Toonami

Toonami
Released	May 1, 2019
Running Time	59:08
Previous Review	Stuart Little
Next Review	TBA
Link	http://channelawesome.com/toonami-nostalgia-critic/

(The Channel Awesome logo and NC title sequence play)

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

NC: Oh, come on. It's nowhere near the impact The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest had! (The group glances at him, and he gets disconcerted) I just want to talk about something I know.

(Cut back to TOM in his ship)

TOM: Somewhere in-between the 60s, (The shot from the original 1964 show appears) where everything was weirdly shadowed, and nowadays, (The shot from Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest is next) where Tom and Jerry are invited on missions, Jonny Quest had a surprisingly decent show.

(The show's logo is shown on TOM's screen, before we are shown clips of it. They focus on the series' animation, including the computer-generated)

NC (vo): Based on the campy spy cartoon from the 60s, Hanna-Barbera gave Johnny Quest a total upgrade, including better animation, more complex stories and characters, and high-tech...ish CGI?

Walter: Yeah, what were you saying about the CGI on ReBoot again?

NC: It was a long time ago. Things change.

NC (vo): The CG is cleverly used just when they need to enter the virtual world. The rest of the show is hand-drawn, and, while still kid-friendly, had a bit more of a mature edge to it.

(One clip is shown, showing Jonny chasing his pet bulldog, Bandit, who has his shoe in the mouth)

Jonny: Bandit! Come on, Bandit, over here! (Bandit bumps into a table and knocks it down)

NC: Okay, I said "a bit".

NC (vo): It could be kind of silly, but it's Jonny Quest. It's kind of expected. With weird elements like the Quest virtual worlds, Hadji now having psychic powers...you know, that old Indian cliche...and, like I said, giving the dog still a prominent role, you could tell it didn't want to totally lose its corny roots. It only had two seasons and never rose that high in the ratings, but Toonami still gave its reruns a home. While it's nothing great, it's a totally serviceable cartoon. A series of adventures to entertain you for a bit and probably be forgotten in the near future.

Tamara: So why are we talking about it again, then?

NC: (smiling) Because this intro is amazing!

(The show's intro is played, showing the camera flying over the CG canyon composed of green lines that has clips from various episodes displayed on it. Gary Lionelli's action-packed rearrangement of Hoyt Curtin's theme music is heard. Malcolm, Heather and Tamara are amazed)

Walter: Okay, that was worth talking about.

NC: Yeah. I'm so glad I ripped that off. (The snippet of the NC 2017 intro is played in the upper left corner)

The Powerpuff Girls

Tamara: Well, you think that got heavily censored? Wait till you see this next one.

(The opening logo of The Powerpuff Girls is shown. Upon seeing it, everyone except Tamara becomes confused)

NC, Malcolm, Walter and Heather: Huh?

Tamara: Look at what it used to be.

(A few clips from the Japanese version of the show are shown)

NC, Malcolm, Walter and Heather: Ohh...

(Cut back to TOM in his ship)

TOM: Sugar, spice, and everything kick-ass, the Powerpuff Girls are here to save the day with their wide eyes of justice.

(The show's logo is shown on TOM's screen, before we are shown clips of it)

Tamara (vo): To this day, my favorite lady group. Though it already had a huge following on Cartoon Network's segment called Cartoon Cartoons, they were badass enough to air on Toonami as well. Honestly, it almost makes too much sense. Though not an anime, you can tell it was heavily inspired/heavily satirizing that style. And seeing how Toonami was neck-deep in anime, it only figured to have a show that was both an homage and a parody of it as well. Created by Professor Utonium...

NC: What's he a professor of?

Tamara: X...ology. (An image of Chemical X is shown)

(Footage focusing on the Powerpuff Girls themselves, Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup, is shown)

Tamara (vo): ...he accidentally creates the three super girls, as you do, one night in the lab. Blossom is the leader, Bubbles is the soft, kind one, and Buttercup is our tough ball of angst. To their credit, they stick to these personality tropes way better and more consistently than some girl gangs. (An image of Donna, Tanya and Rosie in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is shown) Mamma Mia, anyone?

Heather: No, thanks.

(Footage focusing on the show's recurring villains is shown)

Tamara (vo): The show was full of fun dialogue, a great art style, and characters that were new and creative. The villains especially stand out. Creepy HIM looks different than any other animated character I'd ever seen. The Amoeba Boys, Sedusa, Mojo Jojo...classic! Not to mention the Mayor of Townsville calling on these kindergartners every day to help save the city? Those five-year-olds have some major political clout.

NC: Yeah, what's with not letting little kids fight our battles anymore?

Tamara: (confused) What?

NC: (also confused) What?

(Several of the show's action scenes are shown)

Tamara (vo): The violence on the show is also something not seen in children shows anymore, being both surprisingly harsh and extreme, again, a perfect fit for Toonami. Even though it probably didn't need Toonami's help to get famous, it did cement them as not only funny, but badass as hell, proving epic fights aren't just for the big kids.

(The famous closing shot of the Powerpuff Girls posing in front of a moving hearts background is shown)