Women Wearing Shoulder Pads Season 1 Review

Join Swimpedia as we review screeners of the brand new series Women Wearing Shoulder Pads, and find out if Adult Swim’s partnership with Mexico City’s Cinema Fantasma has what it takes to shake up stop-motion animation!

[MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is Adult Swim’s first Spanish-language series, which simultaneously fits right onto the network while also standing out from anything they’ve ever done before. Focusing on Marioneta Negocios’ attempt to change the cuy (guinea pig) industry in 1980s Ecuador, this fantastic dramedy takes wild twists and turns into animal ethics, parental drama, and one of the most honest explorations of sapphic love in an Adult Swim show since Moral Orel’s “Closeface.” From its excellent use of stop-motion and camera angles to its wonderfully complex themes and characters, this adventure will be one to remember. However, it's likely that many potential viewers may be initially turned off by this being a foreign language production, so we invite you to overcome the one inch tall barrier of subtitles and fully embrace what this amazing series has to offer.

Joining the likes of Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, and The Shivering Truth, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is animated in stop-motion, with certain shots occasionally spliced in with live action (usually of hands) to punctuate a scene or add comedic effect. The stop-motion in this series is beautiful, with several camera angles that will leave you wondering how they pulled it off. The character designs are memorable and appealing, with a visual flair that is distinct from Adult Swim’s past stop-motion offerings. This program isn’t shot like any other stop-motion show, it’s shot like a live action TV drama, with some extremely impressive camerawork. This creativity and passion for the art form even translates to the detailed background designs and lovely Ecuadorian cultural nods throughout. The credits shine as well, with each episode having a standout sequence that will keep you glued right to the very end.

In terms of the story itself, Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is extremely plot-heavy, with cliffhangers after each episode that lead directly into the next one. All eight episodes play together seamlessly like a movie, similar to Adult Swim’s Frisky Dingo. On the surface, the story has environmental themes about saving the cuyes, but the show really shines when it focuses on mother-daughter relationships and the trauma that comes with female familial connection. This series lives up to its title, as every single lead character throughout the season is a woman or girl. Much like Teenage Euthanasia and Tuca & Bertie before it, this new era of Adult Swim allows creators to dive deeper into points of view that might not have been explored on this network before. With distinct, fully realized female characters, a rich story that unravels episode by episode, and many plot points to keep you thinking or guessing, this is truly a wonderful ride.

However, while this is one of the more prestige Adult Swim projects, with heavy elements of mystery and drama, this show is not without its comedic elements. Throughout all eight episodes, the series is constantly dropping great visual gags and dialogue laced with jokes. The sense of humor helps it fit in with the rest of Adult Swim’s comedy lineup, similar to how Common Side Effects juggled drama and comedy, now with a Spanish flair. Ultimately, it may not be the most laugh-out-loud throughout, but between the impressive stop-motion animation and thrilling story, there are tons of amusing scenes and character moments to enjoy. If you have any doubt, note that the lead character’s name literally translates to “Puppet Business.”

Women Wearing Shoulder Pads is not only the channel's first Spanish-language program, but also the first show on the network not fully produced in America or Japan. Made in Mexico City by Cinema Fantasma, as Adult Swim’s first experiment into expanding their international scope, the series is an undisputed success. Taking roughly five years to make, there’s so much love put into this show that has resulted in a triumph for stop-motion animation and an achievement in well-executed storytelling that isn’t afraid to add humor throughout. Again, do not let the subtitles stop you, especially as the voice acting shines through, and the fantastic actresses allow you to feel and understand the emotions of the characters.

We heartily recommend Women Wearing Shoulder Pads for stop-motion fans, Adult Swim fans, fans of prestige television, and, of course, fans of cuyes.

The first two episodes of Women Wearing Shoulder Pads premiere on Adult Swim on Sunday, August 17th at midnight, and next day on HBO Max!