Fanboy et Chum Chum

Yes, yes, yes. I understand that this show is meant to be funny and not educational. I get that part, in fact we all get that part. I understand that there is nothing wrong with a good ol' escape-from-reality television show. I understand that not everything has to have a lesson or moral attached. I understand that kids sometimes just want to laugh. But the thing I don't understand is WHY kids laugh at this. I mean, when you really think about it, this show is nothing but farts, "pee pee" jokes, bright colors, annoying characters, and REALLY annoying voices (Chum chum. I rest my case). So, we should all ask ourselves "Is this what I want my kid to watch?" Come on, at least Disney Channel tells jokes (corny jokes, but jokes nonetheless) instead of just dancing around and shouting "babababa" for no reason. This show is a perfect reason to question today's comedy. I mean, really? Is this seriously what child-safe humor has been reduced to, while once it was something clever, like seeing the world from a toddler's P.O.V. on "Rugrats", when now it's random farts and other annoying noises on "Fanboy and Chum chum"? Not only is this show using randomness and annoying sounds/voices as a foundation for child humor, but what does this teach your child? It teaches them to act hyper and annoying all the time (including school)! Sure, shows shouldn't always have to teach children good things in order to be an acceptable show, but it shouldn't have to teach children bad things either. So, we all have a choice. Either let kids watch educational television that will feed their minds but might bore them as well (like "Caillou") , let kids watch something funny and educational that lets them laugh and learn at the same time (like "Fetch With Ruff Ruffman"), let kids watch something noneducational yet funny without coming off as edgy or random (like "Avatar: The Last Airbender"), or let kids watch something noneducational and more random and annoying than funny that, well let's face it, rots the minds of children (like, you guessed it, "Fanboy and Chum chum"). If this show wants to be better, first the producers need to take out all of the unnecessary farts, annoying noises, random stupidity, and other mindless factors. Then, they need to replace them with actual jokes and other things that children can laugh at and actually know WHY they laughed. Either way, something needs to change, and if nothing does change, then I would not predict a very big or prosperous future ahead. This show deserves * out of ********** stars, and the only reason I'm giving it any stars whatsoever is because it has Jamie Kennedy in it, who happens to be a funny man* (when he's not doing shows like this).

RECENT EDIT: *I take it back. He used to be funny; now he sucks.

Synopsis: Adults are probably gonna hate it. Children will probably like it, but they don't know why...and that's not a good thing.

Let's start with the theme song. The theme song is 35 seconds, with 5 seconds for the word "Brainfreeze", and 10 seconds dedicated to gibberish. The song, which features a mind-boggling 240 WPM (Seriously. I did the math.), is filled with phrases like "Look at our underwear!", and describes the main characters as "coo-coo and crazy". What's wrong here? First of all, coo-coo and crazy is an understatement, and lastly, normal speaking and listening pretty much has a range between 100 and 175 WPM, with 150 WPM being the ideal range that people feel comfortable. 180 WPM is where people start getting annoyed, complaining that they are being spoken to too fast. This begs the question, why are cartoons today so fast-spoken and hyperactive? However, the theme song is able to be comprehended...if you pause it every four seconds. Sadly, it's not even worth trying to comprehend.

Fanboy and Chum Chum (Chum Chum is voiced by Nika Futterman. Her credits include similar short-lived cartoons and "Give it to me, baby!" in the song "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)") are two very "special" boys. Fanboy wears a purple mask, gloves and cape, with a green leotard that he wears his underwear over. Chum Chum wears goggles and black gloves, and wears his underwear in the same fashion. They are also in terrible need of an orthodontist and an eye surgeon, as Fanboy has large buckteeth, and Chum Chum has teeth that resembles New York City's skyline. They also seem to have lazy eye in an effort to enhance their "zanyness". Kyle (voiced by Jamie Kennedy, who's previous work is far from children's shows) has already received orthodontic treatment, and seems to be a legit wizard. If you haven't found enough causes for concern about this show in this article so far...keep reading.

They are taught in school by Mr. Mufflin, who is a boring adult, fueling the flames of stereotype that cartoons seem to be so ready to provide children about their elders. Mr. Mufflin is annoyed by the boys (and rightfully so...but these clowns are the protagonists, so the kids probably find the teacher to be an antagonist...oh well...), lets us know that the boys have been held back a grade, and will likely be held back another. This comment is sparked by their disinterest in school, instead being more focused on what flavor of grape juice goes best with their lunch. Their hyperactivity is showcased as they flail their hands in the air and shouted constantly to get the teacher's attention for an insignificant matter. Only 2 minutes of the show has passed, and I'm already praying my son doesn't imitate this show.

