How to NOT Make an Animated Comedy

Summary

The video script critiques the adult animated comedy 'Mr. Burrum' created by Adam Corolla for Daily Wire Plus. It compares the show unfavorably to others like 'King of the Hill' and 'The Simpsons,' highlighting its unlikable main character, lack of comedic timing, and subpar animation quality. The reviewer suggests that 'Mr. Burrum' fails to resonate due to its heavy-handed approach to humor and messaging, and contrasts it with 'The Amazing World of Gumball' to illustrate the potential of animated comedy when done right.

Takeaways

• 😀 The show 'Mr. Burum' is an adult animated comedy created by comedian Adam Carolla, initially based on a character he used for radio pranks.
• 😞 Reviews for 'Mr. Burum' are overwhelmingly negative, with critics citing it as 'unfunny,' 'monotonous,' and a 'Family Guy clone'.
• 🎭 The main character, Mr. Burum, is described as unlikable, and the show's humor is criticized for being blunt and lacking nuance.
• 🖌️ The art style of 'Mr. Burum' is compared unfavorably to other animated shows, being labeled as 'flat' and 'generic'.
• 🗣️ The voice acting and lip-syncing in 'Mr. Burum' are criticized for being of poor quality, detracting from the viewing experience.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The premise of 'Mr. Burum' revolves around a shop teacher dealing with modern culture, his son, and a politically correct school official.
• 📺 A comparison is made between 'Mr. Burum' and 'King of the Hill', highlighting the latter's success in character likability and storytelling.
• 😂 The humor in 'Mr. Burum' is accused of being preachy and lacking the self-awareness that makes for effective comedy.
• 📊 The structure of jokes in 'Mr. Burum' is criticized for being predictable, with punchlines that are often evident in the setup.
• 🎨 The animation and art direction of 'Mr. Burum' are considered inferior, with a lack of creativity and effort compared to other animated comedies.

Q & A

What is the show 'Mr. Burum' about?

Mr. Burum is an adult animated comedy that follows a non-nonsense shop teacher and his family as they navigate through Modern American culture. The show deals with the character's frustration with his lazy gamer son, incompetent students, and a new politically correct Dei officer at the school.

Who created 'Mr. Burum' and what was the original inspiration behind it?

'Mr. Burum' was created by comedian and podcaster Adam Corolla. It started as a character based on a wood shop teacher he had, which Corolla used to call into a radio show in the 90s and later for prank calls on Comedy Central's 'Crank Yankers'.

What is the general reception of 'Mr. Burum' according to the script?

The script indicates that 'Mr. Burum' has received largely negative reviews, with critics calling it 'unfunny', 'monotonous', and comparing it unfavorably to other animated shows like 'Family Guy' and 'Big Mouth'.

How does the script describe the character of Mr. Burum?

The script describes Mr. Burum as an abrasive, cynical, and unlikable character who is portrayed as a big jerk both in his personal and professional life. The show fails to provide any positive interaction with his students and does not show any self-awareness or likable traits.

What comparison is made between 'Mr. Burum' and 'King of the Hill' in the script?

The script compares 'Mr. Burum' to 'King of the Hill' by drawing parallels between the main characters, both being patriotic handymen with sons they don't understand. However, it points out that while Hank Hill from 'King of the Hill' is likable and relatable, Mr. Burum is not, due to inconsistent character behavior and lack of self-awareness.

What are the main criticisms of the show's humor as described in the script?

The script criticizes the humor in 'Mr. Burum' for being preachy, lacking nuance, and having poor comedic timing. It also points out that the jokes are predictable and rely on shock value rather than clever writing.

How does the script evaluate the art direction and animation of 'Mr. Burum'?

The script is highly critical of the art direction and animation of 'Mr. Burum', describing it as 'flat', 'generic', and 'lacking creativity'. It also mentions issues with lip syncing and animation that makes the characters feel robotic.

What other animated comedies are used as examples in the script to illustrate what 'Mr. Burum' gets wrong?

The script uses 'King of the Hill', 'The Simpsons', and 'The Amazing World of Gumball' as examples of shows that handle character development, humor, and animation better than 'Mr. Burum'.

What is the main takeaway the script wants to convey about creating an animated comedy?

The main takeaway from the script is that an animated comedy should have a clear understanding of its characters, respect the audience's intelligence with its humor, and have competent animation and art style that serve the show's purpose.

How does the script suggest 'Mr. Burum' could be improved?

The script suggests that 'Mr. Burum' could be improved by returning to the original concept of the character as someone to laugh at, rather than turning the character into a vehicle for the creator's personal views. It also implies that better writing, character development, and animation quality would be necessary for improvement.