» Pup, Pup and Away: Krypto, The Superdog Options

[ArthurCurry]

Some stuff I've noticed, so far.

1. Content is pitched way, way younger than other DCU-based cartoons out there such as Batman, Superman, Justice League, JLU and even Teen Titans. I'm guessing 3 to 7 year-olds. (Of course, Teen Titans was also deliberately pitched younger than its forebears, but it's still a dynamic, interesting and compellingly character-based show. Krypto the Superdog, however .... not so much.)

2. Design/animation harkens back (deliberately, according to the producers) to the Hanna-Barbera school. That is to say: cheap-looking.

3. The character designs are, nonetheless, kinda charming. Krypto looks great, and Ace the Bat-hound is so cool he prompts giggles of fanboyish glee.

4. Re: fanboyish glee. Ace the Bat-hound! Come on, Ace the Bat-freakin'-Hound! How cool is that? Answer: So. And Streaky the Super-Cat! And a reworking of that uniquely Silver Age creation, the Space Canine Patrol Agency (the SCPA, geddit?) dubbed the Dog Stars. Plus, upcoming appearances by the Joker's Hyenas, and a starmaking turn by new creation Ignatius, Luthor's dastardly pet iguana.

5. The actor voicing Ignatius have gone for a Paul-Lynde-meets-Snagglepuss-meets-Spicoli line reading that works.

6. The producer claim that the "humor" works for adults. Viz: "It's time for duty: Dog duty!" Meh.

7. Did I mention Ace the Bat-Hound?

8. Kids generally aren't reading comics these days, and if they are, they're reading manga. This seems to me like a Warner Bros./DC Comics gambit to get the very, very young interested in super-hero themes. Hey, Challenge of the Super-friends made me an addict for life, so.....

9. The producers have made one glaring oversight. The key to any successful superhero show is the groovy theme-song. Adam West Batman? Had it. Super-Chicken? Had it. Mighty Heroes? Had it. Spider-Man? Had it. Superfriends? Had it. Superman the Animated Series, Batman the Animated Series, Justice League? Stirring themse, all. Teen Titans? Deliciously groovy. JLU? ..... Okay, one exception.
But the Krypto theme doesn't do it for me, even if "Pup, pup and away" is about as good an encapsulation of Silver Age whimsy as you'll find. The tune itself is definitely pitched for the kind of ears that can listen to Barney without bleeding.

[dconner]

Is this the only Krypto thread? Guess so....

The SCPA! Yay! Though I'll be severely disappointed if they don't present the SCPA pledge pretty darn soon:
"Big dog! Big dog! Bow wow wow!
We'll stop Evil! Now, now, now!"
http://users.telerama.com/~megabee/scpa.html

Note that, in the original story, Krypto is wearing glasses to protect his secret identity!

Obviously, this isn't written for 36 year old me, but that's OK. Justice League *is*, and Krypto appeals to me a lot more than Teen Titans, the style of which just makes me cringe.

I really like the character designs. Krypto looks both noble and fun-loving, for instance. The only bit that doesn't work for me is Streaky's claws, which don't look very claw-like to me. Can't wait to meet Ace!

Odd note: for some reason, it's *this* show that has the hottest animated Lois Lane ever!

[CommanderBeef]

It definitely has a 1980's, sell-some-toys feel about it.

[CommanderBeef]

Ace the bat hound just cracks me up.

[ArthurCurry]

Yeah, isn't he the coolest? And the whispery voice acting, reminiscent of Kevin Murphy's Batman take. Genius.

And, I'm sorry, but Ignatius -- who is, I remind you, merely because it's such a very, very fun clause to type, Lex Luthor's dastardly pet iguana -- is a lot of fun.

Kevin, however, should only bite me. The kid's line readings are so stiff he sounds like he escaped from a Peanuts holiday special.

[nicepebbles]

I'm 26 and when I saw the preview for this, I was like I gotta watch. I watched it last night.

