5. Clutch Cargo
Calling Clutch Cargo an "animated program" is like calling Joaquin Phoenix a "rap artist."
In the 1950's, a television cameraman and his buddy created the process of Syncro-Vox optical printing, which sounds a whole lot cooler than it actually is. Basically, Syncro-Vox consists of static cartoon images with real human lips superimposed over them providing the limited movement that gives Syncro-Vox animation its highly debatable right to be referred to as animation at all. If you were a loyal viewer of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, you've basically seen Clutch Cargo, you just didn't know it.
Clutch Cargo follows the adventures of handsome writer/pilot Clutch Cargo, his prepubescent chum, Spinner (No, really), and Spinner's canine companion, Paddlefoot. The three unlikely adventurers travel all over the world solving goofy mysterious with the help of Clutch's various ethnic pals. Yes, it's a virtual racial stereotypes parade on the Clutch Cargo show, my favorite being Snowshoe the Eskimo. Oogle-Loogle, indeed.
Verdict: Weird
6. A Little Snow Fairy Sugar
I know what you're thinking: "GEP expects me to watch some stupid show about hyperactive fairies who control the four seasons with magical instruments? That's lame ass girl stuff." OK, it may be girly kinda, but A Little Snow Fairy Sugar is far from being "lame ass." True, it is about a little girl, named Saga, who lives in a German village with her grandmother and dreams of being a talented piano player like her dead mother. And, yes, Saga does befriend a talkative sprite named Sugar who is training to be a Season Fairy. And, fine, the show is crammed full of cutesy, frou-frou girl stuff. But it's also a deeply touching story of friendship and grief with a message about chasing your dreams and following your heart. But most importantly, it's a show about waffles, or "WAFFOS!" as Sugar is prone to shouting at least 100 times an episode.
Verdict: Cute (Awwwwwww)
7. Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures
What happens when you put Ralph Bakshi, John K. (of Ren and Stimpy, another animation must view that will not be appearing on this list for reasons beyond my control), and a whole assortment of other weirdo animation upstarts in a room together and toss them a cultural touchstone like Mighty Mouse? You guessed it: cancellation.
Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures was way ahead of its time, meaning it couldn't possibly last longer than two seasons. It's unfortunate that the Mighty Mouse crew was cranking out some of the very best episodes just as the show was hurtling toward the inevitable end. As is usually the case, a religious killjoy was to blame for the show's demise, after he complained that Mighty Mouse was shown snorting cocaine in one episode, which he he was very clearly not. I'm glad Donald Wildmon never saw the one where Gandy Goose and Sourpuss the Cat are shown to be in a committed gay relationship. He's head probably would've exploded.
There are too many classic episodes of Mighty Mouse to discuss, but I defy you to watch the one featuring The Tree Weasels (a rodent singing group parodying Alvin and the Chipmunks) singing their hit song "Twitch and Writhe" and not find yourself humming the tune incessantly over the next few months.
Verdict: Hilarious, Weird
END PART 2. NEXT TIME...more weird shit from the 1950's, extreme gore and nudity from Japan, the best Adult Swim show ever, and my latest, greatest discovery!
