So much amazing animation! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re going through every year from the 21st century thus far, singling out the best animated show that premiered in each.
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00:00 "Oh my god, this is the most exciting thing we've ever done!"
00:02 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're going through every year
00:05 from the 21st century thus far, singling out the best animated show
00:09 that premiered in each.
00:10 "Whoa, this is worthless."
00:13 2000, As Told by Ginger.
00:17 Despite being nominated for three Primetime Emmys,
00:20 As Told by Ginger was somewhat underappreciated upon release.
00:24 "Okay, I've compiled a list of potential party guests
00:27 and put their names and vital information on flashcards.
00:30 Who is this, and what's her nickname?"
00:32 "Melissa Mipson, her friends call her Mipsy."
00:35 "Correct!"
00:36 Whereas most Nicktoons were 11-minute comedies,
00:39 creator Emily Kapnick delivered a surprisingly sophisticated teen
00:42 dramedy that didn't shy away from serious issues such as peer pressure,
00:46 abandonment, and depression.
00:47 Adding another level of realism,
00:49 the characters weren't restricted to repeating the same grade every season.
00:53 "Can we just try it, Orion?"
00:54 "Sure, yeah, absolutely."
00:57 Not only do we see Ginger and her friends move up through junior high,
01:00 but they all own more than one set of clothes.
01:03 We can only wonder if such a continuity-heavy show
01:06 would have performed better in a streaming age,
01:08 but that's all the more reason to catch up with it now.
01:11 Between Rugrats and Ginger,
01:13 Plaskey Chupo truly matured along with their audience.
01:16 "Man, it's nice to be missed, but this is getting a little embarrassing."
01:19 "Sit down, Ginger."
01:20 2001, Samurai Jack.
01:22 The new century ushered in a more experimental era for several animation brands.
01:27 The Proud family diversified the Disney Channel's library,
01:30 while Samurai Jack took Cartoon Network in an action-oriented direction.
01:33 "I am the lost son of the land that you have pillaged.
01:37 I am here to reclaim it."
01:39 Created by Genndy Tartakovsky on the heels of Dexter's Laboratory,
01:42 to simply call Samurai Jack an action series would do it a disservice.
01:46 While action drove the plot with minimal dialogue,
01:49 its unique world opened the door to endless genres.
01:52 "Do not worry. I have only begun to fight."
01:56 One week, Jack could find himself in a Frank Miller graphic novel.
02:00 The next, a brooding sci-fi film noir.
02:03 Yet all of these styles blended perfectly,
02:05 maintaining the same tone from story to story.
02:08 Even when season five leapt to straight-up adult territory,
02:11 there was an elegant consistency to the characters, world-building, and action.
02:16 "Look at you.
02:22 You've survived worse."
02:23 Kim Possible might not have been the first animated action heroine,
02:29 but she stood out for more than a few reasons.
02:32 "Wait, can you hack into the system controlling the animals?"
02:34 "Kim, it's the most sophisticated computer system I've ever seen."
02:38 "It's a banjo-playing bear."
02:39 "He took his banjo!"
02:40 While Kim embodied the term girl power,
02:43 she was also a strong-willed character who just so happened to be female.
02:47 It didn't aim to just be a girl show or a boy show,
02:50 delivering a mix of comedy, action, and teen drama that entertained everyone.
02:55 "Bonnie is your queen?"
02:57 "Thanks to you, Kim."
02:58 "Me? How?"
03:00 "You identified Bonnie as the bossiest on the planet. Perfect for our queen."
03:05 "Ugh, swell."
03:06 In addition to challenging gender norms,
03:08 Kim Possible did away with a lot of the tired tropes at the time,
03:11 such as giving the protagonist a secret identity.
03:14 We like that the world just accepts that this high schooler is a crime fighter.
03:18 Yet Kim has an easier time defeating Dr. Dracon than confronting a crush.
03:22 "Hey."
03:25 "Hey."
03:26 2003, Teen Titans.
03:28 Initially, there were plans to develop a Teen Titans show within the DC animated universe.