2. Design/animation harkens back (deliberately, according to the producers) to the Hanna-Barbera school. That is to say: cheap-looking.
3. The character designs are, nonetheless,

ITA. Mr. Nice and I were commenting on the fact that it made us feel like we were watching cartoons on saturday morning way back when in the 80s. You know the old school days. Loved it. Even Streaky sounded like a cartoon from back then.

The only bit that doesn't work for me is Streaky's claws, which don't look very claw-like to me.

Seriously. How come his nephew had cat claws and Streaky had whatever-you-call-those things?

[CommanderBeef]

Ace sounds like the X-men Evolution version of Wolverine.

[sluggo]

I have to agree this show has the cheapest animated design I've seen for awhile. I loved the 80's but the seeing the subpar animation makes me missed that aspect of it a lot less.

The show as a whole is probably for kids and thank the gods for that!

[suntzu]

Ace sounds like the X-men Evolution version of Wolverine.

Hmmm...I noticed that, too. The IMDB is less than helpful, however, since neither Krypto nor Ace are listed. Among the voices that are listed is Brian Drummond (Streaky), a.k.a. Andrew Waldfeld from "Gundam Seed" and Zechs Marquise from "Gundam Wing". Now that's entertainment.

[CommanderBeef]

I paused the credits. It's Scott McNeil. Same guy.

[CitizenKang]

Oh good, I was looking for this thread. I thought I was the only non-8yr-old watching this show. I don't know why this show is so entertaining. I don't watch Cartoon network at all except for Adult Swim. I like the idea that it is the animals, not the humans who are saving everything. At first I wondered why Krypto doesn't go live with Superman, but then I figured, why does Superman need a dog?

I have yet to see a Bat Hound episode but I can't wait for that. Apparently, there is also Catwoman's cat Isis, Penguin's penguin Waddles, and Robin dog that I haven't seen. Ignacius the Iguana is hilarious- and he even has the evil gay voice!

The villains are not that evil, just mischievous. Ignacius and Mechanikat et al don't want to kill everybody. I like the innocence of this show.

[ladyDonna]

At first I wondered why Krypto doesn't go live with Superman....

That's addressed in the first ep. (I won't go into details in case you haven't seen it yet).

My 7-year-old loves this show, and it's nice to see a Cartoon Network show that's actually aimed at her age group.
Ace the Bat-hound is pretty awesome. He's so deadly serious. He's very much in the style of the 60's Batman. And so far, Krypto's proved a good character as well. He's upright and pure and all about truth, justice, etc., but he's also having fun. It's refreshing to see a superhero who's not drowing in angst.

[NJ Kef]

I’ve seen a few episodes of Krypto the Superdog so far and I have to admit it’s kind of cute, not to mention silly and clever. I like that the villains have been neutered to appropriate levels of comic evil.

Is it purple kryptonite that makes Krypto chase his tail? I cracked up over that! I caught the slobbering sheepdog story today. Was that disgusting or what??? Yet funny.

I can’t wait to see the Bathound and Superman stories. Could someone please clue me in how Streaky acquired his powers (if not from Kryptonite-X wrapped in a ball of yarn)?

Ditto to ArthurCurry: a catchy theme song is definitely in order. If nothing else, maybe the Baha Men’s Who Let the Dogs Out or George Clinton’s Atomic Dog:

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?
Nothin’ but the superdog in me!
Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

This post has been edited by NJ Kef: May 7, 2005 @ 6:24 pm.

[ArthurCurry]

Streaky's origin is very, very Silver Age in feel.

There was this giant zappy duplicator/transporter/macguffin ray, see, and for some completely illogical reason it struck Krypto, bounced off him -- cause he's super -- and hit Streaky.

Which bestowed upon Streaky all of Krypto's powers.

Naturally.

[caffinated]

I imagine this show came about partly because the current Bruce Timm DCAU has steered to an older audience, and they needed something to include kids in the loop (and I'm sure the possible merchandising opportunties have something to do with it as well!)

That said, I kinda like it. Its goofy fun that gives me 80s vibes like others have said above.

I think its hilarious that they have Ace in this show, although I haven't gotten to see any episodes with him yet. If he's around in the modern day, just how old is he in Batman Beyond, anyway?