A couple of days ago, I remarked on a 1972 animated movie that combined the King Features Syndicate characters as part of an omni-shared universe.
Well, apparently, this next “shared universe” collaboration features content not from a single publishing entity, but instead from a single cable television broadcast entity.
Specifically, Cartoon Network.
And even more specifically, their after-hours block Adult Swim.
For in addition to several animated reruns of shows like King of the Hill and Family Guy, Adult Swim created some legendary and well-loved adult animated programs. For me, their hallmark show was The Venture Brothers, an animated series that spoofed the classic 1980’s action show Jonny Quest and built an entire mythos and over-arching storyline that spanned nearly two decades and contained more pop-culture references than one would think possible.
I also had some appreciation for Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law – a show that took the 1960’s-era Hanna-Barbera action-adventure character of Birdman and turned him into a bumbling litigator. And if you’re going to have Birdman in this series, well, let’s bring the entire Hanna-Barbera cast of characters in on the fun.
Arguably Aqua Teen Hunger Force is the most surreal show in the Adult Swim catalogue. Because where else can you see sentient Happy Meal food items who live together in a dilapidated New Jersey suburb, with storylines that make more sense when you’re tripping on some mind-altering pharmaceuticals?
And let’s not forget Mike Tyson Mysteries, where the legendary boxer is part of a “mystery team” that includes his daughter, a sentient pigeon, and the ghost of the Marquess of Queensbury. And the legend has it that Mike Tyson did the voice of his own character – while he was stoned out of his mind on the best weed possible.
So what happens when someone tries to combine all these distinct characters and storylines into one cohesive unit?
You get the upcoming Robot Chicken animated spoof special that honors Adult Swim’s 25th anniversary. Yep, this means the Aqua Teen Hunger Force meet up with the Venture Brothers, while Mike Tyson has to deal in court with Harvey Birdman.
All combined in glorious stop-motion animation.
No, I am not hallucinating.
I’ve got the video clips right here.
Wowie. I want to see this for no other reason than to try to figure out how the Robot Chicken creators were able to cram all these dissonant factors together – and still have room for other Adult Swim features like the Davey & Goliath rip-off Moral Orel, the heavy metal band Dethklok from Metalapocalypse, and – dare I say it – an appearance by Space Ghost from his Space Ghost Coast to Coast incarnation?
Yeah, this looks so surreal it might just work.
It might.
And it airs on Adult Swim on August 30, with a rebroadcast on HBO Max the next day.
Have to put this on my “must see” schedule. 😀
Chuck The Writer 