pugpool10 Reviews

Smiling Friends: Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition DX 4k (Anniversary Director's Cut) (2024) Season 2, Episode 1

As hysterical as a season premiere can be

[10/10 · 6 April 2024]

Zach. Michael. We gotta talk bro. We just gotta talk about how you guys are absolute modern comedy powerhouses.

Nothing about this episode's plot should have worked and I mean nothing because it's borderline preposterous, but from beginning to end it is just a barrage of non-stop A+++ gags and commentary on video game mascot relevancy as a whole. Not a single second is wasted, not a single line is thrown away.

Gwimbly himself is a tragic figure; his fans are still alive, but his franchise unfortunately is not. His entire thing does not fit the modern gamer demographic. People have moved on. But he keeps going. He bends and somehow never breaks.

We should all be like Gwimbly.

Again, awesome premiere.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

One of the best sequels to anything ever made

[10/10 · 2 June 2023]

If it wasn't already obvious in the first film, it's now officially clear as day that the people behind the Spider-Verse franchise (including writers/producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who are absolute creative godsends to the once magnificent place known as Hollywood) understand EXACTLY what they're working with.

Don't let the marketing fool you: this film has GUTS. It's easily one of the heaviest PG-rated films I've ever seen. Payoffs and character revelations that were only hinted at in the first film are carefully, deliberately unraveled and come around beautifully. It made me think about my own life and what I mean to the people I care about in ways I never expected. The fan-service is BATTY too, and yet somehow it's never too much.

I wish every movie was as good as this---but then again if the world was like that this wouldn't feel as special. So I'll just stick to being IMMENSELY grateful that it exists in this universe.

This is no ordinary sequel. It's art of the highest form.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

A shockingly audacious film wrapped inside a seemingly familiar package

[10/10 · 21 December 2022]

Alright I know what you're thinking after seeing the score of this review. "Sequels to spin-offs of beloved franchises are pointless exercises in brand awareness! Why on earth are you giving this one a 10?!?"

Because this movie...is DIFFERENT than the others. Different in that it strives to be a funnier, deeper, prettier, bolder, edgier, (surprisingly) scarier and overall more complete experience than the original Puss in Boots film over 11 years ago, and unlike that movie holds a distinct accomplishment in simply being a darn fine animated film that stands on its own, one as good as any I've seen in the past few years.

The Shrekiverse is officially back, and judging by what DreamWorks managed to pull off here the world probably isn't ready for whatever comes next. Seriously, this gives the first two films in the franchise alone a run for their money.

Looks like The House That Shrek Built is finally back on top again.

PS: That cricket with the spot-on Jimmy Stewart voice is one of the funniest things I've seen this year, whoever came up with him deserves a pay raise and a medal and free coffee and recognition from the United Nations.

The Owl House: Thanks to Them (2022) Season 3, Episode 1

Exceeded my highest expectations

[10/10 · 16 October 2022]

I won't lie: hearing that Disney drastically shortened this show's final season felt like a stab in the heart-I mean, how could they do something like that to such a fantastic show? There's no way that Dana Terrace and her team could cram a season's worth of content into three 44-minute specials! It's unheard of!!

And yet somehow-SOMEHOW-the first of those three specials manages to pull off the impossible and pushes the boundaries of this show's unequivocally beautiful writing, animation and representation to new heights while also not forgetting what came before it. The beauty of then and now, fantasy and reality, dreams and nightmares, happiness and hurt, and youth and adulthood are phenomenally blended together in perfect harmony. And it's all paced so well.

There's a LOT I want to say about this episode, but talking about it would just spoil the experience for everyone else. This is simply a touchstone of an episode and you'd be a fool to not witness it for yourself.

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Pure, concentrated insanity

[9/10 · 20 May 2022]

I have to say, taking into consideration that this was always meant to be a streaming-exclusive movie they put WAY too much effort into it. And that's...actually kind of awesome??

What initially seems like a generic modern reboot of a beloved cult classic quickly evolves into an exploration of the dark side of show business (well--as dark as a PG-rated Disney movie can get anyway) and a not-so-subtle critique of Hollywood recycling every single property that has ever existed. Take it from me: this movie will be POLARIZING for some folks. And I absolutely love it for exactly that!

