5 Favorite Animated Shows Cancelled Before Their Prime
Submitted by Arbit on Fri, 07/29/2005 - 12:18
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- Futurama - It lasted longer than I had expected. Like many shows the first season was just a warm up, and from season 2 until its cancellation, I believe it only got better. I've always like sci-fi, and proving that a Fox show could still have such energy, make me laugh so frequently, and still have heart reminded me of some of the earlier days of the Simpsons (Seasons 4-9). Honestly, Futurama is not the Simpsons. I think it had a vaster universe, more characters, and while it never reached the brilliance he Simpsons did in its prime, I firmly believe it came close. The show was cancelled while it was still fresh, inventive, and wonderful, and I cannot help but linger on the great things that may have come after watching its final episode several times through (The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings), I sigh at Fox's choice to cut this show down.
- Clerks: The Animated Series - It may not have been the greatest, but really, it was never given any kind of chance. First seasons are almost always rocky, and I think this brief merging of Kevin Smith humor and animation faired very well for having such a limited run. I watch the DVDs, and cannot help but wonder why, after hyping the show, ABC could stifle it so quickly, easily, and without regrets. Crass humor? Yes. Creative, slightly nerdy Crass humor? Some of the best there has ever been. Bold moves like having the second episode be a flashback episode makes me wish Comedy Central, or almost any cable network had aired this show...
- Invader Zim - I'm a sucker for stylish animation. I also like quirky, dark humor. I think Nickelodeon, a network that is still reeling and hoping to get back to the golden old days of legend many of us still remember, could have used to merchandise and keep a bit of its old prolific spirit alive in exchange for airing it. It is darker than the standard children's fare...but it was so entertaining...and weird...and funny. I think this show oozed creativity, and seeing where the plot and characters were going before the budget was cut and it ended, it removes the last reason I had to watch the network of my childhood.
- Daria - I liked this show a lot. Does that make me one of those awkward, anti-establishment teenagers? I don't think so, because I never really felt like emulating the main characters, but I really did enjoy the stance took on many of the funny little things most of us learn to shrug off. It was not really a mainstream show, and it only had a couple really, really funny moments...but I liked the plots, and it was one of the few shows I have encountered that was able to stay fresh and enjoyable through an entire episode without losing any steam. A good show all-around...even if it did get a tiny bit weaker near the end, 'Is it College Yet' reminded me how much I appreciated the show just being around, and how much I as going to miss it.
- Mission Hill - It didn't see much airtime on the WB, and like Clerks, it was not even given a chance to thrive. I think the reason I loved this show is because I really, really liked the characters. All of them had heard, and their development in the shows single season was significant, yet not rushed. Every episode was funny, creative, and not all too unrealistic. The blend of personalities made for many amusing interactions. The show was wlling to take risks with interesting animation techniques, and more importantly in esoteric humor. I know it sounds corny, but every show ended with me smiling.
Author Comments:
I've always been a fan of animated shows. I remember being verbally assaulted by grandmother from an early age (7 or 8) about how I'm too old for them, and how they're silly. It is possible that my defiance and person swear I will always love 'cartoons' has led me to remain a fan all these years...or simply the increase in quality shows aimed that more adult audiences. Shows that were funny in a witting or shocking way...ones that made me laugh. I've excluded from this list shows that were cancelled, then brough back (Family Guy), foreign shows (Cowboy Bebop), and shows that I'm sure will be cancelled too soon, but won another season by pure luck (Venture Brothers). I honestly still miss these shows, and often times will verbally question why they were cancelled when I am lucky enough to see them.
I have my fingers crossed for venture brothers season 2... which i'm skeptical will even happen although it has been picked up.
home movies is another one I would have on the list... great show, i'm just discovering it but apparently it was one of those one season wonders that got rediscovered a few years later, still 3 seasons is not nearly enough.
How could I forget Home Movies? Probably would have been a better choice than several of the ones I mentioned...
Home Movies is the show that really upped my respect for cartoon network...it showed the network was actually willing to pick up a DOA arrival show that was a bit offbeat, and start cranking out new episodes. The series was great until its last...and at least there was enough warning so that a final episode could be made, so we had some closure...