03:33 "Then, the Teen Titans are finished?"
03:36 "Not yet."
03:37 "Not if I can help it."
03:41 Although Bruce Timm served as a producer for two seasons,
03:45 DC ultimately decided to make a standalone Teen Titans series.
03:48 Shared universes are fun and all, but this proved to be a wise move.
03:52 It allowed Teen Titans to mold a wholly original identity,
03:56 tonally, thematically, and aesthetically.
03:58 "Please continue."
03:59 The creators went all in on an anime style at a time when most superhero shows were starting to
04:07 look the same. The writing wasn't afraid to be goofy, but the show also treated its characters
04:12 with gravitas, whether exploring typical teenage growing pains or a supernatural threat.
04:17 At the center were five heroes relatable enough to be in the breakfast club.
04:21 "Next time a creature goes down the sewer, I say we just let it go."
04:24 2004, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
04:28 Our imagination has no limits, but live action does.
04:32 That is precisely why Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends was born for the animation medium.
04:37 "I'm Blue, and this is my boy Mac."
04:39 "Hey Blue."
04:40 "Hey Mac."
04:40 "Hi."
04:41 Craig McCracken's sophomore outing following the Powerpuff Girls,
04:44 Foster's took a seemingly ordinary orphanage and invented a world of its own.
04:47 While the titular home could feel like a living, breathing character,
04:51 it was the occupants who breathed life into the walls.
04:54 Whether a character was a simple blue cylinder or a chicken/palm tree hybrid,
04:58 every imaginary friend beamed with personality.
05:01 The premise allowed the animators to literally let their imaginations run wild,
05:10 winning seven Primetime Emmys and five Annie's in the process.
05:13 It's a show that inspires viewers to keep imagining and creating, no matter how old you are.
05:18 "I haven't seen an imagination as pure as that since, well, me!"
05:23 2005, Avatar The Last Airbender.
05:28 The 90s were game-changing for TV animation,
05:30 but the 21st century has taken everything to the next level.
05:34 "You just sneezed and flew 10 feet in the air."
05:37 "Really? It felt higher than that."
05:39 It's debatable when this golden age commenced,
05:41 but we can safely say that the industry was never the same after Avatar.
05:45 Drawing inspiration from classic stories and philosophies,
05:48 Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko created a lore so rich that the four nations feel real.
05:54 "The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon."
06:00 Almost as real as the characters, who unearth more layers as we dive deeper into the mythology.
06:05 In a show about bringing harmony back to a divided world,
06:08 Avatar achieved an unprecedented balance with its character development,
06:12 fusion of genres, and pacing, delivering three immensely satisfying seasons.
06:17 Along with Ben 10, the influence of Avatar is still felt almost 20 years later.
06:23 "You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving,
06:29 you will come to a better place."
06:35 2006, Metalocalypse.
06:38 If we had to describe Adult Swim in one word, it would have to be rebellion.
06:43 "We're here to make coffee metal. We will make everything metal.
06:48 Blacker than the blackest black times infinity."
06:51 Since launching at the dawn of the century,
06:53 this brand has constantly rebelled against conventional storytelling and good taste,
06:57 resonating with an edgier generation.
06:59 It's only natural that the most rebellious name in late-night animation
07:02 would go hand in hand with death metal.
07:05 "Friends? We can't afford to have friends these days."
07:07 "It's too pricey for fame."
07:09 "Bunch of caged rats. That's what we are.
07:12 A bunch of caged rats that are also death metal musicians."
07:15 "Yeah, we're the rats, and look what's on the other side of the cage."
07:19 Teaming with Tommy Blacha,
07:20 Brendan Small injected Metalocalypse with an irreverent humor that he brought to home movies.
07:25 Although the series satirizes heavy metal along with the hardcore fandom,
07:29 it's just as much a love letter with music that captures the essence of the genre.
07:34 The series was also a breakthrough for animation studio Titmouse,
07:37 which draped every frame in apocalyptic glory on a limited budget.
