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Post by emma on Jun 22, 2006 23:26:22 GMT -5
Well, another day, another question is on my mind. Although I think it's a little less presumptuous than my 'Aging' thread.  I was sitting back today, enjoying my second serving of Pop-Tarts, watching Foster's on my computer. And all of the sudden I sighed audibly, smiled insanely and said, "I love this show." to my non-existent company. I know I'm weird, but that's besides the point... I think it's safe to say that we all love this show. But my question is, what are your favorite pieces that really make this cartoon one of the best? It doesn't necessarily have to be a character (although it could be), but also could be part of the settings, plots, writing, etc. that make up this lovely little show.  In short, I'm giving you an opportunity to gush. Merry Christmas.  |
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Post by pitbulllady on Jun 22, 2006 23:46:07 GMT -5
There are so many reasons I love this show, it's hard to narrow it down to just one...or two...or three...you get the picture.
It's funny, yet not demeaning to one's intelligence. It does not have to rely in any large part on "potty humor" or "gross-out" humor, like so many of the shows on CN. The humor is such that it can appeal to any age group. At times it can be subtle, and at other times it can have me spewing my sugar-free energy drink out of my nose.
There are lots of "in-jokes" and references that often only teens or adults would get, especially those to older movies or tv shows, and there is often a LOT going on, so you have to REALLY pay attention! In this respect, the show reminds me a LOT of Pixar's movies, but also of the old "Police Squad" tv show and "Naked Gun" movies.
The characters are simply wonderful. They are not shallow and one-sided, but actually very complex individuals that have remarkable depth to them, moreso than most live-action characters. They also develope and "evolve", over time, like real people. It's very easy to suspend disbelief and really feel for these colorful collections of pixels, and imagine that they are as real as you or I. You cannot help but to genuinely CARE about what happens to them. It's also easy to relate to them, and to some of the situations they get into, because most of us, at one time or another, have experienced similar things...or we WILL, eventually.
There is that deeper, never-in-your-face-but-always-there serious theme of abandonment and loyalty and true friendship here. I think that this really appeals to the more intellectual side of us AND to that emotional side, at the same time, and few things can ever accomplish that.
pitbulllady
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Post by emma on Jun 22, 2006 23:58:44 GMT -5
I agree with you on ALL your points, PBL, but especially the last. There's something about the setting of a foster home that completely sets Foster's apart from all other shows on CN. A foster home conjures up (for me at least) images of loneliness, abandonment and rejection. But instead of dwelling on these feelings completely (which no cartoon aimed at children would do, anyway) or ignoring them, the show acknowledges them when needed but also allows for the perception of the foster home setting to be expanded upon through friendship and hope. The true friendship angle is also one of the most genuine I have ever seen on a cartoon, whereas other animated shows tend to take friendship for granted and thus weakening it's potency as a plot device. I believe completely that, if the circumstances were dire enough, ALL of the major characters on Foster's would risk themselves to help each other. That's something you just don't see on TV everyday.
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Post by Beavergard Q. Kazoo on Jun 23, 2006 11:59:47 GMT -5
Would it sound lazy if I said ditto, PBL? That is, to a dime, my opinions of this show.
It may sound silly, but I almost cried at the end of 'Go, Goo, Go' when Mac is talking to Goo about IFs. It's so powerful, and well-written. This show blows me away, and it's pristine writing rivals even Fullmetal Alchemist sometimes.
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Post by kageri on Jun 23, 2006 12:51:44 GMT -5
My favorite aspect of Foster's is that I can't figure out my favorite aspect of Foster's, but love it anyway.
Okay fine -- I love the characters, the acting, the animation, the wit, the character designs, the sincerity, the fact that you can't feel the I.Q.'s of children around the world dropping by the minute, the fact that everything I love about good cartoons is basically all stuffed into this particular one.
And Mac and Bloo. Bet you were waiting for that.
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Post by imaginaryxlight on Jun 23, 2006 13:04:17 GMT -5
What really makes me just blurt out "Oh, I love this show!" when watching Foster's is usually something coming from one of the characters' mouths (usually Bloo, go figure). Take for example the "hot in topeka" scene. After that whole thing was done I turned to my brother with a smile on my face and said, "Oh, man, I LOVE this show!" The acting is great. Everything has seemed to develop over time too. I watch the earlier episodes, and then I watch the newer episodes, and I think of how everything seems different but thats just because everything, the characters, the storylines, etc., have been developing.
Oh, and it's not one of those shows that is constantly centered on popularity and wanting to be popular. There are way too many cartoons like that, which makes everything seem the same, and the pool of cartoons we have to choose from is pretty lame (I'm not saying this about ALL cartoons!). I think that's why Foster's stands out so much. The idea is so original.
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Post by InsaneFan on Jun 24, 2006 11:59:42 GMT -5
I love that Foster's can be cute, fall-on-the-floor-laughing hilarious, and heartwarming all in one episode.
I agree with IXL, there aren't many good shows to pick from nowadays(ha, I say that as if I've been around long enough to know that).