So we already know the two "heroes" are stupid, hyperactive, and have zero attention span. Then the antagonist shows up: Kyle, a boy wizard. He despises Fanboy and Chum Chum, probably due to their obsession with his powers. In order to try to gain Kyle's respect, they attempt to convince him that they are wizards, also. Failing to dupe Kyle with simple street magic, Fanboy asks Kyle to pull his finger. Kyle refuses, and Fanboy graphically farts in Kyle's face, calling it "magic".

Let's talk about the music score. The music score makes "Tom & Jerry" scores look like John Williams Oscar-Winners. The music score is unimaginative, featuring simpleton accordion melodies for the annoying moments, and pseudo-superhero motifs for the hyperactive moments. Basically, the music is just as likely to knock off a few IQ points as the show itself is. It ain't no "Wonder Pets", let's just say that.

In the "Trading Day" (possibly an outdated "Training Day" reference, meaning it took a long time for this show to be green-lit out of desperation) episode, we meet the equally hyperactive girl, Yo. Time for an outdated reference. She is obsessed with digital pets (a fad that was born in the 90's, and pretty much died there) and Chum Chum. She wants to "own" him so he can fulfill her playground agenda. The kids are revealed to be slaves of commercialism, with every kid buying a toy robot soon after the ad airs. Fanboy imagines owning the toy, which reveals that Fanboy's favorite lunch is a jar of mayonnaise. Yuck. Fanboy fails to buy the toy, becoming the uncool kid in class (as if his hyperactive superhero gig wasn't enough). So, Fanboy makes a deal with Yo, and trades Chum Chum for the toy. Now we are teaching kids that friends and other kids are property? Oh, boy…

Fanboy starts to play with the robot, who is designed to do nearly anything you tell it to do, and never runs out of resources to fulfill these orders. Weird. Yo, meanwhile, is making Chum Chum carry her on his back and run like a pony. Fanboy begins to realize that he made a bad trade. Out of frustration, he tells the robot to "suck an egg" (my kid had better never say that), and the robot grabs a chicken out of thin air and sucks an egg out of it. That was the last straw for me. Some events ensue that destroys the robot, and Yo, who has since placed Chum Chum into a large glass dome to keep him as a human Tamagotchi pet, tells Fanboy that since her robot is broken, he has nothing to trade, therefore making Chum Chum hers (since Chum Chum is still apparently property). Fanboy pleas, and before you know it, they are both seen inside the glass dome, acting out for Yo's amusement.

What can children learn from this show? Well...nothing you want them to. I can tell you I'm sure of that. This show earns an "F", and will probably join the long, long list of cartoons from the 2000's that didn't make it 3 seasons.

Fanboy & Chum Chum is a classic cartoon. I remember enjoying watching it as a kid, though I never really actually found it humorous. Sometimes it had good jokes, but it was mostly one of those cartoons that you grew to like since it was on all the time. You just got used to it after a while.

Now? It doesn't hold up very well, aside from nostalgia. The "jokes" are based out of pure immaturity, with near 10 IQ being the standard for understanding them. It's vibrant, cartoony animation that you'd expect from a 2010s 3D cartoon. Nothing award-winning, but it gets the job done.

However I wouldn't recommend it to it's target audience nowadays. There are better shows out there, even from the time it was being aired.

Okay, I will start off saying that I am a fifteen year old girl who generally enjoys cartoons that are aimed at younger audiences. For example Spongebob Squarepants, Fairly odd parents and so on... I am usually very open minded about kids shows as they have a certain extent of 'immature' humour. But this show just take immature to a whole new level. First off, the animation is crap, it's bright and I just think generally painful to look at. The theme song...well 'nuff said. The characters are stupid and annoying. The humour is mainly 'pee pee' and toilet jokes which I believe is VERY unoriginal and just overall pants. I wouldn't suggest anyone over the age of four to watch this- it's just terrible. It's one of those kind of shows where you can feel your IQ dropping as you watch it. Definitely a no-go.

The evident only reason why this has gained traction is because depressed, nostalgia-high teens/very young adults (most of whom have nothing else to latch onto) are extremely biased towards their childhoods. These avid watchers are plagued by irrational emotion, an overwhelming tendency to cry, and (overall) a strive for their youth (which is brought on by the naive adolescent brain). They're so deep in this trance of sorrow and emotion that they're unable to gauge GENUINE substance. It's sad. The graphics are abysmal. Eric Robles tries (and disgustingly fails) to implement a unique cartoon style. However, his efforts are nullified on account of his apparent blindness to what is visually appealing. Don't get me wrong- his art skills are amazing! But they REALLY don't show AT ALL I'm this cartoon. Go watch Glitch Techs, it's a much better series by Robles!