The Backyardigans: Evil or just Insidious?

[tacticslion]

So, we've recently come into possession of a The Backyardigans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backyardigans) dvd (specifically the "Mission to Mars" dvd), which on its own is fine.

It's a very safe Children's show that has absolutely no subversive undertones, is entirely clean, and ultimately rather calm and kind of slow-paced in a way.

And I can't get it out of my head.

Especially the theme song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeCb1zUty78) (it's the first on this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQSJzwxq18)). But really, I think the thing that makes it surprisingly addictive is the song-and-dance numbers. It's really hard to resist, frankly, and extremely fun, despite being what I was convinced upon first watching would be a very boring few minutes for daddy as he let his son enjoy, like one episode. Four shows later and daddy's surprised the DVD is over already.

And now, I'm looking up more episodes to watch (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB19FABBFDF443120).

So, clearly, it's evil and/or insidious and has some sort of mind-control.

Things I've learned from the DVD (WARNING: SPOILERS):
* Martians use the word "Boinga" for most things.
* Samurai make the best pies while ninjas steal them.
* Monsters are scared of each other and you. Also have sweet dance parties.
* Wearing a scarf automatically makes you mysterious and prevents people from knowing your identity. Fog helps, though.

[phil_]

This sounds like something I would like, which is an utterly terrifying thought. Maybe I should rent a horror movie or something to remind myself that I've completed preschool and all the school after that.

[tacticslion]

This sounds like something I would like, which is an utterly terrifying thought. Maybe I should rent a horror movie or something to remind myself that I've completed preschool and all the school after that.

I know, right?! I'm all like, "I'm totally an adult. Why do I want to watch this? There is literally nothing 'adult' about this, in any stretch of the definition. Kid voice actors, kid singers, on a show that is (on all levels) about nothing more than kids enjoying their own, short, imaginary adventures before running inside for snacks. Why do I like it?"

It's... actually a little eerie how much I like the opening/closing theme of the show.

I mean, the music is so slow even when it's "upbeat" and "high tempo". It's just so... not the music I listen to or even enjoy, but for some reason it's completely captivating.

It's like everything that could and should be boring about a children's show... only it's made into something pretty good.

It probably helps at least somewhat that the movements of the anthropomorphic kids are directly modeled after real-life kids and their dancers are (apparently) actually choreographed, performed by real-live people, and then animated as the show (note: not roto-scoped*, just straight-up animated move/position-by-move/position).

Anyway, it's super-cute and, as I said, pretty much the safest, tamest thing that could be conceived of as a kids' show.

And... heaven help me, I recommend you watch it.

Please don't get the wrong idea. It's not like the most amazing thing you've ever seen. It's not going to blow you away with it's new, fresh, or amazing ideas. It's not a fascinating never-before-seen thing. It's just... well done. Go figure.

* I... don't know how to spell this, but spellcheck doesn't like rotoscoped, roto-scoped, rottoscoped, or rotto-scoped, so I dunno**.
** Strangely, spell-check likes "dunno", so... I dunno.

[phil_]

It probably helps at least somewhat that the movements of the anthropomorphic kids are directly modeled after real-life kids and their dancers are (apparently) actually choreographed, performed by real-live people, and then animated as the show (note: not roto-scoped*, just straight-up animated move/position-by-move/position).Do you mean to say that the animation is motion capture? Like, "cameras tracking sensors on a suit" stuff?It's not like the most amazing thing you've ever seen.I feel like I should append this in front of everything I recommend people see, although I've failed to do so recently.

[tacticslion]

Do you mean to say that the animation is motion capture? Like, "cameras tracking sensors on a suit" stuff?

No, I mean, at least from what I can tell reading the wikipedia article I linked above, they actually watch people who've been recorded dancing on film (specifically recorded with routines made for the show) and then animate replications of those movements.

It sounds like an excessive amount of work for a show like this... but it seems pretty effective (and successfully avoiding the uncanny valley).

I feel like I should append this in front of everything I recommend people see, although I've failed to do so recently.

Hah! Well... there's always your signature, though I like your current one (and still have yet to play, though I've downloaded it.)

