Welcome to our first Reheat'd segment, where we look at how a particular property has changed over the years. Today we have Andrew Spohn from the delightful podcast Amusement Sparks on the show, and he brought us a real treat. The new She-ra show takes the core positive message of female empowerment and builds on that ideal, including tons of representation without beating you over the head. Add onto that a solid set of voice actors, get rid of some of the He-man toy-mania that was slowing it down, wait 30 years for the public to pick up what you're putting down, and you have a great reimagining of a show well worth dusting off for a new generation. For the Honor of Grayskull!
121 - Alvin and the Chipmunks
With only a night before the big show, Ben and Zane had to get the band back together. They called Gary Lane to fill in the third spot in their classic band "The Cartoncasters" and went to practicing. Unfortunately, a series of comedic mishaps involving a disco ball, super-glue, doughnut holes prevented them from getting anything done until the show. They tuned their instruments as best they could and tried to pump up the crowd, but before long there was a riot on their hands. They had to call in a Witch Doctor to put a hex on the audience so they would forget all about this show...at least for 20 years or so.
120 - Bootlegg'd - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Welcome to a world in disarray, and a story of humanity hanging on to supremacy by its fingernails. Nausicaa of the Valley of the wind can be recommended for many things - its storytelling, an effective and independent female protagonist, being the effective start of the famous Studio Ghibli - but at its core is much more than that. The excellent art design and worldbuilding allow Miyazaki to breathe his ideal of pacifism into a compelling fantasy tale that's brimming with imagination and message. So jump on your radical airgliders and make sure you have your full complement of insect repellent - it's gonna be a wild ride.
119 - The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
Ben and Zane signed up for an adventure. "Pirates, swag, booty, what more could you ask for?" They buckled their swashes and went to the address posted on the quest board. It was a dock on the outskirts of town, and rather than a house, a boat, or a houseboat, there was a whale. It opened its mouth and out came two creatures. One, a fresh-faced little boy, and the other some disfigured wretch wearing galoshes. "Here," he said, his voice gnarly enough to warp a mizzenmast, "he's all yours." The Cartoncasters looked after the child for a day of tiresome lollygagging, but there was no whale to return him to in the evening. Tossing him into the murky waters, they agreed that things would probably work themselves out.
118 - Clone High
Ben and Zane were visiting the annual 'Shadowy Cabal Society Meeting' (the networking opportunities are excellent) when one of the members began bragging about Clone High, a high school full of cloned famous people throughout history. The Cartoncasters were riveted as they were told tales of loving, learning, sharing, and judging. It was only when he started talking about how it related to the principle and his wacky robot butler that their eyes started to glaze over; honestly, they should've stuck with the sexy teens.
117 - Beetlejuice
The Cartoncasters just moved into this great new house in the middle of nowhere. It's a bit of a fixer-upper, but luckily Dan Caves was able to come by to help out. After redecorating a few rooms, they started hearing some strange sounds, like a voice on vinyl telling them to tally bananas. They decided that they were being haunted, and hit the books to figure out how to have a proper exorcism. Then they just ignored all that continuity and watched Beetlejuice the animated series instead.
116 - Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Ben and Zane once again found themselves in the middle of a techno-anarcho-revolution. Cowards that they are, the Cartoncasters hurried to figure out the situation so that they could best ingratiate themselves with the side best able to protect them. It was...difficult. The rebels seemed to be in the right, claiming that the Alliance's use of Noultramium was a clear violation of the Peace Accords of 20XX (named for the Peace Accordions, of course). The Alliance, for their part, said that the rebels were targeting civilians with mind-control. Eventually they gave up and joined the Tarot Turncoats, clearly a group of double-agents, but at least they had cool haircuts.
115 - Bootlegg'd - The Land Before Time
In the adolescence of animated features, Little Foot and his motley band of dinosaurs captured the hearts of children everywhere. Drawing inspiration from titans like Fantasia and Bambi, as well as that indefinable natural allure of the titans that once ruled the earth, The Land Before Time has endured the eons. Join us - as well as special guest J.T. Andrews of the Cocktail Party Congress - to rediscover a story about loss, community, and love.
114 - Arthur
Ben and Zane were having a wonderful kind of day walking down the streets of Elwood City. But there was a problem: they couldn't find their lucky egg! They looked on the street and on the sidewalks. Where was the egg? They looked on top of the buildings and inside the stores. Where was the egg? They asked the policeman and the crossing guard. Where was the egg? Finally, they asked Arthur, who seemed like a knowledgeable...person? He said he had the same problem last week, but after 22 minutes of searching he realized that he had left it at home, and it turned out that the Cartoncasters did too! Ah, the simple life.
113 - Ultimate Spider-Man
Ben and Zane were hesitant to join SHIELD, the Society Helping In Egg-related Leisures Distribution, but after a quick tour and being given their complimentary motorcycles, they warmed to it. The only problem was the sheer number of people in masks standing around, shouting nonsensical catchphrases at each other. You couldn't even cross over to the other end of the airship without causing a fight sequence. Even so, it was nice to get away from DC (Dialogue Competency) for awhile.
