Ah, what could have been. What was... for 6 episodes, only 2 of which ever aired.
'Clerks: The animated series' picks up where 'Clerks,' the 1994 movie, left off, with Dante (Brian O'Halloran) manning the Quick Stop convenience store by himself, and Randal (Jeff Anderson) being a wholly irresponsible employee of the adjacent video store. Shenanigans ensue, not least of all as Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) are up to no good just outside.
The 1994 film reveled in referential humor and quips about pop culture that largely defined the dialogue in Dante and Randal's tumultuous friendship, when they weren't arguing about each other's behavior. The animated series steps things up with an abundance of visual jokes and references, and otherwise absurd scenarios, that the low, low budget of its live-action predecessor would never have allowed.
Each of these six episodes is a delight. Yet my favorite is unquestionably the second, which parodies clip shows by consisting mostly of flashbacks to the first episode - and to events that took place earlier in the second episode itself. In no way does 'Clerks,' the series, take itself seriously, nor anything else. That's a great deal of its charm. Nothing is too weird or outrageous to be included, or lampooned.
That broad aim does lend itself to the one notable caveat about the cartoon, one which is regrettably shared by most comedies. Even if it's satire, or a reference to some pop culture ephemera - there are hints of racist tropes employed here, and sexism, and homophobia, that have not aged well; not that it was ever appropriate in the first place. It's not punching down with any intent to harm, and comes from a place of emphasizing how terrible the character in question is, and how unfunny their remark - but that doesn't necessarily make it any better. I feel like society at large has made piecemeal progress in this regard, but 'Clerks' remains a time capsule of 20 years past when, out of privilege, few thought twice about the far-reaching effects that even a throwaway line can have.
Still, while that's a problem to be acknowledged, and viewers should be aware, it doesn't overshadow the quality of 'Clerks' as a whole. Whatever its flaws, overall the series is simply a joy.
The series is mostly animated with sharply contrasting colors filling thick black lines. It's a style that accentuates the cartoonish, unrealistic nature of the program, and 'Clerks' happily capitalizes on its medium with the scenes it presents. Less readily obvious are the names behind the voices we hear, and it's a rather surprising list of people lending their tongue. Alec Baldwin, Tara Strong, Jeff Bennett, Charles Barkley, and Bryan Cranston all show up, plus Dana Gould, Phil LaMarr, Michael McKean, and still more. For a very limited-run adult-oriented animated series based on a low-budget indie comedy, 'Clerks' drew in quite the cast.
To that point: 'Clerks' wasn't the first cartoon geared toward an older audience, but I feel like it represented a bit of a sea change with its bent toward absurdism. 'Family guy' and 'Futurama' preceded this show, and 'The Simpsons' long before them, but for all the left turns these series may take within episodes, the narrative thrust is generally consistent and familiar. In the years following 'Clerks,' cartoons of its ilk have proliferated, not least of all thanks to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim whose programming is largely defined by a similarly very loose, "anything goes" storytelling style.
It's not perfect, but it's still very funny and enjoyable, and in some ways a benchmark for animated series. 'Clerks' is essential for Kevin Smith fans, but also highly recommended for general audiences. Drop your expectations and just enjoy the ride.
'Clerks: The animated series' picks up where 'Clerks,' the 1994 movie, left off, with Dante (Brian O'Halloran) manning the Quick Stop convenience store by himself, and Randal (Jeff Anderson) being a wholly irresponsible employee of the adjacent video store. Shenanigans ensue, not least of all as Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) are up to no good just outside.
The 1994 film reveled in referential humor and quips about pop culture that largely defined the dialogue in Dante and Randal's tumultuous friendship, when they weren't arguing about each other's behavior. The animated series steps things up with an abundance of visual jokes and references, and otherwise absurd scenarios, that the low, low budget of its live-action predecessor would never have allowed.
Each of these six episodes is a delight. Yet my favorite is unquestionably the second, which parodies clip shows by consisting mostly of flashbacks to the first episode - and to events that took place earlier in the second episode itself. In no way does 'Clerks,' the series, take itself seriously, nor anything else. That's a great deal of its charm. Nothing is too weird or outrageous to be included, or lampooned.
That broad aim does lend itself to the one notable caveat about the cartoon, one which is regrettably shared by most comedies. Even if it's satire, or a reference to some pop culture ephemera - there are hints of racist tropes employed here, and sexism, and homophobia, that have not aged well; not that it was ever appropriate in the first place. It's not punching down with any intent to harm, and comes from a place of emphasizing how terrible the character in question is, and how unfunny their remark - but that doesn't necessarily make it any better. I feel like society at large has made piecemeal progress in this regard, but 'Clerks' remains a time capsule of 20 years past when, out of privilege, few thought twice about the far-reaching effects that even a throwaway line can have.
Still, while that's a problem to be acknowledged, and viewers should be aware, it doesn't overshadow the quality of 'Clerks' as a whole. Whatever its flaws, overall the series is simply a joy.
The series is mostly animated with sharply contrasting colors filling thick black lines. It's a style that accentuates the cartoonish, unrealistic nature of the program, and 'Clerks' happily capitalizes on its medium with the scenes it presents. Less readily obvious are the names behind the voices we hear, and it's a rather surprising list of people lending their tongue. Alec Baldwin, Tara Strong, Jeff Bennett, Charles Barkley, and Bryan Cranston all show up, plus Dana Gould, Phil LaMarr, Michael McKean, and still more. For a very limited-run adult-oriented animated series based on a low-budget indie comedy, 'Clerks' drew in quite the cast.
To that point: 'Clerks' wasn't the first cartoon geared toward an older audience, but I feel like it represented a bit of a sea change with its bent toward absurdism. 'Family guy' and 'Futurama' preceded this show, and 'The Simpsons' long before them, but for all the left turns these series may take within episodes, the narrative thrust is generally consistent and familiar. In the years following 'Clerks,' cartoons of its ilk have proliferated, not least of all thanks to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim whose programming is largely defined by a similarly very loose, "anything goes" storytelling style.
It's not perfect, but it's still very funny and enjoyable, and in some ways a benchmark for animated series. 'Clerks' is essential for Kevin Smith fans, but also highly recommended for general audiences. Drop your expectations and just enjoy the ride.