Feature Film Review: Persepolis

There are many ways to tell stories, and there are also plenty of ways and opportunities to refine the quality of a fictional tale. Refinement is a pesky and risky matter in non-fiction storytelling because you cannot take much liberties with your life story without being disingenuous, criticized and "found out" for doing so. Marjane Satrapi published her life story in comic form as Persepolis. I read the whole thing and really enjoyed the first half but due to the nature of her story, I found the second half disappointing and not as entertaining or enlightening. Since I found some of it unsatisfactory and since the story was already "solidified" as a book, I didn't think there would be much difference or changes made to the story's movie adaptation (co-directed by Mrs. Satrapi). I then read a comment on iMDb by a woman saying that the movie was worse than the graphic novel (in their opinion) and I fear I took that with too many grains of salt... by the time I watched the movie I feared and expected the same problems to plague the film which gave me hesitation to watch it. My expectations were proven wrong, however.

Metalocalypse season 5 is dead

We're late to the game on this one (as usual) but there's no sense in denying it any further. After four seasons and a rock opera of incredibly bad ass proportions, it looks like Metalocalypse is coming to an abrupt halt. America's most brutal show will not receive a fifth season, and the news came from creator Brendon Small himself.

A new Galactic Kids Next Door series and all its cryptic clues

Just when you thought the pools were closed for kids, the KND comes back to bust open the gates. After it's finale in 2008, Kids Next Door left kids around the world defenseless against adult tyranny. Turns out, they were just working behind the scenes.

And they may be coming back.

Oh look, we have 10,000 views

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Cartoon Network Upfront: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Since the Hub is dead, Disney is focused on four more Frozen sequels, and Nickelodeon is doing something with Spongebob we guess, it looks like Cartoon Network is the last place we can nit pick. While we already covered a certain crossover that seemed like the worst announcement earlier, we didn't get to take an in-depth look at everything released today. So what looks promising? What looks horrendous? Why should you care?

For the children, dear reader. For them.

Steven Universe crossover episode with Uncle Grandpa confirmed

Life isn't fair. 

Web Toon Review: Hitler's Magical Moustache

Around two weeks ago Awhile back I was sent my first email request regarding a piece of animation to review. As astonishing as it was to learn someone actually cares about what I horribly write on this site,what's more important is I seize the opportunity by doing what I was requested to do. So Sound Garden, you got your wish. Today I'm taking a look at my two favorite things: Hitler and Magic facial hair. What could possibly go wrong?

Help me (and others) win a Shorty Award for absolutely no reason

As if award shows for over glorified movie stars wasn't enough, now they're doing one for social media. So screw it, if we're going to do this, I want in because reasons. I'm nominated for #blogger, so vote for me here! Matter of fact, who else do I give my support to...

Nostalgia Trip: Cartoon Network Groovies Vol. 3

Last week on Nostalgia Trip I brought you a second helping of Cartoon Groovies with all the Powerpuff goodness you could handle. This week, keeping with the theme of our Groovies collection, we'll be taking a look at the videos that were based around the brainiac boy with beats. I'm talking of course of the Dexter's Lab Groovies.

Random Artist Showcase: SuperSketch1220

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Coming up with simple, yet fun articles can be a pain. A labor of love, but frustrating. However one concept we haven't abandoned from the beginning was focusing on you, the artists. The people who do what we do, but with animation and drawings and all the wonderful stuff you've created that is your mark on the world. So, in what we hope is a series of articles we get to keep doing, today we're going to showcase those talents with our very limited spotlight. And we figured we'd start with someone we know.

Remember, "The Powerpuff Girls" is still getting a reboot.

The Powerpufff Girls was originally created by Craig McCracken in an awful time known as the '90s, becoming a major trailblazer in the world of cartoon audiences, something modern bronies can trace back to as lineage. It lasted six seasons, a movie, two specials, and even an official anime. So just when you thought Rob Sorcher and the CN staff were coming back to form, they weren't.

It may be old news, but we'd like to remind you that, yes, The Powerpuff Girls will be getting a reboot.

Nostalgia Trip: Cartoon Network Groovies Vol. 2

Last week I brought you the original Cartoon Network Groovies starring your favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Except Scooby Doo. I didn't have Scooby Doo.

So this week, I thought I bring in Groovies starring one of the best cartoons to ever grace the Network. And they also had some of the best Groovies. It's all about the Powerpuff Girls on this addition of Nostalgia Trip.

Racist cartoons: They're not your fault

Oh racism, you make the past uncomfortable. Since the first animated shorts in 1908 to The Book of Life, humor has morphed from what may have once been socially acceptable to laugh at in to what only makes the more degenerate people laugh at the ridiculous nature of it in private. I'm talking of course of the racist nature of black face, Japanese impressions, and all around American uncomfortableness we've all come to regret.

Nostalgia Trip: Cartoon Network Groovies Vol. 1

Critics2D returns after our 7th hiatus to take you on a musical journey. One that'll take you back to the time when Cartoon Network was God and your introverted life didn't matter because you had kick ass cartoons. Even the bumpers were cartoons. Hell, they were music videos. I'm talking of course of the Groovies. The music videos that span multiple genres and animation styles. And to start it off, we'll be looking at the Groovies based on some classic Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. 

Marceline and Bubblegum officially dated and it doesn't surprise anyone

courtesy of kosmonaughtybarbie

Shippers everywhere today rejoiced in the Adventure Time fandom, while others made attempts on their lives. Naval war was sparked by the official news that, yes, Marceline and PB did in fact bump magical uglies at one point. It's canon folks. 

Sadly no one was surprised at all.

WE NEED NEW STAFF! APPLY HERE!

Hi there! Man it's been awhile hasn't it? Like a long time...okay let's keep this simple. With the distractions that already exist in my own life (Horse News, Job, not being a virgin, etc.) and in the lives of the almost non-existant Critics2D staff (some being no longer involved at all), we are now officially looking for some new blood that can raise this sunken ship from the depths of the ocean of mediocrity.

What are you waiting for? You can apply after the page break!

Web Toon Review: C-Students

From deviant annasabi101

From the guy who brought you those autistic Sonic and My Little Pony crossovers and the far less polished series predecessor, Seniors, all around swell weirdo James Barkley (aka AnimatedJames) brings us what his sure to be his Magnum Opus that will eventually be given three shorts and dropped for something basically the same, C-Students. 

The best part? It's pretty good.

WE ONE THOUSAND NOW

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN

Cartoon Review(s): "The Royals" and "AJ's Infinite Summer" pilots

While aimlessly surfing the web in a state of pre-summer vegetation today, I discovered an interesting piece of news from Cartoon Network. You see, with every show such as Steven Universe, Spongebob, or Gravity Falls, each has a test phase in the form of a short to give to the networks as a pitch, or a pilot. Yesterday, Cartoon Network apparently released two new shorts created by some of the staff from Regular Show, and each of them seems seems interesting, at least from first glance. But are they on board the same triumphant track as the emerging greats Steven Universe and Clarence? 

The Return of Courage the Cowardly Dog?

The show that brought you your first piss your pants moments of fear from a TV show, Courage the Cowardly Dog is the Oscar Nominated modern classic from Cartoon Network. It had a good run from it's 1999 premiere to the heart warming series end in 2002, accumulating over 100 aired segments. 

So as one of the most beloved cartoons of the Cartoon Network renaissance, it honestly would make sense that it would receive some sort of modern nod or reboot, right? Especially considering the Powerpuff Girls has had not one, but two specials already. Well now it looks like Courage has risen from the dead.