Hey, we've seen some fantastic animated series lately. If you haven't already, run right now and check out
Arcane
Blue Eye Samurai
Scavengers Reign
Chainsaw Man
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Tear Along the Dotted Line
Love Death + Robots
Arcane and Blue Eye Samurai compete for the best animated series I've ever seen, of all time, and they're both ongoing. That's wild. What gorgeous animation. Scavengers Reign is a wonderful sci-fi series that's actually original, and I'm sad to say that's a rarity. It shouldn't be! I'll let you discover the rest. Just a reminder that Love Death + Robots is an anthology, and as usually this entails hits and misses. But the hits are SO good.
Other good series that are not groundbreaking or anything in terms of animation (which is generally on purpose: most of them aim to emulate a specific established style, and succeed), but they still get the job done, and are fun to watch:
A couple of little bits and bobs from Season 2 of Invincible now that these Episodes are out. Thought it might be fun to show the final special pose alongside some off the super rough sketch work we bounce around before going to cleans.
If you are watching, I hope you are enjoying the back half of season 2!
this was my first introduction to Generator Rex, to Rex Salazar specifically. I saw it for like a few minutes when I was 8, but these scenes burned themselves into my brain, and in another 10 or so years I re-discovered the show, became obsessed, and memorized every scene from every episode (except the prank one, because that episode was a mistake). Why?
because this scene permanently impacted how I saw heroes. they aren't there to beat the bad guy. they're there to save people. and they do it not because they are forced to, or guilted into it. they do it because they want to. because they care if people get hurt, even if those people are complete strangers.
these scenes are largely responsible for my disdain for modern live-action superhero spectacles, where the heroes "save the day", but leave countless civilians dead.
it is also the reason why I have come to love shows like Justice League Unlimited:
Or Invincible:
or the new show, My Adventures with Superman:
they GET IT. they GET WHY SAVING PEOPLE IS IMPORTANT.
because at the end of the day, it's not beating up the villain of the week that is important. it's saving lives.