairy World Games. This special does everything you can imagine with fairies doing these sports, while also making some of them to be more magical. They even managed to get Scott Hamilton to guest star. Like many other Fairly Odd Parents episodes, it has a good moral; that shows that winners never cheat and that cheaters only cheat themselves. Wait a minute why is there a cheetah doing here?

And the number 1 good thing about Modern Fairly Odd Parents Episodes is..........

1. The Wishology Trilogy

The Fairly Odd Parents have always done TV movies; there have even been recurring aspects here and there, to start Season 7 with a bang the show did something different. This was no ordinary special, but a trilogy of specials which revolve around an ancient prophecy. Many years ago the fairies fought against a mysterious black hole known 'The Darkness'; but when it returns, it sends a group of evil robots known as the 'Eliminators' to destroy none other than Timmy himself. Jorgen tells Timmy that he is the 'chosen one' who was foretold to defeat 'The Darkness' by retrieving 3 mystical wands.

What can I say about this series of episodes, they show that the franchise was willing to go above and beyond than what was done in the past. It's just as big as any of the TV movies of the early seasons, and it feels closer to the spirit of 'The Fairly Odd Parents'. The premise really expands on the lore of Fairy World, and add a layer to the universe of the show. The Darkness and the 'Eliminators' pose as a real threat like any good antagonist, and they're not one-dimensional villains either. The Wishology trilogy really embrace the fantasy aspect, while making many references to well-known film series. They also have guest stars whose roles are important to the plot; speaking of character, this series utilises many characters to take on roles you wouldn't imagine them being in. It also has plenty of suspenseful action scenes, the concepts and the designs capture the same imagination the show is known for. Every plot point serves a particular purpose, and really subverts your expectations.

The makers of the show made an extra effort to make this series of specials feel like a movie than an extended episode. They also feel much grander in scale; the stakes have risen, the writing feels solid enough to fit that format. It takes the series to epic proportions; which is what the live-action movies with Drake Bell were missing (And I'll get to those someday). From my point of view; this trilogy managed to take the franchise to new heights, instead of being a ratings trap it told an engaging story that ties all these things together. It took different twists and turns, and each part was told in a distinctive way. I'm not gonna act like this is a perfect trilogy, but I still consider it the best thing to come out of the seasonal rot, and I still stand by that. I totally recommend this to fans of the show, as well as those who are fans of epic trilogies.

So there's a list of what I consider the best things about The Modern Fairly Odd Parents Episodes. And it just goes to show; that even if a TV show or franchise has passed it's prime, it can still have some value to it. These moments show that the cartoon still has creative potential left in it and that Butch Hartman does still care about what made it work in the first place. This list proves that this show can still be as good and funny as it once was. Sure you have to go through the duds, but it's worth finding those diamonds in the rough. If you've been put off by the Fairly Odd Parents in it's later years; just keep this list in mind, because I believe the positive qualities of the later episodes should be acknowledged. So tell me what you think is the best episode or aspect of the Modern Fairly Odd Parents seasons, and tell me if you agree with me or not. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get this cheetah get out of my house.

Top 10 Worst Nostalgic Cartoons

Hello bloggers of Blogger, I just want to apologize for the lack of activity on this blog. The reason for that is because I want to focus on my artistry other than writing reviews and top 10 lists; another thing is that I've been mostly focused on posting my artwork or other various products on Tumblr lately. Finally when I come to writing a review on something I want it to be as perfect as possible. I'm not saying you shouldn't expect much on this blog, but as an artist, I tend to focus on my own artistry than others. Now that's off my chest, time to focus on the first top 10 list in ages.

Cartoons, everyone loves them I love them there's no denying that. They basically shaped my perspective on the art of animation and entertainment in general, they're more than just moving images, they're pieces of imagination that fills our childhoods with joy, characters and heart. This and much more are the reasons why cartoons have become a part our culture and our childhood memories, which is why many regard the cartoons of yesteryear as some of the greatest the industry had to offer. But it's also the reason why people assume that cartoons nowadays are bad, whatever decade you grow up in you're always gonna assume that the cartoons from the past were much better; it's a rite of passage really. But when you take off the rose coloured glasses, you'll see that the past had bad cartoons too. Much like everything else in history, there was always crap along with the gems, animation was never a flawless medium and we should accept that.

These are the animated shows that either don't hold up very well or have always been bad. I know there are other list online much like this, but I want to show my own list of the Top 10 Worst Nostalgic Cartoons.

