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Towers-of-Obscure — Show-case - A Half-Decade of Being Here! Edition

Published: 2020-03-22 10:47:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 5020; Favourites: 19; Downloads: 4
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Hey guys, it's Towers-of-Obscure here, back again with another showcase of reviews! (Yes, I've been here for five years on DeviantArt. Although I didn't start getting into my passion for reviewing cartoons, anime, and whatnot until my second year here, but who's counting anyway?)

#6 - Lola and Virginia - Earlier this year, I reviewed Sandra the Fairytale Detective, one of the shows in the "Myriam Ballesteros trilogy". Well, time to review another one! Chances are, I chose this over Lucky Fred for two obvious reasons. One, Zander already reviewed it, and two, it's hard to find all the episodes in order on YouTube, though it's clearly also on my Kidoodle.tv app on Roku. (Although, recently 52 of its episodes are now on KimCartoon and WatchCartoonOnline.) Anyways, let's dig into this series from 2007: Lola is basically your typical middle school girl who wants to make a difference. She has friends, worthwhile grade averages, and isn't typically the girl to be picked on since she's super nice... so what could possibly go wrong for her? One word: Virginia. Her arch-rival who practically is your stereotypical beeyotch who gets all her money from daddy. Whenever Lola's got an eye on something, there's always Virginia to try and make that dream into a nightmare for her. But overall, it's usually Lola who prevails. One quote from a KimCartoon user said "This is humanized Tom & Jerry overloaded with estrogen, and if I saw it as a kid, I would've hated it." Glad he's an adult now. Another one said "Lola is the more likable of the two, but Virginia is a more well-written character." Whatever floats your boat, I guess. I find it okay, and that's my opinion I'm sticking with.


#5 - Delta State - Alright class, open up your "Nelvana 101" textbooks for this next lesson. You wouldn't think so, because it doesn't have the typical Toronto voice actors, but this 2004 series is unique in its own way. For one, the CGI looks something straight out of Grand Theft Auto 3. With real human models to say the least! Probably the first AND last time they used that method, but as we know, never judge a cartoon by its animation. Based on a comic book series popular during that time, this is the story of four individuals. Claire, Luna, Martin and Philip are four “anti” super-heroes in their early twenties. Gifted with paranormal powers, they are the only ones who can rid humanity of the “Rifters”, some mysterious entities seeking control of human minds… Their fight will essentially take place in a strange parallel universe called the “Delta State”. This series is definitely for you sci-fi geeks and definitely has mature elements for kids to experience and get used to, but isn't uncomfortable with those elements unlike Dan Vs. Just be prepared to experience the unknown before delving into this series.


#4 - Squishy! Black Clover - You're not having a fever dream, my friends, this is indeed the Teen Titans Go/RWBY Chibi equivalent for Black Clover. Translation: It's a side story set of shorts relating to the characters of the series, but not the context of the plot. With one featured key priority that the others shows I mentioned seem to lack: It does indeed follow one particular element from the original. In this case, Asta and Yuno having their dreams on becoming the Wizard King. But... how does one become the Wizard King? If you read the manga or watched the anime until fully through its 100 episodes and possibly counting... it won't help you here. Not just Asta and Yuno wish to become the Wizard King - Asta's fellow Black Bull members also want to find a way too! And of course there's some weird stuff that goes on as well, including separate beliefs between members, a plot device on why Asta's friends have become mechs, and a running gag of Gordon Agrippa (the silent Black Bulls member) being the comedy relief. The eight shorts were released at the dawn of this year, and it's as chibi as any chibi series gets. The only question is: Is it bad like Teen Titans Go and Thundercats Roar, or underrated like RWBY Chibi? Draw your own conclusions. And as with any anime, here's the intro song:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBd3gX…