07:41 2007 - Phineas and Ferb
07:47 Dan Pauvenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh spent so many years pitching Phineas and Ferb
07:52 that its genesis can be traced to their work on Rocco's Modern Life.
07:56 "I asked my imaginary friend Ferb to do it."
07:58 "You lie!"
08:00 The general concern seemed to be that the premise was too complex.
08:03 On paper, the show is a hodgepodge of ideas that shouldn't go together.
08:07 Two stepbrothers making the most of their summer,
08:10 a sister trying to expose their exploits,
08:12 a secret age platypus battling a mad pharmacist...er, scientist.
08:16 "Hey, I must apologize. All of my traps are platypus-sized."
08:19 Yet these offbeat ingredients resulted in a brilliant formula that somehow never gets old.
08:24 That's largely because the characters are so likable and the comedy is so clever
08:28 without over-relying on cynicism.
08:31 At its core is a meaningful message about embracing creativity,
08:34 no matter how complex your idea sounds.
08:36 "The day may come when we'll give up on fruitless searches after a mere 11 minutes,
08:41 but that day is not today."
08:43 2008 - The Spectacular Spider-Man
08:46 Like Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man is a Greg Weissman show that ended well before its time.
08:52 "Oh, Peter. You lead such a sheltered life."
08:56 For a series that only lasted 26 episodes,
08:59 Weissman and company managed to cover numerous origin stories and classic comic book arcs
09:03 without ever feeling overstuffed.
09:05 Unlike some of the live-action movies,
09:08 this show knew how to juggle multiple villains while still having Peter Parker's struggles at the heart.
09:13 "I thought we could head over together and maybe score a little cross-town bus privacy for a real talk."
09:18 It demonstrated a clear understanding of the titular character with a few inspired twists.
09:24 Speaking of which, the show knew how to keep us on our toes with surprises
09:28 that subverted even the sharpest of spider senses.
09:30 Although short-lived, the show has maintained such a devoted following
09:34 that The Spectacular Spider-Man made a prominent cameo in across the Spider-Verse.
09:39 "We know it's hard, but it's the truth, Miles."
09:43 2009 - Wolverine and the X-Men
09:45 Here's another Marvel show that was cut short after just 26 episodes.
09:49 "Who wants help?"
09:53 Like Spectacular Spider-Man, Wolverine and the X-Men made the most of its limited run.
09:57 Etching out a respectable following in the years since its cancellation.
10:01 "Who... who are you?"
10:04 "We're the X-Men."
10:09 The series balanced elements of the early 2000s cartoon X-Men Evolution
10:13 and even the live-action movies.
10:15 Thankfully, it was infinitely better than the Wolverine movie that came out the same year.
10:19 Steve Blum is a natural choice to voice Wolverine,
10:22 but he's far from the show's only bright spot.
10:24 In true X-Men fashion, this is an ensemble piece
10:28 with standout incarnations of Emma Frost and Rogue.
10:31 Touching upon the Dark Phoenix saga and Age of Apocalypse,
10:34 the show did justice to classic X-Men story arcs with a few twists.
10:38 "So that was her, huh?"
10:39 "What? You were listening in?"
10:42 "Uh, yeah. Who wouldn't?"
10:44 2010 - Adventure Time
10:46 Cartoon Network entered a new decade with two of its acclaimed franchises,
10:51 Regular Show and Adventure Time.
10:53 "Finn, truth or dare?"
10:54 "Dare! Ha ha!"
10:56 "I dare you to tell me the truth about what's going on in your mind.
11:01 What were you and Bubblegum talking about when you were alone together?"
11:04 Pendleton Ward's creation in particular would set a tone
11:07 for a lot of the animated shows that followed.
11:10 Before Adventure Time, cartoons could generally be divided into two groups,
11:14 silly and episodic or serious and serialized.
11:17 Adventure Time starts as the former,
11:19 but slowly evolves into the latter while remaining faithful to its roots.
11:23 "Finn, sometimes you want someone and you want to kiss them and be with them,
11:30 but you can't because responsibility demands sacrifice."