---------- Post added at 03:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:25 PM ----------

Actually, this reminds me. If you've never watched David the Gnome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_the_Gnome): do it (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8CDDCBD7FF11243). (Although that one's in German, and I don't speak German, so unless you do, it probably doesn't work for you. I hear that these guys (youtube.com/user/BRBInt) have some English episodes (and notice a minor video right on their front page), but I haven't really checked it out. Seriously one of the best shows I watched as a kid and a lot deeper than it looks.

[phil_]

No, I mean, at least from what I can tell reading the wikipedia article I linked above, they actually watch people who've been recorded dancing on film (specifically recorded with routines made for the show) and then animate replications of those movements.Oh, neat.David the GnomeI watched it on Nickelodeon. It was airing right when we first got cable, if I remember correctly. Don't remember anything about it beyond what it looked like, though.

[tacticslion]

I watched it on Nickelodeon. It was airing right when we first got cable, if I remember correctly. Don't remember anything about it beyond what it looked like, though.

While some of my memories are hazy on a few of the episodes, I've never forgotten most of the moral lessons they've imparted or where they come from.

While made for children, it explains life, death, the reality of hardships, the importance of being a genuinely good person, and all sorts of other things so simply and neatly. It really coincided well with the lessons my parents were teaching me, and I got the idea of how a husband and wife should interact from a combination of watching my parents and watching that show. It was beautiful.

The animation was terrible, but it was from Spain in the I-don't-know-when-it-was-created time frame, so, you know.
(Apparently, from the wikipedia article, it was also heavily censored in the U.S. which, I'm pretty sure, is where I saw it.)

But the Backyardigans "1) have people dance, 2) watch them dance, 3) create models that do that thing" seems needlessly complicated. Nifty, but needlessly involved. Personally, though, I'm glad for it. It creates a sense of realism (and thus immersion) without ever hitting uncanny valley territory.

It's worth noting that, from what I can tell, after four seasons it's been cancelled, though an apparently-serious letter-writing campaign has been launched to get it to continue. I don't know what they'd do about the voice-actors who are now four years older than they were when they started recording the show, though.

[phil_]

I don't know what they'd do about the voice-actors who are now four years older than they were when they started recording the show, though.Backyardigans: The New Class

[Locke cole]

This discussion sounds like someone getting into My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic for the first time.

So I'm inclined to say there's no problem with it, if it's written well and is entertaining.

[akaSM]

In before something like "broyardigans" pops up.

[Locke cole]

Not likely.

That doesn't even rhyme.

[akaSM]

Not likely.

That doesn't even rhyme.

FINE

Brah-yardigans

[Locke cole]

That doesn't work either. As far as I've seen, "brah" rhymes with "bra".

[akaSM]

Stop being horrible and let me be a horrible person :(

[tacticslion]

This discussion sounds like someone getting into My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic for the first time.

So I'm inclined to say there's no problem with it, if it's written well and is entertaining.

There's a big difference between something like MLP:FIM in that at least that story has genuine stakes, something that is actually, difficult or dangerous that must be overcome.

The Backyardigans is... not that. It's literally five kids that go to their (more or less shared) back yard and play make believe and then, when they finish, head in doors for snacks. Every episode. I mean, there's the question of how a situation is resolved in their imaginations, but, really, that's it. The over-all story is: watch five kids play make believe until they finish a story and head in for snack time.

Still, the well-written and entertaining bits are pertinent here, and I'm totally going with that as my defense. :)

* Each of the kids has a distinctive, unique character (even though I'm not always able to put my finger on what, exactly, that is) that's able to be seen each time they're on screen... but it's not overbearing, obnoxious, or in-your-face. They are all likable in both their uniqueness and childishness. Hard to pull of in a show.

* There are moral lessons within the shows, but again, they're not overbearing, obnoxious, or in-your-face. Mostly they're kind of subtle and often boil down to, "Always look on the bright side of things." (with lots of good traits acknowledged as good traits and bad traits either called out as such or avoided).

* Ultimately it's just... really cute. Like... really cute. And sweet.

* The music is really derivative and slow, but alluring and slightly addictive. Again, I think the good dance numbers help with this.

Anyway, to add to the current discussion: "Brodigans"?
(Also, there's that letter-writing campaign that I learned about from wikipedia, so they kind of already exists, apparently.)