TMNT: Traversing the Uncanny Valley

When I was growing up, I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Of course, I'm referring to the classic television show from the late 1980s.

They were funny. They loved pizza. They were animated. They didn't look creepy. This is more than I can say (so far) regarding the newest incarnation of TMNT coming to theaters in August.

What do you think?

I'm not too excited about the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie for the same reason I wasn't really happy with the newest Scooby-Doo movies. I don't live-action remakes of animated characters.

I understand this is an age where explosions equal great action movies, and new movie magic has its place in old classics, for sure. However, live action characters are simply creepy to me. They too often fall into "the uncanny valley", where they look too-fake-to-be-real yet too-real-to-be-fake. This ambiguity makes me uncomfortable.

You can't tell me that isn't creepy.

The movie hasn't even released yet, and fans are already making their corrections:

Much better. Well done!

Well, we shall soon see how the movie turns out. With the right story and acting, we might be able to ignore the creepiness of the turtles. However, it is a Michael Bay movie...

Are you excited for the new TMNT movie?

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A Voiced Appreciation

My latest geek obsession has been The Venture Bros! This Adult Swim show parodies classic cartoons - such as Johnny Quest, Scooby-Doo, The Hardy Boys and G.I. Joe - in a hilarious story about a father, his twin sons, their bodyguard, and their adventures across the globe. (Perhaps, that's putting it too simply...)

I could spend a day geeking-out about how much I love this show! All of the characters are twisted versions of classic cartoon characters. The level of continuity in this complicated storyline is amazing. Every episode is absolute hilarity.

However, the two aspects that make The Venture Bros. one of my favorite shows of all time are:

Creators Jackson Publick & Doc Hammer

Not only are they the brains behind this fantastic show, but they're many of the voices in the show, too! Many adult animated television shows (like Family Guy & South Park) feature a ton of characters performed by a small handful of voice actors. It's amazing how one person can provide voice to many beloved personalities.

In my opinion, voice acting is one of many underrated creative gigs. Sure, voice actors aren't the richest, but it's fun and quite rewarding. With very little physical acting involved, voice actors can be a wide range of different characters making each experience new and exciting. (Not to mention lessening the likelihood of typecasting.)

In a Comic-Con panel, Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer talked about how straining certain voices are to perform. Sometimes, a character's voice is not so easy to produce. It takes skill and practice to be a great voice actor. It's an art that, if done poorly, can ruin the entire experience...

Who does your favorite cartoon voice?

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The Villainesses of Gotham City

I read somewhere: "If you grew up in the 90s, you know Batman the Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures is the truest form of Batman." I'm not sure if everyone agrees with that, but I do! From the art to the dialogue, even if this isn't the truest form of Batman, there is just a certain allure to this show that has yet to be surpassed.

Though, there is one thing in particular that I love most about this childhood favorite: strong female characters!

Every time I watch something action-packed, I look for the strong female character. Whether they're heroes or villains, I admire strong women who challenge the "delicate flower" stereotype. However, the creation of strong female characters isn't always done the best way...

But the villianesses of Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures are more than men in drag. They hold their own as criminals while maintaining both their femininity and individuality. The following ladies of crime are far from stock characters...

Poison Ivy

First, prior to becoming a villain, Pamela Isley, was a botanist. (Yay! Women in science!) As one of Gotham City's Most Wanted, Poison Ivy fights to protect the environment and often experiments with natural ingredients to use as toxins. Saving the environment; one less Batman at a time.

Harley Quinn

Harleen Quinzel was another successful woman - a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum - turned bad girl. Granted, she's not a solo act, but what other woman could hold her own in The Joker's freak show? Harley is a fantastic character because her relentless infatuation/love for "Mr. J." (regardless of how he treats her) gives her character relatable and depth.

Catwoman

Selina Kyle is a socialite with a thirst for adventure by day. But by night, she gets her thrills stealing from vaults and museums. Personally, I like that her entire reason for being a criminal is boredom. Aside from that, what sets Catwoman apart from the other women of this series is her relationship with Batman. He's head-over-heels for her, so each encounter is an inner struggle between his fight for justice and his heart.

Is there a television show you watch solely for the characters?

Let me know below or on Facebook!