11:35 Although the Land of Ooo is populated with colorful characters,
11:38 a dark backstory lurks beneath,
11:40 with protagonist Finn learning some difficult life lessons along the way.
11:44 For all of the heavy-handed turns,
11:46 Adventure Time never loses its eccentric humor or optimism.
11:50 The outcome is childish and adult,
11:52 having its fries and eating them too.
11:54 "Daddy, why did you eat my fries?
11:58 I bought them and they were mine."
12:02 2011 - Bob's Burgers
12:05 By 2011, Family Guy was becoming more reliant on shock humor
12:09 while The Simpsons leaned more into random pop culture gags.
12:12 Bob's Burgers would liven up the animation domination menu
12:16 with its character-driven comedy.
12:17 "Alright, listen, you're my children and I love you,
12:20 but you're all terrible at what you do here,
12:24 and I feel like I should tell you, I'd fire all of you if I could."
12:27 At first, the Belchers might seem like archetypes
12:30 that we've seen in other animated sitcoms.
12:32 However, there's only one Tina, one Jean, and one Louise.
12:37 "What is this feeling I'm feeling right now?
12:39 It's like I'm sad for another person?
12:42 It's not a thing!
12:43 Am I going crazy?"
12:44 As one-of-a-kind as the characters are,
12:46 they all come across as identifiable.
12:49 Part of that's because the Belchers remind us that no family is normal.
12:53 The same can be said about the Wattersons,
12:55 who we also met this year.
12:56 It's the Belchers who keep us coming back the most though,
13:00 making Bob's Burgers one of the most enduring comedies currently airing.
13:03 "Lynn, this isn't a crazy day.
13:05 This is a perfectly average day at Bob's Burgers.
13:08 This kind of stuff happens all the time,
13:11 and I'm so glad you came by to take it in!"
13:14 2012 - Gravity Falls
13:16 Gravity Falls wasn't just the best animated show to debut this year.
13:20 It was arguably the most absorbing supernatural mystery to unfold this century.
13:25 "Hi, Mabel here.
13:26 Quick question.
13:27 What the heck is going on here?"
13:29 You could attribute this to the clues hidden throughout the series
13:32 and cliffhangers that left us eagerly awaiting each new episode.
13:36 Our investment in the overarching mystery truly resides within the characters.
13:40 Whether or not the mystery of Gravity Falls had a satisfying outcome,
13:44 we still would have felt rewarded,
13:45 having solved it alongside such charming, quotable characters.
13:49 "Can I have my hands back?
13:50 I have a certain gesture I'd like to share with you."
13:53 That said, creator Alex Hirsch knew how to stick the landing,
13:56 building to a finale that delivered answers,
13:59 but more importantly, delivered emotional payoffs as well as comedic payoffs.
14:03 Like Summer Vacation, it flew by quickly,
14:06 but the memories will last a lifetime.
14:12 "Ready to head into the unknown?"
14:14 "Nope. Let's do it."
14:16 2013, Rick and Morty.
14:19 By the end of its first season,
14:21 Rick and Morty had amassed a following so passionate
14:23 that you'd swear the show had been on longer than Doctor Who.
14:26 "Jesus, Morty, you're bumming me out.
14:28 Can't we just pretend like everything's fine for a few hours,
14:30 enjoy ourselves, and then worry about all this later?"
14:33 "Yeah, that's easy for you to say, Rick.
14:35 You know, you like not caring about stuff.
14:37 You know, what's in this for me?"
14:39 Then again, Rick and Morty experimented with more ideas
14:42 in those first 11 episodes than most shows do in their entire run.
14:46 So it's no wonder why people immediately connected
14:48 with its infinite universes, inventive concepts,
14:51 and humor so meta that it didn't just break the fourth wall.
14:54 It broke a fifth wall that only Rick knew existed.
14:57 "I mean, it's funny when I do a little nod to the viewers, but-"
14:59 "What viewers?"
15:00 "That's the right attitude, Morty."
15:02 2013 would deliver two shows about young men
15:04 who are regularly roped into earth-shattering adventures.
