Great New TV Show: Chowder
Author: AF Duncan April 15th, 2008There’s a lot of quality viewage on the TV these days, but the show I’m really enjoying more than most others (after The Wire, R.I.P.) is one of the Cartoon Network’s newest non-Adult Swim offerings, Chowder.
The basic premise of Chowder involves the main character, a chubby and always hungry cat-ish kid, working as a disaster-prone apprentice of Mung Daal, a caterer in the bustling psychedelic metropolis of Marzipan City (the food-name gimmick isn’t as precious as it sounds…promise…). A large and engaging cast of characters and intricate, unpredictable screwball plotlines are the show’s other, um, essential ingredients.
Admittedly, with its bright, happy colors, food fixation, stoner humor, and overall fuzzy amiability, it’s kind of a hippie show. But then again, I’m kind of a hippie. So, keep that in mind.
Clever, weird, inventive, and unpretentious, Chowder builds and improves on the greatness of Spongebob Squarepants’s first few seasons the same way that show streamlined the bizarre brilliance of Kricfalusi-era Ren and Stimpy. Sharp, charming characterization; a colorful, surprising, fully-realized world; an artistic style that combines Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry with three generations of kids cartoon animation; a loopy, funky soundtrack that epitomizes the warm goofiness of the show; a welcome attention to detail; and knowing shout-outs to random counter-culture touchstones like Katamari Damacy make for the best show about food on television besides Top Chef.
Chowder airs on Thursdays, I believe. Also, the show’s creator, C.H. Greenblatt, has a nice little blog.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Props to Duncan for recognizing the genius that is Chowder!
Greenblatt definitely learned from Spongebob and took things up a couple of notches with Chowder. This show is brilliant! It’s a nice combination of slapstick sight gags and subtle, referential humor that will slip by the kiddies (the Katamari Damacy joke blew me away). The visual style is fantastic, especially the technique of giving every character their own unique pattern. There’s even a nice use of occasional live-action puppets thrown in.
If nothing else, you have to love a show where the main character’s pet is a fart named Kimchi. If you’ve ever eaten Kimchi, you know how appropriate this is.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Oh man, I totally forgot to mention the random puppets and claymation! Good call. That stuff is so amazing.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Duncan, thanks for the link to Greenblatt’s blog!
I love that he’s Fred Fredburger!!!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I haven’t watched the show yet, but in your litany of stoner cartoon icons surely some credit is due to Sid and Marty Krofft. Your description of Chowder makes it sound like there’s maybe a little HR Pufnstuf in there, eh?
May 30th, 2008 at 7:04 am
i like his show-it’s pretty entertaining
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
i love chowder i watch it all the time its awsome when random puppets come in during the show and the charaters interact with the screen it makes me giggle
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
no! chowder is better that sponge bob!!!!!!!!
June 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I enjoy the emphasis on the exaggeration the characters portray and the animated food to be eaten is a nice touch. And yes, The representation of Chowder’s pet stink cloud, being named Kimchi is right on the money.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:40 am
I love the show chowder. I wish that there was more eposodes!!! I also like camp lazlo and rocko’s modern life. At least chowder is better than sponge bob.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I like chowder. It’s petty cool, and I really like camp lazlo. I like how the characters behave, and how some have diffrent behavers and stuff. My favorite characters from camp lazlo are slickman,samson, and the lemmings, and my favorite characters from chowder are panini, and chowder. Chowder looks like he’s like 8, and is chowder a bear.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
The setting is different than anything I’ve ever seen. All of the animation is well done. I especially love the way the characters clothing seems to be transparent and the outline moves above it.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Some people may be wondering, “just what is Chowder� a cat, a rabbit, or a bear? The answer is simple – he is an amalgamation of all three animals! its little things like that which make me absolutely love this show and of course radda radda radda!>> which might i add that i have adopted to my vocabulary leaving either confused or smirking looks on peoples faces.
December 24th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Some people want to know what Panini is, a cat, bear, or a rabbit. She is the same species as Chowder, a cat bear rabbit creature, exept she is pink Chowder is purple.B.T.Y. Panini is in love with Chowder, whoch is why I love this show, its very funny. I don`t know why but my brother and sisters think the show is the most annoying show ever.I don`t think so.At least its better than Scrubs my brother watches it all the time.I love to watch new episodes of Chowder on Har Har Tharsday.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I too love Chowder. My kids and I watch it as often as we can. You are right about the jokes. There are some that just slip on by the kids and I just crack up and they ask “what’s so funny?” GREAT CARTOON. Better than most of what is on these days. BTW I’m 42 and grew up with Bugs Bunny. Chowder is right on point.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
man i love chowder [= hes dha BESt .