Koala Man

It is criminally underrated and I was absolutely in love with it.

The optimistic side of Adult Animation is hard to come by and it's obvious Micheal Cusack understands how to balance his shows even when it's flying into absolute absurdity.

Everything feels somehow grounded in a weird reality. Nothing makes me think "this is out of place". It seems episodic and like a continuation of a story all at once, almost like a South park episode without cynicism.

The characters are all likable and very down to earth even with the absurd quirks they have.

The voice acting is incredibly natural, that's why I enjoyed smiling friends so much when it dropped.

I am realizing how much I hate polished dialogue because this feels so real even in the most unreal setting you can present.

In most TV shows they can't capture some of the raw chats people have with eachother. Misunderstandings, random pauses, breathing audibly, small skips in words. All gets highlighted in these shows and it makes it feel much more natural even if it isn't a flawless flow.

The art style is super cute and I have 0 complaints but it is reminiscent of Family Guy and other similar adult animation styles which isn't bad. Just formulaic. The characters designs aren't overcrowded, they are simple but distinct. I never find myself asking "who was that again" because of how unique each design/personality is.

I could give this show a million praises. The only thing I'd argue is poor is rewatchability. I wouldn't watch it multiple times over unless I was sharing it with someone else.

I feel like if your going into this show as a non Aussie a lot of the humour will be lost on you. However as an Australian having a cartoon on the level the Big Lez Show which a high production value is quite the special treat!

To any Aussie who has grown up with Michael Cusack cartoons on YouTube and classic Aussie characters such and big Lez and Mike Nolan you will definitely find some enjoyment in this show. Plus this show has a nice added bonus of some big name Aussie battlers such and Hugh Jackman and Hugo Weaving who give surprising good preformances in the silly and strange take on Australia.

I first watched Koala man as a series of YouTube shorts and when I first heard of the series I was very excited. I am pleased to say I have not been disappointed by Michael Cusack's latest series. I have appreciated most of his work and style and this series is absolutely no exception. I like the animation stlye, it's oddly sloppy but well done nature is something I appreciate. The jokes lead from banal everyday events taken to their comedic extreme with a man dressed as a koala. I don't know why but the Australian accent adds a lot to the humour for me, I know it's part of the Aussie thing but still the voice actors delivery and accent for me adds to the humour. It's very much the style my friends and I have enjoyed whilst we were growing up and I am pleased it now has a series and recognition. I hope it goes a long way.

Gives the superhero comedy gene a fresh new start. The characters are justified by who they are and what they do and still feel relatable at the same time. The Australian setting really helped elevate the series and makes it feel exotic like most titles set in Australia. The co-creator of Smiling Friends really know how to make me feel.

Koala Man/Kevin may be hapless, but you feel for him for his journey to be the hero the entire town needs, despite looking at him as a joke everywhere. The trouble the town goes though feels like fresh new takes on problems only superheros must solve.

I think you should give this one a shot.

I am not going to go too in-depth with the show simply because I am more of a movie critic, but overall I think Koala Man deserves a hell of a lot more than it received. Most people never gave the show a chance before flocking to Twitter to complain. I recommend watching it to the end because the show starts to shine later in its run, and then judge it for yourself.

Here is my judgment, one thing I liked about Koala Man is how it's a tamer and more extended version of a Cusack show which gives it charm within itself. It can be heartwarming and funny simultaneously, which can be a powerful tool in storytelling (especially adult animation). One thing it could work on is hooking the audience sooner. The first two and a half episodes are slow, but as you continue to watch, you can see how Cusack's ability to create an arced story within longer episodes develops and strengthens. This made the season's middle and end very good.

Koala Man is fun, and I hope people stop hating on it so it can get a second season. With even more experience under Cusack's belt, Koala Man could develop into something magically insane.