112 - Ultimate Muscle
Well up on Muscle Planet, the Muscle League was inducting new members, and wouldn't you know it, Ben and Zane were first in line. They were a little nervous about all of the wrestlers what were animals in line, but a quick talk from the one and only Kid Muscle set them straight. Not only did they learn about multiculturalism in the ring, they also got an engrossing song about the merits of a high-fiber diet. A brief induction ceremony later, The Cartoncasters were off, dreaming of one day having a planet with their faces on it.
111 - The Wild Thornberrys
Ben and Zane were having a hell of a time in the jungle, running from lions and eating bees. Their salvation came in the form of world-renowned explorist Nigel Thornberry, who gave them a ride in the CommVee and fed them some delicious cheesy-puffs. His family was a bit odd, though. One of those darned kids wouldn't get off her phone, while another one couldn't stop screaming. One of them kept mumbling to the pet monkey (also, pet monkey). Nigel sat down to interview the Cartoncasters about their time in the wild, but to be honest, they couldn't really remember much.
The Fourth Annual Cartony Awards
The highly coveted Cartony Cup (a large glass that you crack eggs into before whisking) is up for grabs again this year, with hosts Ben and Zane presiding. It's a real menagerie of animated contenders this year, and we intend not to stop until everyone, including the ourselves, the cartoons, and even the audience, is disoriented and ashamed. It takes about five minutes this year.
110 - Bootlegg'd - Fantasia
Wendell Jones of Sideshow Sound Theatre (That's "r-e") joined us to talk about this unique and emotion-driven classic. Some pieces have stood the test of time and look as good now as they did in 1940, while others are Toccata and Fugue. While it may not have lived up to Disney's dreams during his lifetime, Fantasia remains an important piece of culture. In that, it is not unlike the Cartoncast.
109 - Bravestarr
Ben and Zane got permission from the consulate to visit the planet of New Texas, and what a trip they had! It started out fine enough, with the Cartoncasters getting buzzed off some local 'sweetwater' and taking a tour of the kerium mines. But the best part was when bandits tried to take them hostage, only to be thwarted by the legendary sheriff, the one and only Bravestarr. Armed with nothing but grit, a good moral backbone, and the living spirits of the animal kingdom, Bravestarr brought them safely back to town, reminding them that the best battle is the one not fought and to always eat their vegetables.
Unshell'd - Bricklayers
The inimitable Nic Robes joined the Cartoncasters to visit the moon (not that one, the other one), where they met with a curious young man, one Hans Brickman. A short interview later and they learned all about the circuitous, seemingly arbitrary, and self-contradictory story of his life as a bricklayer. It was a sad tale, fraught with hardship, abuse, confusing allegories, alien invasion, ska, and Stifler from American Pie. We can't do it justice to try to recount it here, but we recommend you take a listen. It'll definitely toughen you up! Spigot.
108 - The Oblongs
Ben and Zane were joined by Dan for their biweekly "Brunch and Sneer," spending the time drolly discussing the state of the world and wondering why people would choose not to be born rich. "Quite odd," one quipped. "Myes, quite." They had such an enjoyable time that it turned into "Luncheon and Scoff." At one point it sounded like there might be some sort of malformed man ramming himself against the door in protest of his lot in life, but turning up the brandy faucet made short work of that annoyance.
107 - American Dragon: Jake Long
The Cartoncasters were lost in the great metroscape of downtown Manhattan and stumbled into an active protest. This protest, headed by the Huntsclan, was trying to rally the people to drive out the unnatural and mystical creatures from their beloved city. The Cartoncasters kind of saw his point, until they realized he just meant Asian people, not mythical monsters. If only the real Huntsman, from Freakazoid, had been there instead.
106 - Fighting Foodons
Hey, you there. You think this is a game? You think this is a kid's show, for baby tots? Think again. This is about food. The kind of food that kills for fun. For a sick sense of pleasure. This ain't no action comedy lighthearted romp parody. Ben and Zane, our beloved Cartoncasters, were nearly killed in the line of duty trying to report on this war zone. By day the beasts wield their spoons with impunity, knowing nobody can fight back. The night is scarcely darker, as candies explode and shower the sky with flaming sticky shrapnel. God help you if you fall in a grease trap. These Foodons just keep fighting.
105 - Bootlegg'd - Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
From Darkwing Duck to Cybersix to Lupin III, we've been dealing with Noir-like properties for some time. But, in a bizarre twist, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is the clearest Noir example we've seen yet. Add to it one of the best examples of blending live-action and animation mediums, glaze it with classic cartoon references, and generously sprinkle Bob Hoskins' legendary performance, and what you get it a sublimely entertaining movie that stands in a class all its own. So put on your four-fingered gloves, establish some mood lighting, and have some chips and Dip handy - you're in for a good time.