10. My Gym Partner's a Monkey

Now there was a period in my life where I lost interest in any new material from Cartoon Network, and My Gym Partner's a Monkey is partly the reason for that. Now at first glance, this cartoon would not deserve this distinction but when you actually watch one episode or hear about it's "quote on quote" plot; you'll see why. One of the major problems with MGPAM is the premise, a human preteen named Adam is sent to an all animal school due to a computer mistaking his surname as "Lion" instead of "Lyon". From saying that sentence alone, you could already see the problem with this program, did the writers and the people who green-lighted this really think that a lot of good comedy would come out of this; (or even read the premise out loud) No and the execution of it all is proof why.

While I happened to like shows based on school life at the time this came out, this show lacks any of

the wit those other shows had. The stories simply have no focus, they can range from being completely obnoxious to just plain lowest common denominator, as well as being mean spirited at times. So does the comedy that relies too heavily on toilet humour. Both the human and the animal characters are stereotypes, and most of them are moronic. One example is the monkey Jake who is just a walking "butt joke" because the writers think that all monkeys are obsessed with smacking their bums and nothing else. The main protagonist Adam is the only tolerable character on this being the voice of reason, too bad his purpose is to be abused. Visually this is one of the most unappealing animated shows I've ever laid eyes on, now Cartoon Network is known for showcasing versatile and unique animation but this show lacks anything that makes it watchable to me at least.

Bottom line I can see why My Gym Partner's a Monkey is the butt of jokes about modern CN shows (no pun intended); which is a shame because they managed to get some good people on board. How it won an Emmy Award, I'll never know!

9. Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels

If you knew my taste in television, you know I'm not particularly fond of 70s tv. Some of them have the silliest concepts when you look back on them, however, that doesn't mean some creativity didn't come out of them; Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels is still dumb in its own right. As an animation fan, I think Hanna Barbara were at their weakest in the 70s, and Captain Caveman solidifies that in my opinion. I may have had some fun with this show when I watched it as a kid, but as an adult, it's really corny and just as dated as Captain Caveman himself.

This series contains a lot of gripes I have with what Hanna Barbera was doing at the time; from the fact that it's a Scooby Doo clone, it's cheap animation, the fact that it relied on what was popular at the time instead of being timeless, the unfunny comedy and the un-interesting cast of carbon cut-out characters. Now I will give this show credit for Mel Blanc's performance as Captain Caveman (God rest his soul) I mean it's flipping Mel Blanc, but even he wasn't enough to save this trash. Like other HB cartoons from the 70s, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angel may have been fine at first, but it suffers from being primitive (to say the least).

8. Bangers and Mash

Oh god not this, anything but this. As a child, I remember the teachers used to show the other kids this, and I seemed to have been the only one who didn't like it. Based on a series of reading books, the show was about the lives of two chimpanzees named after a British dish (so it's another monkey show). While it's not an atrocity in and of its self, it suffers from being corny. Nothing about this show is in any way is appealing to adults, the stories isn't for adults, the designs isn't for adults even the theme song isn't for adults. I never liked Bangers and Mash then and looking back I understand why, and I bet the other kids in my school who liked it back then probably hate it now too.

7. Pet Alien

To all the previous shows credit at least they had good intentions, I don't know what the people behind Pet Alien had in mind but it resulted in a toon fart. For those who don't remember this show (and be grateful for that) Pet Alien was a mid-2000s CG cartoon that revolved around a group of aliens who accidentally crash land on an island; there they live with Tommy who has to put up with these creatures making his life hell. What works in Space Goofs, Jimmy Neutron and E.T is poorly executed here, the writing is obnoxious (see the pattern here) the animation is ugly and over the top and the characters are weird just weird. Looking back I can see why this was passed from channel to channel like a hot potato. Though at the time I did find where it was trying to be decent; but now I see that it has a lot of elements makes the overall show an embarrassing part of my childhood. Nothing about Pet Alien is out of this world in a good way, my only recommendation is if you want to lose some brain cells this will definitely do the trick.

