Metalocalypse

(This is more of a ramble than a proper analysis but maybe one day I'll better review this show)

The show itself, at first, seems like just a regular poorly animated silly comedy like most adult swim shows, but the further I got into the series the more that an actual plot started to develop. I had mixed feelings on the plot because it confused the fuck out of me but it will never fail to throw me for a loops when a dumbass show turns out to have deep lore. I eat it up every fucking time. The animation is also a perfect mix of absolutely terrible and janky and messy without being a sight for sore eyes (like *cough* Royal Crackers *cough*). There's genuinely some amazing art and animated moments here. The coloring and lighting as well is insane in certain scenes. It’s such a beautiful mess ugh. The songs made for the show are also genuinely amazing and catchy. I can’t imagine how much effort was put into making THAT many original songs and soundtracks for this series. The band Dethklok is also real and is run by Brandon Small (the VA for most of the characters in the show). They all kinda role play as this fictional band and do actually perform live. It's so interesting when you dig into it deeper.

I also love the characters so much because they’re all mentally children and their immaturity is both hilarious and unique to each character. They’re all childish in their own ways that balances and contrasts each other perfectly. None of them have any crazy character development (in the series at least) but they do change and learn to adapt to each other better as the series continues and I love how their dynamic and characters stay relatively the same while simultaneously changing just enough that they grow closer. The movie is where they all really developed for the better and I would even go as far to say that they matured a little, but only enough that they’re able to overcome things together and be better family to each other. They’re all still big babies and that’s what makes them such a fun cast.

Charles is my favorite character of them all because he’s the only (mostly) normal person there and his character became so much more complex than I ever thought it could. For starters, he’s quite literally Dethklok’s parental figure and the show plays on this dynamic perfectly. He struck me as an extremely simple character at first, but I would say he changed the most out of all of them. I took him as a very strait laced, old fashioned guy that didn’t understand much about these alternative scenes, let alone care about them, and only stuck around because the pay is good. He seemed like a boring man that just does his job put of obligation for responsibility. But he turned out to be so much more than that. He presents himself as very strait laced and boring, yes, but he DOES take a genuine interest in this stuff. He collects vintage electric guitars and knows a lot about their market. He has a shit ton of knowledge about these music scenes and what it takes for something to become successful in them. Not just because he’s a good marketer but because he understands these genres out of genuine enjoyment. He’s a big fan of Huey Lewis who’s done a lot of rock and even synth pop music. He seems to have a decent sized friend group that he spends time with too and participates in gossip which I found cute and humanizing. Morally, he’s a bit gray, and has done some questionable things for the sake of his and Dethklok’s career, but he’s shown to have limits and does everything he can for everyone’s best interest. Not just because it’s his job and because the world is at stake half the time (although those are big reasons) but because he cares about these stupid overgrown kids and just wants to keep the peace. He spends time with them, he reassures them, he goes out of his comfort zone for them, he even disciplines them. He’s like an over complicated babysitter who would (and technically has) die for them. He’s married to his work, but he’s more than just his job and I love how the show developed this aspect of him.

Also him becoming a priest/spiritual guide/cult leader (whatever the fuck you wanna call it) in the movie was such an unexpected turn that ended up really working. He came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t perfect and could fail, so he felt undeserving of his job which he surrendered. He then turned to a source where he could still help out in ways that worked better for him I guess. It was an odd plot line, especially seeing how quickly he gave up and watching his personality change a little, but I really liked it and it felt strangely fitting. Although maybe I’m just buses because I love culty things lol. He did kinda go back to his old self by the end though so that was nice. I think he just needed time to find his place in this puzzle.

Knubbler is another favorite of mine but he’s more of a background character except in the movie where he takes on a larger role. He’s such a fucking weird guy. I mean for Christ’s sake his full name is Dick Knubbler. His entire name is a penis pun. His voice is so fucking stupid and he dresses like a pimp. He’s one of the most unserious characters in the entire show, and even though I’ve seen some attention for him online, I still think he’s still underrated. He gives me nerdy hippie vibes. He’s giving nutsy cookoo ambivert. He’s giving 2005 Jonny Depp Willy Wonka. He’s giving psychotic pervert sleaze bag but not so much in a vile way but more so in an awkward ‘doesn’t know how women work but is confident enough to think he’s a chick magnet and uses lame pick up lines he learned on Reddit’ way if that even makes any fucking sense. I think his personality and design fits the role of a producer in the funniest way possible. Although in the movie they developed him surprisingly well so he still kept the same personality but had a more serious undertone. I wasn’t expecting him to have a larger role but he ended up providing more to the plot than just being the weirdo producer. He played a significant part, got closer to the band, and sacrificed himself for the prophecy. I was genuinely so sad when he died.

Yeah anyways this was messy. I'd like to expand upon more of my thoughts and clean up this ramble someday.