Also it's jam-packed with some of the most unexpected cameos I've seen in any movie ever. Seriously. I'm not ruining anything.

It's weird. It's unsettling at times. It's brilliant.

Amphibia: All In (2022) Season 3, Episode 17

HOLY MOTHER OF FROG

[10/10 · 8 May 2022]

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN WITH THIS ONE?? IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO REVIEW SOMETHING OF THIS INSANELY HIGH CALIBER????

Well...I'll certainly try.

It's about as good as a 48-minute episode of this show can be, with little to no time wasted regarding important plot developments. A good chunk of the episode is basically an extended action scene---perhaps the closest humanity will get to seeing what would happen if Daisuke Nishio, Hidekai Anno and Michael Bay did some freelance work together on a cartoon---and it gets INTENSE AS HECK.

It's also INSANELY emotional at points too. During its television premiere I frequently gasped, cheered and cried cried CRIED when things got messy. Good thing I was watching it with a close friend of mine or else I would have been a weeping mess for the next few hours after it ended.

God bless Matt Braly and his team for crafting this wonderful gem of a show, and a pitch-perfect penultimate episode to start wrapping up their story.

Amphibia: The Root of Evil/The Core and the King (2022) Season 3, Episode 14

The most INSANE pair of episodes this season

[10/10 · 16 April 2022]

WOW.

I believe Matt Braly himself said it best on Twitter not too long after these episodes came out: "Chaos."

Lately I've noticed that a good chunk of the Amphibia fandom has been clamoring for plot development, and that's exactly what we get here-especially in "The Core and The King". I'd argue that it feels more in line with The Owl House than Amphibia due to its character-driven drama and bleak, almost nightmarish tone at points.

If the last few episodes weren't your cup of tea, chances are this one will be.

The Owl House: Any Sport in a Storm (2022) Season 2, Episode 13

A surprisingly fun, character-driven romp!

[10/10 · 2 April 2022]

Being a big fan of Willow, I knew that this episode would be enjoyable based on the episode description alone but I had no idea just how enjoyable it would be!

We get to see how far she's come, both as a character and as a person, when Hunter takes an interest in a new game at Hexside. Needless to say, friendships are tested and backstories are expanded. If any of you are worried that it sounds like "Wing It Like Witches 2", then worry no more--the only thing these two episodes have in common are sports. There are some really fascinating subversions during the episode that you won't see coming, which makes it feel more rewarding to watch than "WILW".

Also the Luz and Amity subplot is small in scope, but good-natured!

The Owl House: Follies at the Coven Day Parade (2022) Season 2, Episode 11

One heckuva return

[10/10 · 19 March 2022]

After seeing the title of this episode getting leaked last year not too long after "Yesterday's Lie", I was worried it wouldn't be worth the wait. Well I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong!

Not only do we get more development regarding the covens themselves, we also get to see Luz and Amity's relationship being fleshed out and Eda's fallout with Raine getting elaborated on, which was HUGELY unexpected on my end. In addition, a major part of this episode revolves around a more sympathetic look at one of the show's more...notoriously despised antagonists, and it's done extremely well. There's also some really great comedy and fan-service as well--we finally get to see Buff Willow in action!!!

I'm genuinely excited to see what the second half of this season holds if this episode is any indication. It's impressive how Dana and her team keep outdoing themselves.

Smiling Friends: Mr. Frog (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Everything we could have wanted after the pilot and more

[10/10 · 11 January 2022]

Before watching this, I was a bit worried that extending the beautiful insanity of "Smiling Friends" into a show would compromise the artistic integrity of Zack and Michael's creative vision, but I've never been more happy to be wrong.

In eleven minutes, we're treated to an absolutely scathing critique of washed-up stars trying to reclaim their past successes and executive interference all while being every bit as hilarious and ridiculous as the pilot that came out nearly two years ago. In a way it's an evolution of the best parts of both Tex Avery's MGM shorts and early Family Guy, but tailor-made for the 21st century. It's all brilliant, deranged stuff and now I'm officially excited for whatever glorious nonsense Pim and Charlie get into next!

Side note: I wrote this review before an episode listing mix-up so in the meantime I binge watched the rest of the season! I'm happy to report that the rest of the episodes are consistently entertaining and moderately mentally scarring!