6. Mighty Man and Yukk

Not many people are aware of Ruby Spear's Mighty Man and Yukk, which is for good reason. The problem with the animation company Ruby Spears is that their resume consists of uninspired Hanna Barbera knock offs, and this show solidifies that notion. The problem with this show is not just because it hasn't aged well but because the premise is weird as hell. Try saying this with a straight facial expression, tiny sidekick who teams up with the world's ugliest dog to fight crime; what drugs were these writers on when they came up with that!
It also doesn't help with the predictable writing, poor comedy relief, flat characters and to top it all off is the generic suito realistic character designs that animation studios were using at the time. However, all that does not compare to how downright stupid and drug-induced the show is. Mighty Man and Yukk may actually be the worst 70s cartoons I've seen so far, as I expected.

5. Clutch Cargo

There's a fine line when something creative is made with the little materials an artist has and something that's so cheap and awkward looking that it becomes unintentionally hilarious. Clutch Cargo is one of those things that closes that line to the point where you wouldn't believe this exists.

OH GOD NO! SWEET HEAVEN OH MIGHTY! NO! WHAT IS THIS! I DON'T KNOW, FOR THE LOVE OF HANNA BARBARA HOW COULD THIS EXIST! HAHAHAHA! SOB SOB SOB SOB!

That pretty much sums up how I feel about.......this. I think most people would recognize this from how it's been used in other artistic media (mainly Pulp Fiction). Unless you're blind, you may notice Clutch Cargo's animation is infamous for having the budget of a rock; i.e the lips are (I kid you not) live-action lips on a still image. I could understand if the studio who made Clutch Cargo had to cut their budget, but seriously by today's standards, the animation just looks jarring and awkward.

As for the stories and the characters, I just don't freaking care! I'm so put off by its unintentionally awkward animation I can't even see the charm in it anymore. I personally think this would be good source material for a parody or mash ups, here's a good example.

4. My Little Pony
Like many boys who grew up in the last century, I avoided My Little Pony like it was a necessity, and

I can see why. G1 My Little Pony is a pure example of a show created for marketing reasons, just everything about G1 embodies everything pandering and stereotypical about entertainment that was aimed for a female demographic. Not only are the visuals cheap, too sugary sweet and bright but the stories are lacklustre and generic despite the elements of fantasy, the characters lack so much personality that the only way you can tell the ponies apart is their colour. What makes it worse is how the next 2 generations are just as pandering if not worst. You can tell that the older My Little Pony variations were/are just for little girls and no one else.

The only good to come out of the success of this show is Friendship is Magic. I can ensure you that G4 is one of those rare occasions where a reboot surpasses its predecessor in every way shape and form. With how much better the animation and stories are and how the ponies here have actual personalities; I can see why Friendship is Magic has gained a following among adult men. So please avoid the previous generation of My Little Pony and just check out Friendship is Magic; so you can draw your own conclusion of the whole fad.

3. The Littlest Pet Shop (1995)

 Unlike My Little Pony where the crew didn't try and only wanted to please one demographic; I'm sure the people behind The Littlest Pet Shop tried with this one but it's execution resulted in this being one of the worst shows based on a toy line. After seeing this mess again, I can see why this crap faded into obscurity. Everything about this show feels heartless and unoriginal, the writing has no sense of comedic effort or logic that it comes off as a cheap Tiny Toon Adventures knock off. The characters are either rip-offs or obnoxious (with the exception of Chloe). Also, the animation is ugly, choppy and unlike the Badly Drawn Brothers from Avenger Penguins where they have the distinction of their design being intentional, this is a real step backwards compared to other animated shows that came before it. This doesn't deserve to be associated with the likes of Tiny Toons because it's simply a pandering cash grab only made to sell the toys they're based on. But what's really sad is that I kind of see where this could have been a hilarious series; if they had a cast who actually know how to do their flipping job it could have been something. But instead, we got an uncreative, unfunny toy advertisement that is best left forgotten. This was a giant waste of my time and brain cells and I hope not to see anything related to it again. 

 

HOLY CRAP!

2. Scooby Doo
Okay before you start writing angry hate mail, burn down my house, beat me to death, nail my corpse to a cross and feed me to vicious sharks. Just calm your knickers and listen! As much as I respect people's view on this cartoon and regard it as their one of their favourite cartoons of all time, I'm just gonna let it out..............here we go..............I Hate Scooby Doo. I consider it one of, if not the most overrated cartoon of all time! and here's why

Now don't get me wrong, as a child I used to watch Scooby Doo all the time and I liked it; but as I grew older I realised that was all mass hypnosis. When my taste in animation developed and matured I began to see Scooby Doo as one of Hanna Barbera's worst works, watching it again it has so many flaws that make it an embarrassing part of my childhood. The story is the same repetitive, formulaic hippie garbage that we've seen so many times, that someone who's been living under a rock knows about it. The writing is horribly executed with cheesy humour and grating dialogue, the characters have the personality of a wooden plank and the animation is cheap and unappealing. But what makes it worse, in this case, is how popular it has been for the past 4 decades and how greedy executives have been milking money out of these meddling kids with knock offs (like I mentioned before) and variations that are as bad if not worse than the original. I would forgive Scooby Doo if these variations weren't so corny and/or dreadful; one big example is the atrocious live-action movies!

