Shark Bytes
Compared to what's being shown to our kids these days. Ray & Charles (the rat and the snake), doesn't look so bad. In fact, I've trying for the longest to find information on how I can order copies of the shows for my nieces and nephews and cousins.
Ok, so the J5 wasn't "Fantasia". It was a fun, music filled romp, not unlike "The Beatles" animated series from the mid-60 or "The Monkees.
Have to give credit to Rankin-Bass to step out of their niche and produce this series. The J5 series was one if not the first animated series to portray
African-Americans without resorting to stereotypes.An interesting slice of amimation history.
Have to give credit to Rankin-Bass to step out of their niche and produce this series. The J5 series was one if not the first animated series to portray
African-Americans without resorting to stereotypes.An interesting slice of amimation history.
I wonder how many kids at home started spelling all words with f's using 5's silent due to the cartoon spelling?
Day one. Although I liked their music, I can't believe I used to watch this show. One of the few shows that I look at now and say "I actually used to like this?"
These cartoons bring back such great memories for me. Today and Forever, they always put a smile on my face and make me remember when life was simple and good. At least for me.
The fact that this show showcased some of the J5's more obscure tunes:Can I see you in the morning,Just a mirage,Reach in,etc. makes this a great show.These songs proved that they were more than just bubblegum crap.Go find "Blue Skies" on cd somewhere.It will send chills down your spine.
I thought this show was lame from the beginning. Probably because it probably wasn't necessary for the Jacksons to have a saturday morning toon, and also since as some have said, several songs were overused on the show. About the dancing animals, I do recall dancing mice in one episode. Rankin-Bass(the Hanna-Barbera of Christmas Specials), which made this cartoon apparently wanted to add a crappy non-Christmas show to their resume (You know, considering they've made a lot of crappy Christmas Shows, and obviously wanted to do something different besides doing horrible holiday special, after horrible holiday special). They made up for this crap in the 80's with Thundercats. cest la vie.
A previous poster made an EXCELLENT point: if we loved it as a kid, but see it as shark bait NOW, does that count? Well, this show was tailor made for me: A Black kid who wanted to be a performer, loved Motown music, and loved cartoons. About a year ago Cartoon Network showed a few episodes and I remember laughing to myself: "to think I DUG this stuff once". Laurel & Hardy plots (one on an Army base stands out) and so-so animation (cool job on the 'fros, though). But LOVE that music. Sure, this was just one of many CRUDE CRASS Motown efforts that turned them from a brilliantly-conceived 'minority' business that ending up having a huge artistic and cultural impact to just another CORPORATE WHORE. (but I could hear 'The Love You Save' and 'I'll be There' ten times in a row and not get tired of it)
Sure, it wasn't the greatest cartoon ever, but it was still cute. And it is historically significant. Before the Jackson Five, where would you see a cartoon whose main characters were real-life celebrities? And a bunch of young Black kids, at that! J5 was great. But I do blame this show for giving birth to "New Kids On the Block" and the like.
This show never jumped, but that might be because I'm a huge J5 fan. The animation was poor, special guest stars like Diana Ross were drawn horrifically, but it was groovadelic. Michael is to die for.
I'm not saying that in retrospect, this show didn't suck - but as a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons, I really liked it. So, that brings up a question for the Shark. Do previously loved shows that suck in hindsight count as shark jumpers? I really don't think they do, but what do I know, the Shark needs to address this.
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