It’s chow time

ENTERTAINING cartoon shows that appeal to people of all ages are hard to come by. Cartoons like SpongeBob Squarepants and Dexter’s Laboratory are so innovative, interesting and, most importantly, hilarious that it has become difficult to measure up to their standards.

Cartoon Network’s Chowder, a fairly new half-hour cartoon series, is one of those shows that tries very hard to stand out but has so far not garnered much attention.

Developed for the young and old, Chowder is a hit and miss. Those who love it can’t get enough of the show, but the ones who can’t stand the gibberish dialogue and familiar storylines may find it bland.

The show revolves around a child named Chowder in the fictional Marzipan City, who dreams of becoming a chef. He becomes an apprentice chef to a wise (and a little crazy) old man named Mung Daal, who runs a catering company with his cranky wife, Truffles.

Also in the shop is a big rock (yes, rock) guy named Shnitzel, who only seems to say “rada, rada, rada”, though everyone seems to understand him.

There’s also Gazpacho, an elephant-like character who owns a produce stand, and Panini, a girl who’s in love with Chowder. Panini works for Endive, Mung Daal’s main competitor.

In each episode, Chowder learns something new, either through observation or from Mung Daal. The things he learns and the questions he has about them are similar to what a young child would experience, but the process in which he learns and solves them is er, unorthodox. Hey, it is a cartoon show, after all, right?

As you can probably tell, the whole Chowder ensemble is connected to food. While the characters themselves are abstract and come in various colours (Chowder is kind of lavender-ish while Mung Daal is turquoise), their names, problems and and settings all seem to revolve around food.

The whole show has a cute concept, really, and the storylines are not too bad. However, like many Cartoon Network shows, Chowder does tend to be a little gross. From throwing up to burping to drooling and farting, this show has it all.

If you’re a little skirmish about public display of bodily functions – even if it is shown in cartoon form – then Chowder is probably not your kind of thing. By the way, Chowder’s “pet” is a cloud of fart he calls Kimchi.

The show was created by C.H. Greenblatt, a storyboard artist who’s worked on SpongeBob Squarepants and The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy. It was released in 2007 and combines traditional animation with stop motion animation and puppetry.

At the end of the show, puppet versions of Chowder and Mung Daal will usually be seen standing around the counter talking about how to make the best pies and so on.

Aesthetically, what’s interesting about the show are the patterns on the characters’ clothes or skin. The patterns are drawn and produced in a way that makes them animated yet stationary. This means that the patterns do not follow the characters’ body movements like how most cartoons are made.

Chowder also breaks the fourth wall ocassionally. (Breaking the fourth wall means a sequence or scene in which the character of a show comes “out” of the story and addresses the audience.)

The one complaint I do have about the show is the background music that plays throughout the half-hour (the theme song is kind of cute, though).

The background music is so old fashioned, it reminds me of those old cartoon shows in the 1980s – lots of organ, xylophone and a little trumpet here and there.

Chowder is voiced by 13-year-old Nicky Jones, while Mung Daal is voiced by popular actor Dwight Schultz, who started acting in the 1980s. Tara Strong, also a well-sought after voice actor, is Truffles, while John Di Maggio does Shnitzel’s “rada, rada, rada” sounds.

The show is already in its second season in the United State, so there is quite a big following. Let’s hope it picks up pace in Malaysia.

>Chowder is on Cartoon Network (Astro channel 616) every Monday at 7pm.

Source : The Star