MTV Oddities: The Maxx - the best animated show you've never seen.
5 replies, posted
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icOerAhqGv4[/media]
[IMG]http://i55.tinypic.com/2e3q3vm.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/35lgpwp.jpg[/IMG]
[quote=MTV summary]In the murky alleyways of New York City, homeless Maxx huddles in his box and dreams of crushing evil villains. But when he bursts into the colorful netherworld of the Outback, the Maxx is a hero, in full purple splendor. His friend Julie, a freelance social worker, thinks the Maxx's alternate universe is just an escape from the harsh reality of New York - not realizing that she, too, roams the Outback as the Jungle Queen.
Based on comic book series created by Sam Kieth, The Maxx was adapted into an animated series that aired as part of MTV's Oddities in 1995. On MTV, the episodes drew from Kieth's Image Comics publication of The Maxx #1/2 and #1-11, while the comic book series encapsulates a total 35 issues and counting.
Fans of the comic book praised the show for adhering closely to the source material and basing the animation on that of the comics, embellishing little in transferring it to television.
On MTV, Maxx's voice was provided by character actor Michael Haley, who has also been an assistant director on numerous films, including Groundhog Day, Private Parts and Charlie Wilson's War. Julie's words came to life by way of Glynnis Talken, who also contributed her voice to the StarCraft and Diablo series.
Shortly after its original run on MTV, episodes of The Maxx were released on VHS. Now MTV has resurrected The Maxx online so that a new generation can discover the Outback and ponder the mysterious links of the subconscious. Join the Maxx for deliciously demonic adventures in both worlds, as he scours streets and jungles in search of the link between his two realities. Will he be able to find the connection before it's too late? [/quote]
Right, so, once upon a time, back in the nineties, there was this comic book called The Maxx, written and drawn by Sam Kieth.
And it was good.
In fact, it was fantastic.
The art was superb, the writing consistently brilliant.
It merged surreal, psychological drama with elements of earnest-to-goodness superheroics, neonoir, horror/thriller and comedy, and was a showcasing of just what the medium was capable of in able hands.
Due to the great amounts of critical and commercial success that the book enjoyed, the geniuses over at MTV(back when the program sucked marginally less than it does today) decided that it warranted getting adapted into an animated series, to be aired as part of MTV's Oddities program alongside shows such as The Head and Aeon Flux.
It had 13 10-minute long episodes which covered the first eleven(out of thirty five) issues of the comic book(alongside one short story from an anthology book and an issue numbered #1/2), that is the first major story arc.
And it was good.
In fact, it was fantastic.
The styles of animation used in the show were excellent, the voice-acting was top notch, the music memorable, it was just a fantastic show all around, one that did the source material great justice while easily ranking up as one of the best animated shows of all time.
[b]Q: How would I manage to feast my eyes upon this undoubtedly fantastic piece of animated bliss?[/b]
A: The good folks over at MTV.com have provided all of the episodes on their site, available for streaming [url=http://www.mtv.com/shows/the_maxx/series.jhtml]here[/url].
The show also got released on VHS a long time ago, inexplicably missing an episode, and on DVD back in 2009.
Watch it, it's good.
Sounds good on paper but that animation is atrocious.
I used to love this along with Aeon Flux and The Head.
Why the fuck did he go to the effort of making a thread and then get himself permabanned right after? Whatever.
Ah, the memories...
Back when MTV didn't suck.
Aeon Flux + The Head + Beavis & Butthead + Lots of New Metal videos = 99% of my childhood.
[editline]10th October 2011[/editline]
Thanks for sharing, OP! Watching the episodes right now :D
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.