Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Not the Most Regular Show

When you think of a relatable group of friends, you don't think of a blue jay, raccoon, gumball machine, yeti, the ghost of a hand, a green fat guy, and lollipop. This however is the group that Regular Show creator J. G. Quintel brought to life and captured the hearts of millions of viewers.
Quintel's creativity shines through the plethora of unique characters he creates

Regular Show recently ended its long run on Cartoon Network (2009 - 2017). In that run, the show racked up several awards, including an Emmy, and became one of the main draws of the network. Cartoon Network chief content officer Rob Sorcher when interviewed about the show, stated that, “From JG’s original pitch on post-it notes, through eight successful seasons and more than 250 episodes produced, Regular Show has been one of the most original animated series of this generation creating indelible characters and signature comedy mayhem laced with heart." 



J.G Quintel's Regular Show was also the first Cartoon Network original show to hit 200 episodes

So how does he encapsulate such creative and relatable characters? Quintel talks about how several of the interactions between the characters were how he himself interacted with his friends in school. When interviewed by Hot Topic, Quintel talks about how several of the fun little reoccurring bits in the show, such as Mordecai and Rigby yelling "OHHHHH!" after a sick burn were just, "me and my friends from school being idiots". Quintel also talks about how much he and his staff cares about the product that they even will individually work on it at home over the weekend. This is in accordance with the novel Changing the World, as Quintel's team's dedication and his imagination culminate as part of his creative process. When touring the Cartoon Network building, he also shows the viewers the marble room and his thought lamp, along with other nifty places and things that helps Quintel generate his creativity when he is stumped or just needs a break. Another theme prevalent in Quintel's creative process is the concept of collecting, a concept that Steve Jobs also conveyed as a big part of his process. Quintel talks about amassing all the little quirky aspects of his friendships and one can really feel the genuineness between the characters as a result. You can also see how Regular Show shares characteristics from several other cartoons. Quintel specifically references The Simpsons as a show he would constantly watch, and it shows with some of the humor in Regular Show. Quintel also talks about how because it is animation, the possibilities are endless. It is this freedom along with encapsulating the craziness of him and his friends which allows Quintel's creativity to shine. Quintel even voices the main character Mordecai with his actual tone of speech.
Quintel voices the main character Mordecai with his normal voice
 He states that Mordecai is a representation of his college years and refers to him as his alter ego in some interviews. The world of Regular Show reflects Quintel's past and his imagination. One can relate to the main characters not wanting to work their minimum wage jobs and then be blown away by some of the hilarious situations that arise in the show. 


Bunch of Baby Ducks 
Whether it is a couple of baby ducks combing into a mega duck to take down evil geese, arm wrestling Death for the soul of your friend, or an Italian meatball sandwich that will kill you if you don't train in Death Kwan Do before eating it, Regular Show makes the viewer feel like they are the one's faced with these situations as we live through the main characters. That's also why I love the title to the show. At first glance, you might not think anything about the show is regular, but the more in depth you get, the more you relate with the characters and realize they're just a bunch of regular guys doing extraordinary things. 














https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiBa_KauXXg

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cartoon-networks-regular-show-end-928249
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._G._Quintel

5 comments:

  1. It's impressive how Quintel was able to turn everyday experiences with friends into something entertaining and truly creative. The fact that he was able to make a record number of episodes, all different and engaging enough to merit the attention of a large audience, is true testament to his creative ability.

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  2. The way Quintel has built a cohesive world through such short, irreverent episodes always tickled me. The culture of his creative universe permeates his characters experiance. that consistant aproach to story telling alowed Regular Show to tackle outrageous plots without ever losing the audience. It reminds me of Seinfeld in the way each crisis seems to be self inflicted and the characters flaws inveriably make things worse before they get better.

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  3. The Regular Show is a breath of fresh air in kids shows. When the scene is over-saturated with cheesy live action shows, the Regular Show puts forth amusing and zany scenarios to watch the main cast go through. For me, the best part of the show was Muscle Man's "My Mom" jokes. The fact he threw away his job to say one of his jokes is priceless. Here is a link for a compilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhtbLa6Y3j0 You're Welcome

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  4. I personally have never watched this show, but I found it so interesting how this show has become relatable to so many people when, as you said, it at first glance just appears to be a cartoon with random characters. In a way, it reminded me of something that Stan Lee ( :( ) said about Spiderman: that his mask and character are so important because it could be anyone with any identity behind that mask, so every kid can be the hero. Having these characters be random cartoon figures, I think the same effect is created.

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  5. I love the regular show. I used to watch it all the time and I always found it so oddly relatable. My family would always think im crazy, so im happy that I now have proof of my sanity! It was a great read, and very refreshing.

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