Smiling Friends: Desmond's Big Day Out (2020) Season 1, Episode 1

Everything we could have wanted after the pilot and more

[10/10 · 10 January 2022]

Before watching this, I was a bit worried that extending the beautiful insanity of "Smiling Friends" into a show would compromise the artistic integrity of Zack and Michael's creative vision, but I've never been more happy to be wrong.

In eleven minutes, we're treated to an absolutely scathing critique of washed-up stars trying to reclaim their past successes and executive interference all while being every bit as hilarious and ridiculous as the pilot that came out nearly two years ago. In a way it's an evolution of the best parts of both Tex Avery's MGM shorts and early Family Guy, but tailor-made for the 21st century. It's all brilliant, deranged stuff and now I'm officially excited for whatever glorious nonsense Pim and Charlie get into next!

Amphibia: Spider-Sprig/Olivia & Yunan (2021) Season 3, Episode 7

Deserves a perfect score just for "Olivia and Yunan" alone

[10/10 · 13 November 2021]

"Spider-Sprig" is a fun episode and all but the creative team clearly put their heart and soul into "Olivia and Yunan", I mean WOW. What starts out as a commonplace "rescue the ally and save the world" plot with a few thoughtful callbacks to past episodes eventually turns into a horrifying exploration of the worst parts of trauma, power and corruption. I don't want to say too much else about it for the uninitiated but they cram a LOT into 11 minutes of time.

One of the show's finest episodes for sure.

Amphibia: Fixing Frobo/Anne-sterminator (2021) Season 3, Episode 5

Some of the best episodes of the season!

[10/10 · 30 October 2021]

Wow! Just when I think this show can't get any better Matt Braly and his team continue to knock my expectations out of the water!

Both of these episodes have phenomenal character development and thrilling set pieces that touch upon a LOT of what people have wanted to see from this season, especially "Anne-sterminator". There's also some verrrry subtle LGBTQ+ rep that made me smile.

These episodes continue to prove that Amphibia is one of the best cartoons on TV right now, if not one of the best shows period.

PS: One of the segments contains a fantastic dig at the Star Wars prequel trilogy that borders on "biting-the-hand" level humor.

Aquaman: King of Atlantis: Chapter One: Dead Sea (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

Already SIGNIFICANTLY better than Thundercats Roar

[8/10 · 14 October 2021]

To be honest I only watched this out of morbid curiosity, but to my surprise I ended up enjoying it a million times more than I thought I would.

As most of you probably know, once production on Thundercats Roar ended a vast amount of the crew migrated to this series. While the visual style and animation are virtually identical to that of TC, the action sequences are much more satisfying to watch and the characters aren't NEARLY as aggravating--seriously, I could watch Aquaman and Mera play off each other for hours on end--plus it helps that Aquaman's universe is a better proving ground for silly, over-the-top shenanigans than a well-regarded cartoon from the '80s.

While there are some lulls in the writing and pacing at times, I still cannot deny its better qualities so far and I hope people give it a chance on those merits. All things considered it's something of a miracle how much of an improvement in quality this series is so far.

Pretty pumped for the next two specials now!

Adventure Time: Distant Lands: Wizard City (2021) Season 1, Episode 4

The darkest special yet, and it's all the better for it

[10/10 · 2 September 2021]

It's a pretty surreal feeling when one of the very first things you see in the last Distant Lands special is the murder of one of the show's best minor characters. Pretty shocking to say the least.

I wasn't sure how Adam Muto and the usual crew would handle a 49-minute special to a character that superficially doesn't deserve a lot of screen time due to his "one-trick demon" nature, but BOY did they pull it off with grace and tact. Even if we can't relate to Pep's conflict to unlock the true darkness within him, there are shockingly effective themes at play here, including but not limited to dealing with verbal abuse from superiors and how some people aren't who they seem to be. The titular Wizard City itself is a delight to spend time in after years of the original show only grazing its surface, with new and old characters alike all getting at least one moment to shine. It's telling that the special is so engrossing that not one reference to Finn and Jake is needed to amplify it.

Pep himself slowly warms up to Cadabra, who just so happens to be the daughter of Abracadaniel. Their dynamic is so good and is definitely one of the better representations of a formative friendship I've seen in any kind of media.

All in all, 10/10 special. If the post-credits scene is anything to go by then the Fionna and Cake spin-off that's premiering in a couple of years is going to be one heckuva time.