For 4 decades, 4 decades Scooby Doo has written the book on how to be a cliche of its self for all these

reasons and more. But what makes this cartoon even more frustrating for me, is the fact that many Scooby Doo fans can't handle a negative opinion of this franchise (I'm talking to you whoever is ticked off here). Because they won't listen and let their love for the cartoon get in the way, I feel afraid to criticize it. Let's be mature here Scooby fans, everyone has a right to their opinion, it's fine if you don't like something a majority of people do like. Don't pretend that there aren't people who don't like Scooby Doo; my mother hates Scooby Doo so there's a chance I got it from her (with that I apologize for making her endure this when I was younger). If you can't accept one person's opinion, then why should I except yours.

And that it is why I genuinely hate Scooby Doo, it was good when I was growing up but now I don't think there's anything redeeming about it. I just think whatever those meddling kids and their dumb dog are trying to offer to animation has been better executed in other tv shows. If you like it that's fine, just don't act like I murdered your family cause I don't.

And the number 1 Worst Nostalgic Cartoon is.........................hold on give me a minute.....................................................................................................................

1. Bobinogs 

I not only consider this the worst Nostalgic Cartoon, I consider Bobinogs to be one of the worst animated shows I've ever seen. You think a show about an animated band wouldn't be that bad, hell you would think it be great. But what boils my blood about Bobinogs is that everything about it is executed in the worst most half-assed way possible, in my mind this is pretty much on par with the Garbage Pail Kids movie it's that bad. There are so many reasons why this piece of crap is forgotten and why I made fun of it so many times in the past. The writing is underwhelming in its execution, instead of standing out among other kid's shows it goes lowest common denominator by copying every cliche you see in every other kid show. It might as well been written by a 5-year-old, but even that's unfair because I bet a 5-year-old could write a better script. But the dash of salt to an open wound is how the main characters solve their conflict, by looking at children doing stuff through binoculars (that turns everything live-action). My issue with this gag is that it completely distracts from what little story it has. This sort of thing is handled much better in Beavis and Butthead because they knew how to balance a coherent narrative with music video commentaries; it works because you're interested to know what music video Beavis and Butthead are gonna comment on. With this, however, you're not interested in seeing what some kids are doing, nor are you invested with the character's commentary; what's the point in this gag existing? It's not clever and it's not consistent!

When the characters aren't bland, they're moronic, we get it the Bobinogs are brain dead, they can't do the simplest things we get it! I mean what's the point in having stupid characters if you're not gonna do anything comedic with them; are you saying that the Bobinogs can play instruments yet they don't know the basics of life (granted the Bobinogs can't make music to save their skins but still). Soccer moms complained about Derpy Hooves, but they got off scot-free what! The animation may not be hideous looking but it's still bland, it's so dated it looks like it was done on Go Animate. Now I'm aware that this is one of the first cartoons to be made in Flash, and I understand that no one really mastered the software at the time. But Mucha Lucha came around the same time and it's flash animation still holds up much better. Finally, the musical numbers are awful, they're so generic that they make Justin Bieber and Rebecca Black sound angelic by comparison. 

Now you're probably saying "Why are you watching something that's made for babies and little kids you dork?" the fact that this was made for our youth is sickening. If you want to create a show that can be remembered, you have to make it where it appeals to all ages otherwise you get crap like Bobinogs. As you may know, entertainment that's aimed for a younger audience has a hard time being taken seriously; what Bobinogs does is enforce that negative stereotype and gives people the impression that all kid's shows have to pander and be condescending to their audience like they're idiots. And as long as the targeted audience has no sense of quality, the makers can put no effort into their work; this is why animators like Danny Antonucci, Edd Gould and Pen Ward would've never done that. I don't know why I've bothered to rant on this garbage again, because it deserves to disappear into the dark pit of obscurity. And I'm grateful that it has and it should stay that way. I feel sorry for those who grew up watching this disgrace to animation, let's pray for their sake that they eventually grew out of it. Bottom line the Bobinogs can just Get Bent!