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Post by kageri on Jun 24, 2006 12:21:00 GMT -5
(ha, I say that as if I've been around long enough to know that). It's true though. Not like I'd be all "OH BOY OH BOY" if they decided to bring Rainbow Brite back, but these days people just.... can't be funny. They need snot-eating and fart jokes and one of the great things about Foster's is that it doesn't demean kids' intelligence (even though kids are dumb, but still). |
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Post by ch3353h4xx0rrrrr on Jun 25, 2006 16:14:40 GMT -5
It may sound silly, but I almost cried at the end of 'Go, Goo, Go' when Mac is talking to Goo about IFs. It's so powerful, and well-written. I DID cry! I started crying when Mac yelled out "NO ONE LIKES YOU!", cryed even harder when he read the note about how Goo was thanking him, and didn't stop until Goo said "I brought some new friiiiends!" Then I watched the episode AGAIN (thanks to TiVo  ) and it broke my heart, because I understood what Goo was saying right before Mac exploded. She said "And since we're best friends and all--" "NO ONE LIKES YOU!!!" Aww... pooor Goo... *cough cough* Enough of my Goo-obsession. On with why I LUFF Foster's! First off, the idea is just SO original. You can do SO MUCH with imaginary friends and the adventures they might have. Secondly, the animation is just so attractive and flawless. The whole flash-thing it's got going on (since it IS created with flash technology) is astounding. Then there's the humour. Some is RIGHT THERE in front of you; laugh out loud funny. But then you see the episode again, and there are just things you didn't catch before. And it's funny. So I also like the show because, no matter how many times you watch an episode, it's still great. To me, anyway. And again, it's not stupid humour. It's good, quality humour. 'cept for maybe Cheese... but it was still a riot. ;D |
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drakenea
Settling In
I'm with the Imaginary.
Posts: 68
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Post by drakenea on Jun 25, 2006 16:26:31 GMT -5
The personalities,the plot, and the voices. When I first saw the commercial,the one introducing Eduardo,I hated it and found the show pointless at the time.Then I watched an episode(It was Bloo Done It)and it wasn't long until I fell in love with it.Whats so strange is,I hated Eduardo the most back then.Now,he's on my top 5 favorite characters.Not only that I found that Wilt makes a good example for children.Not many shows have characters as sweet as him.Probably the finest show that still airs on CN.It's hard to find shows like Foster's.
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Post by leadballoon on Jun 25, 2006 16:59:01 GMT -5
I've been holding off posting a reply to this here because (a) I'm really enjoying everybodys' well-written, interesting posts (every one is making me think "Oh yeah, that's EXACTLY why it's so good!) and (b) I'd have great trouble pinning down why exactly I love this show so much. To Beaver and ch3353h4xx0rrrrr......I'm so happy that other people found that particular series of events as moving as I did - it totally crushed me! And over a year after I started watching the show, made me think "Wow, this is why Foster's is the best" You two described that bit perfectly, it was amazing |
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Post by labloogirl on Jun 25, 2006 19:42:08 GMT -5
What more is there to say, then what others have? You've all summed it up nicely. ^_^ I havta go and just give one word to describe how I feel about this show. Bloo. Nuff said. |
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Post by emma on Jun 25, 2006 20:14:18 GMT -5
What more is there to say, then what others have? You've all summed it up nicely. ^_^ I havta go and just give one word to describe how I feel about this show. Bloo. Nuff said. Totally. |
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Post by pitbulllady on Jun 25, 2006 21:00:48 GMT -5
The personalities,the plot, and the voices. When I first saw the commercial,the one introducing Eduardo,I hated it and found the show pointless at the time.Then I watched an episode(It was Bloo Done It)and it wasn't long until I fell in love with it.Whats so strange is,I hated Eduardo the most back then.Now,he's on my top 5 favorite characters.Not only that I found that Wilt makes a good example for children.Not many shows have characters as sweet as him.Probably the finest show that still airs on CN.It's hard to find shows like Foster's. Not only is Wilt a good role model, in terms of his helpfulness and considerate nature and his overall positive demeanor, but he is also a very good representative of people with obvious handicaps. Hopefully, through him, younger viewers will learn to be more accepting of people with physical disabilities. Most people, not just children, tend to be a bit uncomfortable around people who've had limbs amputated, or who use a wheelchair, or who are blind, or have noticeable scars or many other physical handicaps, and some are downright freaked out by such individuals. Kids especially tend to notice the disability, and not the person it's attached to, and I think that Wilt has probably helped change a lot of attitudes. Not only does he have the potential to make physical handicaps less "strange" to many children, but he also shows that even someone with multiple disabililties, like he has, can still overcome them through a positive attitude, and can still do pretty much everything that anyone else can do. You NEVER hear Wilt try to use any of his handicaps as an excuse for not being able to do something, do you? It's very easy, after a time watching the show, to forget that he is missing an arm AND an eye. pitbulllady |
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Post by One Radical Dude on Jun 25, 2006 23:21:47 GMT -5
Much of what I'd say has already been said, and I won't disagree with any of the points brought up. I saw some of the promos before the series debuted in August 2004 (in the US) -- I didn't seem to be interested in the series, but I only tuned in, because I was curious to see what Craig McCracken was up to next (I enjoy McCracken, as well as Genndy Tartakovsky's works). I did not regret tuning in to watch the pilot (for those in the US that want to see it (again for those that saw it before), it's going to air soon -- look for the guide). The character designs are beyond awesome, the voice-over acting is well-done, the episodes are worth watching, and the characters themselves are fantastic. I've said it many times, and I'll say it again -- this is my favorite animated program in years.
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Hey, I know this good-lookin' guy!