Also as a side note: Bill Hader's character is HILARIOUS and I don't think I've laughed that hard at ANYTHING of that caliber in a long time.

The Owl House: Eclipse Lake (2021) Season 2, Episode 9

Anyone calling this episode "filler" has no idea what they're talking about

[10/10 · 7 August 2021]

I'm already seeing some pushback against this episode for not being as earth-shattering and/or as emotionally charged as the last episode. While I can see where this kind of criticism is coming from--"KKKOHD" is easily in my Top 5 favorite eps of the show so far--to call this episode underwhelming in comparison is downright silly.

It's really neat to see Amity take up the mantle as a protagonist for a change, and the creators wisely utilize this to reveal some of her hidden insecurities now that she and Luz are in an active relationship together (by the way it's really awesome that the word "girlfriend" is openly used almost constantly throughout to describe said relationship, Disney's actually toughening up for a change).

Hunter's exchanges with her feel genuine too. I'm a big fan of his grey moral compass so far, which genuinely makes his decisions unpredictable. Their conflict together reaches a tipping point in what can only be called one of the best animated fight scenes in a Western animated show. Eda and King are great here too, but personally I feel like they should have been given more to do. Nevertheless, the episode takes advantage of their development from last week quite well. Did I mention that there are some great jokes during Luz's B-plot as well?

In short: "Eclipse Lake" is an amazing episode on its own that further fleshes out these characters in satisfying ways, and shouldn't be negatively compared to what came before it.

The Owl House: Keeping Up A-Fear-Ances (2021) Season 2, Episode 4

This show has finally grown up

[10/10 · 3 July 2021]

Man. This is only the fourth episode of the season and we're already getting some insane character development.

The themes that are prevalent throughout this episode are rather heavy (including but not limited to parental neglect and believing in fake solutions to unsolvable problems) but they're done in a complete, satisfying way that feels rewarding and doesn't talk down to its audience for a second. Season 2 has been firing on almost all cylinders lately and this episode continues to prove it.

Oh yeah, and I wish I could give this episode an 11/10 just for that disturbing, mind-shattering final scene alone.

The Owl House: Escaping Expulsion (2021) Season 2, Episode 2

Feels like the TRUE start to Season 2

[10/10 · 19 June 2021]

While "Separate Tides" was a fun little return for this show, it left me feeling...somewhat hollow. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't a BAD episode by any means and had some genuinely memorable moments, but it wasn't as impactful as it should have been for a season premiere.

But I definitely can't say the same about this episode! From the very first scene alone it grabs your attention and doesn't let go. As the plot progresses big questions are answered and quite a few more are raised in the process, but never once does the episode set you up for disappointment. The third act alone is worth the price of admission! (that is, considering you paid to watch it)

I can finally say with confidence that The Owl House is BACK baby!!!!!

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

Puts almost every other recent animated film to shame in ambition and execution

[10/10 · 30 April 2021]

No amount of behind-the-scenes cinematic team-ups in recent years can compare to the overwhelming power that the guys behind Gravity Falls (Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe) and Spider-Verse (Phil Lord and Chris Miller) have when you put their creative minds together on a singular project.

This is an amazingly fun movie from start to finish, benefited by some brilliantly stylized CGI that continues the trend that Spider-Verse started but taken a few steps further with some added medium blending that very much blew my mind. It also helps that 92% of the jokes land right on target. Did I mention that it also has a disarmingly astute emotional core?

Honestly, at this rate Sony Pictures Animation may be beating Disney and Pixar at their own game.

The Owl House: Agony of a Witch (2020) Season 1, Episode 18

Dark, shocking and absolutely excellent

[10/10 · 22 August 2020]

Um...wow. What else can be said really? The first half of the season finale is easily some of the darkest and most intense material I've seen in a kids show in a very long time-I'm actually somewhat surprised Disney allowed an episode like this to be made, what with the absolutely bone-chilling presence of Emperor Belos (in an amazing guest turn by Matthew Rhys) and the sheer emotional insanity of the climax.

Yet somehow despite that, it still manages to fit in some of the funniest jokes and sweetest character moments in the entire show, which is a testament to the attentive care of the show's writers, storyboarders, directors, designers and animators to make something that anyone of any age can enjoy.

