If the adult swim name doesn't tell you what to need to know about this series, then each and every episode will let you know it by virtue of its narrative. Of course there is the fact that most episodes involve the total destruction of the base and death of major characters (none of which impacts on the next episode), but my favorite example is that one episode ends in a fight presented like a 2D video game which is being played by Master Shake and Meatwad in their own universe. If little or none of that made sense then Sealab 2021 is probably one to approach with caution, since it is a show very much in the stoner wheelhouse of adult swim. Taking the majority of the animation from a short-lived 1970's cartoon series, this reedits and dubs the footage, adds some material, and very much changes the characters and plots.
I guess the original was a fairly straight underwater adventure show, and that it didn't feature episodes about timeloops, lost Readybake ovens, Predators, or a scene that break out into the makers pitching the show to a room of suits. The end result is not perfect, but if you appreciate the sense of humor then it is still pretty funny – or at least funny enough to fill 10 minute long episodes. For me my only exposure to this show had been a few lines of dialogue on the Dangerdoom album (what's that – over a decade ago now?), but the concept and style is similar to other shows such as Harvey Birdman and Space Ghost. As per those, I did occasionally find the silliness to leave me unmoved, but mostly I was chuckling frequently. The dated animation is part of the appeal, and the new material is done well to fit this style, or to break the characters out into other situations (this is not just a redubbed version of the original, or even close). The voice work is what makes the silly material fly though, as their delivery is good and the comic timing generally on point.
An acquired taste, and perhaps works better when under the influence, but it is still pretty funny if you are in the mood – although undoubtedly it is always walking that fine line between being silly in a funny way, or just silly for the sake of it.
I guess the original was a fairly straight underwater adventure show, and that it didn't feature episodes about timeloops, lost Readybake ovens, Predators, or a scene that break out into the makers pitching the show to a room of suits. The end result is not perfect, but if you appreciate the sense of humor then it is still pretty funny – or at least funny enough to fill 10 minute long episodes. For me my only exposure to this show had been a few lines of dialogue on the Dangerdoom album (what's that – over a decade ago now?), but the concept and style is similar to other shows such as Harvey Birdman and Space Ghost. As per those, I did occasionally find the silliness to leave me unmoved, but mostly I was chuckling frequently. The dated animation is part of the appeal, and the new material is done well to fit this style, or to break the characters out into other situations (this is not just a redubbed version of the original, or even close). The voice work is what makes the silly material fly though, as their delivery is good and the comic timing generally on point.
An acquired taste, and perhaps works better when under the influence, but it is still pretty funny if you are in the mood – although undoubtedly it is always walking that fine line between being silly in a funny way, or just silly for the sake of it.
