The (kinda) return of FOX’s ADHD

 

For the next two Thursday nights we get sneaks, but on January 22nd, the block formerly known as Animation Domination Hi-Def gets its return on FXX. This officially gives Adult Swim some new competition, and the lineup is fierce. The kick-off begins with Lucas Bros. Moving Company and Stone Quackers, but we have to wonder what’s next after eight episodes air for both? Hopefully it’s more Major Lazer, or just as hopefully the returns of Axe Cop, High School USA!, and/or Golan the Insatiable. It’s about time FOX ADHD studios gets to truly spread its wings, and it had to happen on the (other) network that The Simpsons built…FXX

Black Dynamite Season Two Finale

Some could have questioned the future of this franchise on television given the schedule and the delayed start. But then something happened. Black Dynamite not only trucked along with a more than solid season, but now the show has a chance to coincide during some of the most tumultuous race tensions that we’ve seen since arguably the 1960s. Everyday the news talks of race, riots, and distrust of local authorities and on January 10th, Carl Jones and crew get set to premier the season finale of Black Dynamite with an episode entitled ”Wizard of Watts”, a Wizard of Oz take that sees our titular hero arrive in a dream world with guess what? Race, riots and distrust of local authorities. Adult Swim might have a gold mine here, and they don’t even know it.

Rick and Morty Season Two

Rick and Morty just got done winning back-to-back ‘Best Show of the Year’ from us, and now we’ve got a second season that COULD start as early as June 2015. But, how do you top brilliance? Is it going back to the well and doing episodes with known characters like the MeeSeeks? Or do Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland go back to the drawing board and start from scratch? In any case, we can’t wait to find out!

Venture Bros. Special

 

On January 19th, 2015, the Ventures reach into the depths of space and as Ridley Scott and as Aliens have taught us, no one can hear you scream in space, though something tells me Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick plan to break those rules.

Moonbeam City

By far the sickest animated trailer of 2014 (with Major Lazer being a close second), Moonbeam City has the makings of being a sure-fire hit. Yea, I know I’ve seen the comments, too. The show’s concept seems all too similar to Archer, right? Well, in a world with 15 Law and Orders, the majority of the TV watching audience here in America isn’t too worried about similarities. And with a STELLAR voice cast that includes Rob Lowe, Will Forte, Kate Mara, and Elizabeth Banks, this show has the names to take anyone to task. Throw in one of the most original aesthetics for an animated series that I’ve ever seen, and you’ve got a reason to be excited about what could be Comedy Central’s next bit animated hit.

Ted 2

 

I think it’s hysterical that we have trailers for Star Wars, The Avengers 2, and Star Wars, but we have yet to see anything about the sequel to one of the biggest comedy films in the history of film. Yep, that’s Ted 2, but with the Super Bowl fast approaching, I would think that a trailer premier is coming sooner rather than later. My vote is for sooner…like really sooner.

Bordertown

 

This Seth MacFarlane-produced series was supposed to start this Spring on FOX, but when the network put out its mid-season schedule there was no sign of a start date. I really hope a Murder Police doesn’t happen here, because the series’ concept has so much promise and a rather rad voice cast lead off by the brilliant Hank Azaria (The Simpsons). Maybe the show premiers over the Summer and we get some original programming to help break up the often monotonous reruns of FOX cartoons on Sunday Nights? One could hope…if not there’s always TBS.

American Dad’s 200th episode

 

Speaking of TBS, they have successfully revived an animated franchise most thought would have been dead by now. Instead, American Dad has been ordered for yet ANOTHER season on TBS, but in the meantime we get to see the 200th episode. Not much is known about it except that the episode will be some sort of post-apocalyptic affair which should air sometime in February.

Yoda in Star Wars Rebels

Why should you be excited about this? Because it’s fucking Yoda in Star Wars Rebels voiced by Mr. Cookie Monster himself Mr. Frank Oz. I could tell you why that’s bad-ass, or you can just watch the trailer which just came out yesterday. Star Wars Rebels premiers January 5th only on Disney XD.

Kickstarted  Projects

For fans everywhere looking for something post-Legend of Korra to help quench your thirst for more 2D animated action, I give you three of four of these successfully Kickstarted campaigns. Under the Dog, Hullabaloo, and Urbance are helping to revitalize an industry that has been all but raped and pillaged here in the United States. What’s also interesting as that all three projects are rather different, with Under the Dog you get an animated sci-fi thriller, Hullabaloo is giving steam punk fans everywhere hope that there’s more where this comes from, and Urbance shows influences derived from hip-hop and dance markets that are largely untapped in animated television.

Last but not least, the grandfather of dirty cartoons aka Ralph Bakshi gets ready to release his Last Days of Coney Island which should do for Ralph what Cheatin’ did for Bill Plympton…garner awards and trips to Paris.