Needless to say, after having watched this I don't think I'm prepared for what's in store from the REAL season finale...

The Owl House: Enchanting Grom Fright (2020) Season 1, Episode 16

TOH's Finest Outing to Date

[10/10 · 8 August 2020]

The first season of The Owl House has been impressing on all fronts so far with its memorable characters and uniquely macabre setting, but these qualities are highlighted at their best in this very densely packed yet well-paced episode that brilliantly subverts the usual tropes of the typical "prom episode" found in most TV shows. I'm not going to say much out of fear of spoiling some of the surprises for the uninitiated, but having seen it myself I cannot wait to see what's in store for these characters in the future (especially a certain duo whom some of you may be familiar with).

I should add that the climax of the episode may honestly be one of the coolest things I've seen in any kind of animation over the past decade.

Looney Tunes Cartoons: Curse of the Monkeybird/Marvin Flag Gag: Deflating Planet/Harm Wrestling (2020) Season 1, Episode 1

A downright phenomenal debut for one of the greatest reboots in recent history

[10/10 · 27 May 2020]

This short is very dear to my heart for a myriad of reasons:

1. It serves as an excellent first impression for the brand-new shorts on HBO Max, which act as more of a passionate fan tribute with a large budget than a pandering, corporate-produced product with the name "Looney Tunes" slapped on its own title.

2. From the animation to the backgrounds, every frame during this short clearly has a ton of love put into it. Executive producer Pete Browngardt has stated that since this short was the first to be produced, they had more freedom to work with the budget, hence the notably smoother and wackier animation as opposed to the following shorts (which still look fairly consistent).

3. The voice acting on display here is simply superb. Bob Bergen hasn't lost a step voicing Porky Pig after 30 years, and Eric Bauza does a phenomenal job channeling Bob Clampett's kookier, more off-the-wall interpretation of Daffy Duck as opposed to his greedy, attention-seeking jerk side infamously popularized by Chuck Jones (no disrespect to him, he is an animation legend and should be recognized as such), allowing for some truly memorable moments of character acting coupled with the near-constant stream of visual gags that make "The Naked Gun" look like a slow walk through a Chinese zen garden.

I don't want to spoil anything else! Go watch it for yourself to get a taste of what these new shorts are all about! It's great!

Green Eggs and Ham (2019–2022)

Easily the best modern Suess adaptation, hands-down.

[10/10 · 8 November 2019]

WOW. I just binged the entire first season of this show, and I gotta say that I was NOT expecting something like this-a modern, animated adaptation of one of the most beloved books of all time-to have some the best animation and most thoughtful characters I've ever seen in a cartoon. This show took over four years to develop, and the work in every sinew of each episode shows.

I don't want to go into details regarding the show but I highly recommend watching it blind, or in a bind, because you might miss a twist, with a special gist.

Between this and Klaus, it's really nice to see Netflix supporting the rebirth of quality 2D animated projects again.

(Also...you WILL cry. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

Amphibia: Reunion (2019) Season 1, Episode 20

One of the best season finales. Ever.

[10/10 · 18 July 2019]

If you haven't watched this show yet, or are just watching the first few episodes but can't quite get into it for some reason, please stick with it. It's worth watching just to get to this amazing finale, one that contains one of the most emotionally rewarding climaxes I've ever seen in animation--or maybe television in general.

You'll never listen to Bill Withers the same way again.

Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (2018)

It's...not terrible? Say it isn't so!

[8/10 · 27 July 2018]

Coming from someone who's in this sort of grey area surrounding TTG! and its own existence, this was actually a really good film!

Actually, I wouldn't say it's good in a "high art that makes you think about life itself" kind of way, but it's moreso good in a "turn your brain off and enjoy a crazy goofy movie with all these jokes because the world needs some levity right now" kind of way.

From the musical sequences to the cameos to a VILLAIN WHO IS ACTUALLY GENUINELY MENACING IN SOME PLACES to the nonstop stupid gags plus one of the most amazing surprises in any credits sequence ever, the team working on this thing was clearly eager to please everyone. Sure it's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination--the plot is very predictable and the pacing as a whole could have been reworked a little--but who needs a coherent structure when you have pretty much everything else?

8/10 would watch Stan Lee in an extended role again

And make sure you don't miss that wonderful DC Superhero Girls short before the film!