And that's my list of the Worst Cartoons of the past, as much as we criticize newer cartoons nowadays; never forget the past had bad cartoons too. And these shows are proof of that. So please tell me if you agree with my list, and tell me what nostalgic cartoon do you hate. Now if you excuse me I'm gonna erase all traces of the Bobinogs from the internet.

A Retrospective on Michael Foreman Part 2

Going back to the 80s, Foreman has become a household name illustrating for various authors and book companies. His work received so much praise from the British public for re-inventing children's classics as well as making his own material. He was so acclaimed that he was called by writer Leon Garfield to make a book dedicated to the Bard

Shakespeare Stories-1985 and 1994

A unique collection of Shakespeare's greatest works, alongside Foreman's best watercolour and ink illustrations. Just the idea of that combination alone is excellent and this book shows. What Garfield and Foreman did for this book worked on so many levels, it had that right amount of text and imagery that stays faithful to the greatest plays ever written. Out of all the books Foreman has illustrated for I must say this is the one that not only students could read but adults who love theatre and artwork as well. I read this book every time I'm in the mood for some great Foreman artwork it's just that good a read.

This book was so successful that 9 years after it's release Garfield and Foreman did a follow up with the rest of Shakespeare's plays. It kept the same formula only the illustrations looked more updated. While some might say it's not as good as the first one, I disagree because for me it's like the first one only the illustrations has a brighter look and 'yes' it does have the Shakespearean plays that were not as well known as the ones in the first one but this one has a place in my heart, it's an underrated gem. As for what I think of the illustrations, they're beautiful and show how Foreman's style transited into what they are today. I definitely recommend these 2 books to anyone who loves the bard's work and those who are wanting to learn about these terrific plays for the first time.

The War Series-1989-1995

In 1989 Foreman wanted to write a book based on his childhood in the second world war and thus he made "War Boy: A Wartime Childhood". This has to be Foreman's most serious, darkest work ever, he presents the feeling of growing up in wartime with his trademark watercolour illustrations as well as some photographs and posters from that time. When I first heard about it I didn't bother all that much as I'm not into WW2 but with this, I made an exception as I had good expectations for it, when I managed to read this book I got exactly what I was hoping for. This book is definitely fascinating to read not only for Foreman's unique illustrative work but for the story that revolve around his childhood. It was not only praised by critics but it won him a Kate Greenaway Medal.

Later on, Foreman made a follow up to this book with "War Game: Village Green to No-man's Land. While the first book was more non-fiction Foreman decided to tell a story based on the first world war and the soldiers who battled for their country. War Game tells the story of a group of young friends who are called to duty to battle the Germans oversea, it talks about struggle and intensity. It also tells the story of how the two armies united in peace and joy for Christmas Day. This book was also a critical hit, they even called it a masterpiece as well as another award. It even had a short animated film based on it. When I read this book at school in Year 9 I didn't know what to think, but just by looking at Foreman great illustrations and by reading it I never read a war story so intriguing, it got me prepared for learning the First World War in history. Also if you read this book I'll tell you this, the ending is just tragic and I mean tragic.

In 1995 Foreman ended his series of war stories with "After the War was Over" Going back to non-fiction Foreman tells a story about the aftermath of the Second World War, like "War Boy" this book gives a look on the 40s and 50s through the eyes of Foreman himself told in a way that educates us as well. Now I haven't read this book but I could tell you from looking at some of the bits and pieces I saw from it I can tell you that it looks beautifully illustrated and I'll probably look at it some time.

While The General and War and Peas were more satirical takes on war, these war books told the readers about the impact of war as well as the history. They made you sympathise with the people because of how realistic it was written. Now, these books are pretty under-rated which makes them even more special. Though I'm not too big on the history of WW1 and WW2, may I add if you're into wartime stories or even Foreman's work I suggest you check them out, you've be surprised?

From looking at the books from the first part of Foreman's accomplishments, there were mostly stories made for younger children. However, in this part the books I'm listing here are not only for kids growing up but for grown-ups themselves. I feel since Shakespeare Stories Foreman has worked on very mature stuff and his collaboration with British writer Michael Morpurgo really shows.