#3 - Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum - The following review in this showcase is possibly proof that there are never enough preschool shows more creative than ones for older audiences. This as well, includes PBS Kids. Fresh from the Canadian border from 9 Story Entertainment last year (after previous successes with Wild Kratts, Peg + Cat, and Let's Go Luna), Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is a series that is overloaded with anachronisms, while teaching kids about historical figures. (Appropriately, based off of a series of children's books.) Here's the skinny: Xavier's a young boy who knows a place only he and his friends Yadina and Brad can visit. The Secret Museum is actually a time machine located in an out-of-the-way place inside the normal museum the three friends frequent. The time machine itself is a one-trick pony which allows Xavier and co. to travel in time to see a particular famous historical figure... as a kid! Usually, this idea is only for a failsafe when either Xavier, Yadina, or Brad have occasional life situations. And remember when I said this series is overloaded with anachronisms? A perfect example is the kid version of Alexander Graham Bell - with the white beard he had as an adult. Another recurring anachronism is the trio travelling forward in time to a point in the historical figure's life... and the historical figure in question is still a kid. Don't ask why, it's a kids show. (Not to mention, a made for TV hour special was just released called Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I am Madam President, so... it's got some popularity to it despite being new. Then again, it's broadcasted on PBS Kids, like I said before...) Going back to the KimCartoon comments, one said that he "can't unsee Calvin & Hobbes from this". I mean, there is a resemblance. But either way, this might be a good series to teach kids about certain historical figures, but seriously, stick to OG Legends of the Hidden Temple. The Steps of Knowledge probably hold more historical figures per legend, considering this is a new series.


#2 - Skysurfer Striker Force - If there were an award for "Most Radical & Edgy Cartoon Concept Ever Made in the 90s", this would be a damn good contender for the frontrunner. I mean, it's no Cadillacs & Dinosaurs, but I mean, the idea for this series is only something that could be fully executed during the 90s! And by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, no less. Yes, the same Ruby-Spears who made that abysmal Mega Man cartoon during the 90s. But that was water under the bridge in '94. This was released in '95. Check out this synopsis: Jack Hollister is a skydiving expert who also leads this titular group of vigilante crimefighters. His team's prerogative? To seek out and defeat Cybron - a man with a computer for a brain who may have played a sinister role in the mysterious death of Jack’s scientist father. The Skysurfers battle Cybron using anti-gravity skyboards that fly on their own rocket power. Join this group of daredevils as they soar the skies at breakneck speeds and perform amazing acrobatic feats in their battle for justice. All I can say for this series - It's very rare. 13 episodes for its first season, and yes, it dissipated after its second season of 7 episodes. Doesn't excuse it from still being underrated, despite its lack of originality and/or effort. And if you'd never heard of this or nor seen it... just be prepared for a whole lot of stuff that could only come from the 90s, dude.


#1 - Kitty is Not a Cat - Let's end this showcase with something completely off my "underrated 2010s cartoons" radar. I just found it recently skimming through the Kidoodle.tv app on my Roku, and I also found on KimCartoon... it has a small cult following. But I'll get to that later, let's see what this series is all about: How much do you love cats? Well, be prepared and witness a new level that might put all those cat videos to shame. This is the tale of an imaginative young girl named Kitty, who becomes so imaginative that she ends up not only dressing up like a cat... but acting like one as well to the point she only responds in meowing! One day, she winds up being picked up from the stray on an abandoned house's porch by a group of cats who seem to know the English human language, as weird as that sounds. Probably had a lot of vibes fused between The Aristocats and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Anyways, these cats wind up keeping Kitty, but really have taken her in to teach her how to be like a human. Because after all, it's as the title implies and she is not a cat, but a human being dressed like a cat. You may think on this synopsis alone that this might be a ridiculous series that practically a few idiot whackos would bother to watch, right? Well, no. This brings me back to the "small cult following" I found in the KimCartoon comments section for this. People who have watched it comment on how adorable it is, and how surprisingly genius it is! They say they really do a fantastic job on giving a nearly silent protagonist a rich personality while juggling the main cast as well. Plus, some say it's hilarious! And you want more excitement from it? A second season just got confirmed to launch this year! So based on what I just said, or rather what my commenting anonymous friends on KimCartoon said, this is definitely worth watching. I guess you could say this series really is the cat's meow! (This ending pun was worth it.)
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Comments: 5

Pluszaczek [2020-07-02 11:41:14 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Pluszaczek [2020-04-04 13:56:18 +0000 UTC]

what about  Zip Zip?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GedFds…

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Towers-of-Obscure In reply to Pluszaczek [2020-04-04 14:23:38 +0000 UTC]

Weird...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Pluszaczek [2020-03-26 16:56:21 +0000 UTC]

Back to the Future, the Animated series (1991)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=luvP9A…

Do you remember?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Towers-of-Obscure In reply to Pluszaczek [2020-03-26 17:03:45 +0000 UTC]

Not really.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0