15:07 We're sure Morty would like to trade places with Steven Universe,
15:11 but you can't have Rick without Morty.
15:13 Or at least, a Morty.
15:14 "What we can do is break his age in two places,
15:16 remove the middle, and graft its ends back together."
15:19 "That sounds really violent."
15:20 "It's not a literal bone, Morty."
15:22 "Oh, okay."
15:23 "Brace yourself. The process does also break every bone in your body."
15:26 2014, BoJack Horseman.
15:28 With BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg created a show
15:32 that won't just have you looking at animation in a different light.
15:35 "Mr. Peanut Butter and BoJack Horseman in the same room.
15:39 What is this, a crossover episode?"
15:41 "You know, that gets funnier every time."
15:43 This series prompts a rethinking of comedy, drama, and where the two intersect.
15:48 The first episode opens on the most absurd note possible,
15:52 following a washed-up actor who starred in a TGIF-esque sitcom during the 90s.
15:57 Oh, and he's a horse.
15:58 If we told you that this evolved into a character study
16:01 that takes several tragic turns, you'd call us crazy.
16:04 "I can't keep lying to myself, saying I'm gonna change. I'm poison."
16:07 "BoJack."
16:08 "I come from poison. I have poison inside me, and I destroy everything I touch.
16:12 That's my legacy."
16:14 If we told you that Will Arnett's performance as the titular antihero
16:17 displayed the raw humanity one might find at the actor's studio,
16:20 you'd swear that we were horsing around.
16:22 Just as the series transforms, though, so does the viewer's perception of art itself.
16:28 "She was really good at dispensing life lessons
16:30 that always seemed to circle back to everything being my fault."
16:33 2015, F is for Family.
16:35 1972 saw the premiere of Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home,
16:39 which some consider the first animated sitcom primarily for adults.
16:43 F is for Family exemplifies how the definition of an adult animated sitcom
16:47 has evolved in the past 40 years, but it keeps the 70s setting.
16:50 "Oh, that's real funny, Dad. You know what else is funny?"
16:53 "Aside from your haircut? What?"
16:55 Although this series from Bill Burr and Michael Price is draped in a 70s aesthetic,
16:59 it doesn't approach the decade in a way that comes off cliche or even fondly nostalgic.
17:04 "I'm going to bed."
17:05 "It's only 7.30."
17:08 "It's midnight in my mind."
17:11 It may be animated, but there's a blunt reality to F is for Family,
17:15 both in its portrayal of the 70s and its characters,
17:18 who are believable enough to be from any decade.
17:21 It goes to show that while the times change, family dynamics don't.
17:25 "We're Murphy men! What do we do?"
17:27 "We shove it down."
17:29 "That's right. And later in life, we take it out on someone else."
17:33 2016 - The Loud House
17:35 In recent years, Nickelodeon has become increasingly dependent on Spongebob reruns,
17:40 Spongebob spin-offs, Spongebob specials. Basically, it's the Spongebob network.
17:45 After only a month on the air, The Loud House managed to overtake the impregnable
17:50 sponge in the ratings, becoming Nick's biggest original hit in years.
17:54 "You can yell all you want, but I'm already in the seat.
17:57 And possession is nine-tenths of the law."
17:59 "You're gonna possess a bruise in a minute."
18:03 "Get him!"
18:05 You're bound to find at least one character to identify with in The Loud Family,
18:09 which is comprised of ten distinct sisters and a brother caught in the middle.
18:13 An ensemble piece through and through,
18:15 The Loud House will leave only children envious that they don't have a sibling.
18:18 "Okay, Lucy, I'm gonna need you to smile."
18:21 "I can't see that happening."
18:23 "I can't see anything happening!"
18:25 For those who do come from a big family, you'll connect with the frustrations,
18:29 but you'll also be grateful for the dysfunction that comes with the territory.
18:33 "Ronnie Anne has a brother? I thought she was raised by trolls."
18:36 "That is exactly what Bobby was talking about!"