Michael and Michael Don't Have Issues

Both being successful in the industry of children's books, these big names (or name if you will) joined forces to produce books that were successful among young boys as well as both their fan base. Their first collaboration was 19 years ago when Morpurgo wanted to do a book based on the Arthurian Legend "Arthur High King of Britain".
 This wonderful book has incredible watercolour illustrations as well as a whole new take on the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. This really showed how the 2 Michael's could work together as one, I like this book so much I want to do an illustrated re-telling of King Arthur that matches the same quality of this.

Considering "Arthur, HKOB" was a success both Foreman and Morpurgo went the same route in 1996 with "Robin of Sherwood". Once again Morpurgo has managed to tell a faithful adaptation to medieval legend, like "Arthur" he adds that same down to earth style to these well-known characters like "Little John, Frair Tuck, Sheriff of Nottingham and Maid Marian that makes their stories all the more unique. Foreman's illustrations once again makes the book recognisable to readers, the backgrounds are lush as always and the character design depict Foreman's more figurative style. As far as adaptions of folk heroes go these are very unique takes, so if you like the tales of both Robin Hood and King Arthur than may I suggest giving these 2 books a page turn, they're interesting for young adults as well as young readers alike.


These adaptions began an awesome relationship between these idols of children's literature, as they would continue to create more original, more down to earth novels. These proved to be successful hits among young readers in the UK with a reputation of positive feedback critically, books like Kensuke's Kingdom, Billy the Kid, Cool and Toro Toro were proven to be some of the highest-rated children's novels of the 21st Century. Now while I've never read these personally, I could see why people (especially Foreman fans) consider them descent books. And while some I didn't mention like "The Sleeping Sword" and "The Last Wolf" look okay there are some I consider under-rated in a way like Beowulf.

There are 2 books that came out in the 2000s, "The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips" and "Kasper" seem to share something, they're about cats. When both books came out I was interested in them in the same I was with Arthur HKOB, so I glanced at them and to no surprise, the illustrations make the stories worth a look at. Now I don't judge books by their pictures but by their actual substance; but like some of the other Foreman/Morpurgo collaborations I'm thinking I would like these books just as much as Arthur and Robin (If I had the chance to read them) mean with how successful Morpurgo is as an author I might be just as invested in the story as well as the artwork.

In short Foreman and Morpurgo make a great book writing team, with their combined talents they've both managed to create some really creative books that would click with younger viewers as well as both their fan bases, which makes me wonder what these 2 will make for years to come. Whether it be a take on mythological legend or pure English originality I recommend checking out these books and more for any child or any person who interested in creating original stories.


Like Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes, Michael Foreman is one of the most well-loved British book illustrators for all these good reasons and more. Both his illustrations and his stories have become a unique staple in children's literature as well as the reading industry in general; why? because his artwork is revolutionary, beautiful and even thought-provoking. From an artistic point of view Foreman has always changed his unique style though the cause of time like a good artist should, he understood illustration as an art-form and he would put a passion and devotion into each picture. Not only that but he would take chances with his own style given the source material he would work with.

But other than that, I adore Forman for the fact that he illustrates my favourite stories in a unique fashion and it's that illustrative style that introduced me to the stories I would read in later years. The way he designs characters and backgrounds is just wonderful to look at, just the way how he could blend them together is just so splendid, I mean this man really knows how to use watercolours. Every little detail on the facial expressions and skies just
gives his drawings life (man I could not get over how serene he could make the sky wow!) Just looking at his work in different decades fills you nostalgia and delight.

But with all those things said about Michael, what has he done recently? Well, just last year Foreman collaborated with the king of the fools himself "Michael Rosen" to create "Blue". Though I've personally haven't read it, just looking at the illustrations online, it looks like Foreman has done it again by taking a colour he knows best and taking it to a higher level. Like many of his books I like to think this book has the same amount of charm and wonder that appeals to both readers young and old. Also, this year will mark the release of "The Amazing Tale of Ali Pasha" a book about the adventures of a seaman and his tortoise which is stated to be based on a true story.

In conclusion, if you haven't heard of Michael Foreman's work before, then may I advise you look at his work as well as his contributions to children's literature. Because he's not only an influence on my style but towards many young readers alike, I wouldn't have discovered such amazing stories and wouldn't have appreciated the art of illustration if it weren't for him. It would be a dream for me to actually meet Foreman and it would be a pleasure to shake his hand and thank for what he has done for my childhood. It'll be a sad day when this man is gone, but his work, his kindness and his impact on me as a person will truly live on.

Thank you, Michael Foreman