I’m nostalgic for the interval of Music Tv from my youth, again when it was the proper background noise or simply the slightest trace of counter-culture, however as an grownup, I’ve realized this community was extra like a disappointing father who by no means really knew how you can make amends. Not solely did it cease showcasing music within the methods we appreciated, however it failed a number of glorious reveals by solely giving them a single season, particularly when it got here to mature animation. Out of this handful of reveals, Downtown could be probably the most fascinating experiment MTV let slip by means of their palms.
Formally, this system was known as MTV Downtown for authorized causes, however the present was merely known as Downtown in nearly each different occasion. It premiered on a Tuesday night time after The Actual World, which was becoming for what creator Chris Prynoski needed to seize. The president of MTV Animation, Abby Terkuhle, referred to it as, “animation vérité,” one thing drawn and created however that mirrors actual life and folks intently. In its personal method, Downtown is extremely genuine and each a part of the 1999 New York time capsule Prynoski hoped to create. The creators went out into The East Village and interviewed random folks, younger adventurers out within the nightlife, and people with tales to inform, and plenty of of those people and tales turned the present’s spine.
Downtown is a program a couple of group of acquaintances and their lives dwelling in New York, going through the on a regular basis issues younger folks have been challenged with then, and attempting to determine significant relationships or discover their locations on the earth. There’s Alex, a 24-year-old nerd who acts as our primary character and a self-insert for 2 of the creators. A younger power masturbator unsettled by his virginity, his obsession with the assured goth woman from the comedian retailer, Serena, turns into a part of the principle plot. His youthful sister is Chaka, a 17-year-old membership child wild youngster who’s unpredictable, likes to experiment, and cooler than the cool children, alongside along with her greatest good friend, Mecca, a passionate and delicate woman who needs to precise herself and safe a significant relationship. Their associates are Fruity and Matt, two girls males with vastly totally different approaches, daring and chill, however each discover their very own avenues of inventive expression. There’s additionally Goat, the 26-year-old barely bizarre conspiracy theorist who’s all the time seen with a beer in his hand, attempting to get laid on the worst dive bars and is seen steadily exposing himself.
To me, probably the most fascinating character within the present is Jen, Alex’s greatest good friend who could be greater than that. We’re used to the desire they, received’t they tales, however this one feels extra actual like each of them are afraid of the concept. Jen is so caustic towards Alex having any precise love life that she nearly turns into his antagonist. She’s too sarcastic for her personal good, unintentionally merciless, and lacking a lot from her singular existence that she hasn’t realized but she takes it out on others. She has a roommate named Leah, a vibrant promiscuous woman who takes benefit of her magnificence and any man who crosses her path, however this enjoyment of life upsets Jen, exhibiting her jealousy and envy. The episode the place they exit in town collectively and Jen reveals her ass to everybody after a number of drinks is priceless. Most individuals don’t like the entire characters, however it’s simple to seek out at the least one or two to root for.
This good friend group feels real looking as a result of all of them annoy one another and, in lots of circumstances, aren’t even good to at least one one other. Most of them put on their flaws on their sleeves and wish to change however don’t understand how. Right here, we’ve a particularly various group of people who had a historical past earlier than the pilot however barely bothered to be taught one another’s actual names. They’ve these full conversations – often damaged up over the episode – that make them really feel real. I’m positive I’ve had a number of of those chats myself and I positively knew folks similar to this in school. I like how the group often pairs off for his or her adventures, however many tales swap up the groupings to supply totally different interactions and flesh out the assorted relationships.
Downtown isn’t a kind of reveals the place folks will get distracted by the voice actors and wind up on IMDB as an alternative of being attentive to what’s occurring as a result of there are not any recognizable voices. Most of the folks chosen to convey these characters to life have been the identical ones interviewed to assist create the present, most of them having by no means performed something like this earlier than, explaining why they sound so subdued. A few them have been even real-life associates and acquaintances, and it reveals with the chemistry. A number of dangerous takes have been purposefully left in to make interactions appear extra pure, the voice expertise was inspired to alter traces and even improvise sure scenes, however there have been some drawbacks, even a battle within the studio at one level. One of many taglines for the present was, “Drawn from actual life,” and so they embraced that, however followers have been considerably divided on the voice solid, one of many few facets of the present that garnered critical criticism.
