I figured I’d start out with an old favorite of mine. ‘Filmore‘ an old Disney cartoon that ran for a total of about 26 episodes from 2002 to 2004 originally airing on ABC Kids and then on Toon Disney for the final year.
Fillmore centered around the the Safety Patrol, a very clear parody on every 70’s cop show…ever. Every lovable cliche is there. The chase scenes, the monologuing, the shady back street deals and the hardboiled detective sleuthing. Oh yeah and the whole thing takes place in a Middle School.
Let me give you a typical situation that the X Middle School Safety Patrol took on. A shady looking tween character opens up a briefcase as two other figures look on just outside the racquetball court where the club is practicing. The dealer gloats that they’re forged tickets for seats at the drama clubs new play. Mon Ami evilly cackles that they’ll regret not letting him join.
Mon Ami: They said I overact. IMAGINE THAT! ME!!!!
Suddenly, the Jamaican sounding buyer pulls his badge, that of an esteemed safety patrol officer. Busted. Quickly Mon Ami bolts and Officer Fillmore gives chase dodging balls all the way before finally getting caught. Suddenly, Fillmore’s fellow officer, Ingrid Third appears at the other end as the pair corner the counter fitter. He’ll get at least a week of detention for this.
The plots were always child friendly but man did they really milk their genre choice for all it was worth. Not that it was a bad thing by any means, this show rocked!
Characters
The main cast always involved Cornelius Fillmore (Orlando Brown) and Ingrid Third (Tara Strong). Both were initially reluctant initiates but throughout the season we see both of them grow into their roles. They grow as characters, we care about them and their well being. They have their quirks, there traits and what would they be without catchphrases. (‘Disco’ and ‘Crackers’ respectively)
Cornelius was a former punk, a trouble maker with a reputation he could never fully manage to leave behind. As a patrol officer he let’s nothing get in the way of his mission, tough and reliable, doing anything to get the job done, yet he’s also laid back and not above cracking jokes, especially off duty.
Ingrid Third was Fillmore’s partner, resident intellectual genius yet also the local goth chick. As another former delinquent she was reluctant to join the force but ended up helping Fillmore out on a case and going down the straight and narrow by becoming an officer. She’s quiet and observant, usually more so than Fillmore, perhaps due or because of her photographic memory.
Joining them on the force is the Safety Officer Commissioner Vallejo, the leader of the group who’s constantly aggravated by Fillmores costly methods.
Vallejo: A bill for a 200 dollar lobster suit and a three thousand dollar floor waxer? FIIIIILLLLLLMMMMOOOORRREEEE!!!!!!
Forensics leader Karen, bodyguard Joseph and the bumbling photographer O’Farrell. They all report to the Principal much like on reports to the mayor who holds the usual threats over all their heads should they be unable to solve a high profile crime.
Overall, the show was extremely funny, with great animation that still holds a candle today, awesome characters and extremely interesting plots. It’s one of the few cartoons I know to have absolute ethics, it’s one of the earliest to recognize the existence of Fandoms and to talk about a number of series problems, albeit in a toned down and humorous way.
Overall Rating: 8/10
(credit goes to http://urbanhorror.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/filmore-a-cartoon-that-never-got-its-due/ for the pic)
Everything Cartoons 