Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Robot Cartoon Shorts
In 2007, Mystery Science Theater launched a series of cartoon shorts featuring Tom and Crow and Gypsy. The characters were given new designs. This is appropriate given the change in medium. The only objection I have is they changed the silhouettes of the characters which only bugs me a tiny bit because Tom and Crows silhouettes are iconic because that is how they are most often scene. They're still recognizable.
The animation is limited but limited animation can still be good and funny if the writing is good and funny. The writing was the biggest weakness.
Four shorts were released. Reel Fishin', Feels Like, Thanksgiving Clown, and Solitaire.
I watched the shorts when they came out and I remember not understanding wondering where the joke was. There was nothing there. They didn't tell a story. They are gags without the context of a movie. Thanksgiving Clown shows Tom dressed up as a clown and calmly insisting it has something to with Thanksgiving while Crow searches a book. That's it. There's no joke. He's not even insisting in a comic way. He's just dressed as a clown.
Proof that the concept could have worked came in a brief animation by Electronic Heroes on YouTube called "Tom + Crow Quicksketch". It's simple, the character designs are pretty good, and there's no dialogue. Tom steals Crow's popcorn. The ending might have gotten it rejected by some fans but the short manages way more comedy than any of the official shorts.
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