It’s an MTV product, so there’s no shock that Downtown is a present concerning the characters attempting to get laid. It isn’t the one factor on their minds, there are themes of change, legacy, and becoming in, however that’s in between speaking about porn, shaving genitals, and the truth that most ladies like boobs too. Relationships are powerful, the sexual stress is thick, and most viewers simply needed these two associates to fuck already. A number of of the characters are drawn in much less garments, typically only a pair of panties, however there’s no nudity or extreme vulgarity.
“The dame was as sultry as an actual sundown however more durable than the final stage of Doom II.”
There are additionally a ton of popular culture references for the time, a number of of them surprisingly detailed or alluding to issues they most likely couldn’t get cleared. Every little thing from PlayStation and Anime to Star Trek and Chaka being dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle for Halloween, however the man within the Aeon Flux t-shirt is sort of too distracting, and extremely eager observers might discover WWF’s Undertaker voicing himself as he beats up Sailor Moon cosplayers, or a pre-famous Pedro Pascal as a random character.
The side most discovered fascinating about Downtown at first was its artwork fashion. The workforce needed to protect the hand-drawn custom implementing that digital ink and paint expertise with minimal corrections. The artists used skinny traces that vary from easy to exaggerated relying on the shot, with a muted coloration palette, the place the hues change quickly. Backgrounds are low decision, often fairly darkish, with splashes of daring shadows to create a grunge surroundings the late ‘90s embraced a lot in animation. Real locations and photographs of those locations have been usually recreated within the present. We see some really glorious stills, entertaining transitions, wild close-ups, tilted angles, reflections, and different hints that they have been making an attempt auteur cinematography on the canvas. It could look acquainted, one thing like Daria or Duckman splashed onto graffiti or a bohemian portray, with clip artwork transferring on prime of it. Seeing Prynoski’s work historical past, this fashion makes much more sense.
The intro is brief, candy, and energetic, sped-up scenes that entice the viewer. The present additionally makes use of these sudden cutaways – much like Household Man – that provide the viewers a flashback or fantasy, often switching up the fashion. They name these segments “fugues,” and most episodes start with them. The music can also be top-notch, with a number of common songs sprinkled within the episodes, not utilized in a jarring method or overpowering the scenes, like in Lifeless at 21. The background tracks are potent once they must be, however often chill, making me wish to play Grand Theft Auto III.
Downtown was liked by many followers and critics, usually known as underrated, and it was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, so why didn’t we see a second season? There have been 13 episodes created, however the finale didn’t even air in its authentic run, supposedly debuting months later, and re-runs of the present have been broadcast late at night time by most accounts. The present wasn’t excellent, that uncooked feeling it was striving for didn’t pull in everybody, it had a unfavourable depiction of nerd tradition and some different sub-groups whereas attempting to do gentle social commentary to reveal how various kinds of folks undergo life, however they by no means delved into it an excessive amount of. It all the time felt just like the present was lacking somewhat one thing.
There was nearly a second season, and it was being developed when phrase formally got here down for the cancelation. The unique concept had been to modify out many of the solid every season and discover new characters, however after seeing how the primary set of episodes got here collectively, they determined to focus on progressing established relationships whereas bringing in new faces and selling smaller characters, like Alex’s co-workers, as much as main roles.
It had a legacy, at the least. Creator Chris Prynoski went on to discovered Titmouse, a well-known animation studio, regardless that he knew little or no concerning the enterprise when beginning Downtown, he introduced his chill fashion and the character of Goat to different cartoons like Megas XLR and Metalocalypse. There was nearly no merchandise made for the present initially, and DVDs by no means occurred (almost definitely as a consequence of music licensing), however the creators bought their very own variations to verify loyal followers may have copies of the present and to have fun the twenty fifth anniversary they’re attempting to do t-shirts now.
Prynoski himself isn’t sure why exactly the show was canceled, however at one time MTV was placing plenty of help behind the mission, even threatening to sue Mission Hill (which was initially known as Downtown) over the title. Sooner or later, although, Downtown misplaced its push, presumably earlier than it even aired, as most cite the shortage of selling for the present as its downfall, and with the reruns being buried in horrible time slots, it by no means had an opportunity. Prynoski appears constructive concerning the total expertise although, grateful that he was even allowed to make these episodes, they aren’t arduous to seek out for individuals who wish to grow to be new followers both. Downtown was near being artwork, an animated expression that tried to grow to be a snapshot in time, and now it’s extra like a interval piece, a powerful comforting reminder of a degree in historical past the place MTV nearly cared once more.