adult swim is a very strange stable at times. All the cartoons seem to be aimed at the same audience and as such are mostly all based on a surreal style of humour. Some of the work brilliantly (and in my opinion ATHF is the best) and others don't. Some feel like they are deliberately forcing the surrealistic aspect at the expense of everything else and at first glance it appears that 12 oz. Mouse is doing nothing but trying to alienate the audience and seeking out those who will embrace anything that is weird or difficult because, somehow, they think it makes them smarter than others.
I am not getting at everyone who loves this show but I do suspect that there are a few out there who like this simply because it is very difficult to get into. Personally I find it intriguing and I quite enjoy watching it because I am not totally sure what it is doing or trying to do. The plot basically revolves around an alcoholic mouse and the many unusual and suspicious characters that are around him and it is sort of told in the quick-talking, shady character populated style of 1950's crime noir. And for my money it is this effective atmosphere that made me keep watching even though I didn't really understand what was going on. The problem with it is that this only took me so far and eventually the novelty of the cool, guarded style and characters started to wear off, making it a bit more hard work that it really needs to be.
And it is this point where I started to struggle because at one point I didn't notice that it was hard work and impenetrable stuff but then gradually I started to enjoy it less and less as it became harder work for less reward as I already knew what it was doing. The animation is cheap and crude but to me that does make for its appeal while the manner of delivery isn't so much "messy" as some have said but for me suitably referential. Overall though it is too hard to get into and, while I don't know if this is deliberate or not, it certainly doesn't welcome its audience with open arms. Impenetrable, scatological and cheaply animated it has its charms but beyond that it will appeal to a limited audience.