18:41 2017 - Big Mouth
18:43 Life is like a hurricane in Duckburg, as the 2017 DuckTales reboot reminded us.
18:48 You know what else is like a hurricane? Puberty.
18:51 "What the hell is wrong with me?"
18:52 "Nothing. You're a perfectly normal, gross little dirtbag."
18:56 If that metaphor had you laughing and nodding,
18:58 Big Mouth is loaded with clever allegories to that not-so-pleasant time when childhood
19:03 slowly dies and you realize that life will never be as rosy, other than your acne.
19:08 "Me and my big mouth."
19:09 "Big mouth? That's a show."
19:12 Growing up is messy in more ways than one,
19:15 but you also get to discover exciting new parts of yourself.
19:18 If you're wondering if Big Mouth is full of cheeky innuendos like that,
19:22 the answer is no.
19:23 The characters are far more direct about the subject matter.
19:26 When the hormone monster comes knocking, though, sometimes it's better to let it all out.
19:31 Okay, we'll stop.
19:32 "If you need me, I'll be in the bubble bath, watching Dr. Drew Pinsky.
19:36 He looks like a sexy turtle."
19:38 2018 - Hilda
19:40 2018 gave us two shows about lovable young girls known for their blue hair,
19:44 or blue fur in Bluey's case.
19:47 While both shows have an ageless appeal,
19:49 Hilda feels as if it could have been made in any decade.
19:52 "Hold on, Mr. Troll. It's okay."
19:55 Every element from the artistry inspired by Luke Pearson's graphic novels
19:59 to the way the characters talk carries a sentiment that transcends time.
20:02 What sets the show apart above all else is its quiet, atmospheric moments.
20:07 For all of the thrilling adventures that Hilda embarks on,
20:09 it's the little things that immerse us in this cozy world.
20:12 "Are you trying new things because your life's in a rut?
20:15 Eating people won't fill that void."
20:18 Hilda warrants comparison to the works of Hayao Miyazaki
20:21 with its seamless blending of nature and domestic life,
20:24 as well as fantasy and reality, making the two seem interchangeable.
20:28 "This is the coolest thing ever!"
20:30 2019 - Harley Quinn
20:33 On the 2005 commentary track for the Batman The Animated Series episode "Harlequinade,"
20:38 the creators briefly discussed the challenges that might go into making a Harley Quinn show.
20:42 Harley has proven more popular than even Paul Dini and Bruce Timm likely imagined,
20:47 taking center stage almost a decade later.
20:49 "You look fantastic. Is that new lipstick?"
20:52 "You treated me bad. You lied to me. You never loved me."
20:57 Inheriting the role from the late Arlene Sorkin,
21:00 Hayley Cuoco is an inspired choice for the Joker's ex-henchwoman looking to make it on her own,
21:05 with some backup from Poison Ivy.
21:07 "Ivy, you came to save me?"
21:09 "Look, I always do. My entire existence seems to be spent cleaning up your f***ing messes."
21:14 Although Harley Quinn isn't afraid to be a flat-out satire of Batman,
21:17 the writers have a firm grasp on what makes these characters tick.
21:21 The show is pure anarchy, but it's also thoughtful with more heart than expected,
21:26 which sums up Harley in a nutshell.
21:28 "I'll be seeing you soon, Mr. J."
21:30 2020 - The Owl House
21:33 The Owl House is another series that deserved more episodes than it ultimately got.
21:37 "Flying staffs, crazy monsters, you're a witch! What is this place?"
21:42 "This is the Boiling Isles. Every myth you humans have is caused by a little of our world
21:48 leaking into yours."
21:50 This Peabody award-winning fantasy show nonetheless managed to cover a ton of ground
21:54 during its relatively brisk run. We're not just talking about fleshing out its mythology.
21:58 Although, Dana Terras did create an intricate fantasy world that we desperately want to explore.
22:03 Its portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters is where the show made the most progress, however.
22:08 "Amytee, it's okay. What if I went to Grom with you instead?"
22:12 "Really?"
22:14 The Owl House is about normalizing concepts that might seem strange to others.
22:18 Be it a human girl in a mystical realm or fantastical creatures coming to our world.
22:23 For the generation lucky enough to grow up with Luz and Amity,
22:26 they can see that love comes in many forms and they're all magical.
22:30 "Do you want to go out with me?"
22:31 "No, I was so ready."
22:34 2021 - Arcane
22:37 Arcane and Invincible are among the most well-written animated shows that we've ever seen.
22:42 "Vander learns none of this."
22:44 "No worries there. Powder took care of the evidence."
22:47 "I tried, okay? You don't get it. You're older, you're bigger. It isn't fair."
22:52 "So stick with us. Take a punch or two."
22:54 If we had to single out one of them,
22:56 Arcane takes precedence for its enormous leaps forward in the animation department.
23:01 Between the League of Legends source material and other animation game changers like Into the
23:05 Spider-Verse, one can definitely see where the inspiration for Arcane came from.
23:09 "Betrayal. That pain that feels like it'll eat you from the inside out.
23:16 Can either break you or forge you into something greater."
23:20 At the same time, there's a visual language to Arcane that simultaneously feels cutting-edge
23:25 and timeless enough to sit alongside a classic work of art. While every frame is sensory overload,
23:31 it's all rooted in a rousing, often tragic story with characters we care about.
23:36 Arcane may punish us for caring about these characters,
23:39 but that won't stop us from becoming invested.
23:41 "We lost ourselves. Lost our dream. In the pursuit of great, we fail to do good."
23:49 2022. The Legend of Vox Machina.
23:54 Dungeons and Dragons is a common source of inspiration,
23:57 Critical Role being one of the most beloved titles to derive from the tabletop RPG.
24:01 "Oi, Tavern Keep! Another round for Vox Machina,
24:05 the greatest band of mercenaries in all the realm!"
24:08 Considering that a group of voice actors devised that property,
24:10 an animated adaptation seemed inevitable. Even if you weren't familiar with Critical
24:15 Role beforehand, Vox Machina's members are so well-defined that you instantly
24:19 gravitate towards all of them. "I'm sorry, who the hell are you?"
24:22 "Vox Machina. You see, it's actually a somewhat clever play on words."
24:27 "Honestly, we don't care."
24:28 Although you quickly get a sense of what each character is about,
24:31 everyone has layers waiting to be peeled back between epic battles and over-the-top comedy.
24:36 "It's not a door, it's a thing of evil."
24:39 While Vox Machina captures the fun of playing D&D with friends,
24:42 it also understands that this is more than the game. It isn't until you become
24:47 attached to a character that you comprehend how real the stakes are.
24:50 "Kass, I'm so sorry. I wish I could go back and do things differently."
24:57 "I know."
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25:14 2023 - Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
25:19 With an art style faithful to Brian Lee O'Malley's graphic novels,
25:22 and the cast from the 2010 live-action film Lending Their Voices,
25:26 Scott Pilgrim Takes Off seemed like it would be a straightforward retelling of the story we know.
25:30 "Hey." "Hi."
25:38 The series takes a drastic turn in its first episode, however. This easily could have provided
25:43 loyalists with grounds to rage quit, but O'Malley and company conceived an engaging alternate story
25:48 while staying true to the source material's spirit. "I'd like to thank you all for coming
25:52 out to see me." The series provides more development for Ramona, her evil exes,
25:57 and the other supporting players. Yet the plot still revolves around Scott. Whereas most beloved
26:02 properties just copy and paste the same formula, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off goes in a new direction,
26:07 and levels up because of this. "Wait, hold on. Who are you exactly and why are we fighting?"
26:14 What's your favorite animated show of the 21st century? Let us know in the comments.
26:18 "You probably know this, but in the early 90s there were two different Sonic cartoons airing
26:22 at the same time. One was dark and dramatic, the other was a hilarious comedy about chili dogs,
26:28 and the same guy played Sonic in both shows. Isn't that wild?"
26:32 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
26:36 and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
26:40 [Music]