The Daily Think

It’s a Sunday Night, you can’t sleep, and you’re most likely done changing channels and landed on your favorite: Cartoon Network. Cowboy Bebop is on at 12:30 and you just watched an episode of Futurama, and then comes on a squiggly, pathetically animated, bombastically colored cartoon with minimal movement, funny looking characters, and a constant riff of the show’s main theme song. You’re too tired to change the channel, and so you decide to let it run. But a funny thing happened on the way to that Cowboy Bebop episode, this “Home Movies” show actually had funny jokes and made you chuckle (only a little because you’re too cool to laugh at such low brow art.)

WHAT IS THIS “HOME MOVIES”?

“Home Movies” was an animated television series that was created by Brendon Small and Loren Bouchard. The show first premiered on the UPN network in 1999, and later moved to Adult Swim on Cartoon Network, where it gained a dedicated following. The Basic Measurable Stats and Show’s Rundown.

CONCEPT AND DEVELOPMENT
Brendon Small, along with Loren Bouchard, developed the concept for “Home Movies” as a short film while they were both attending the University of Texas at Austin. The short film caught the attention of executives at the cable network UPN, who greenlit it for a full series.

ANIMATION STYLE
“Home Movies” was created using a unique style called Squigglevision, which involved drawing the characters with rough, constantly squiggling lines. This distinctive animation technique became a signature of the show. You also may have seen Squigglevision in the cartoon Dr. Katz, which also featured H Jon Benjamin’s voice talents prominently.

PLOT AND CHARACTERS
The series revolves around an eight-year-old aspiring filmmaker named Brendon Small, his friends Melissa Robbins and Jason Penopolis, and their experiences making amateur movies. The show delves into their personal lives, relationships, and the challenges they face in both their filmmaking and everyday activities.

IMPROVISATIONAL DIALOGUE
One of the defining aspects of “Home Movies” is its dialogue, which was often improvised by the voice actors during recording sessions. This gave the show a naturalistic and spontaneous feel, enhancing the humor and character dynamics.

RECEPTION AND LEGACY
“Home Movies” received positive reviews from critics for its quirky humor, relatable characters, and unique animation style. The show developed a dedicated cult following, appreciating its offbeat storytelling and witty dialogue. Also a sad note, but important one is the voice work of the late and brief great comedian Mitch Hedberg, who appeared periodically as different supporting characters with his own distinctive style.

DURATION AND EPISODE BODY COUNT
The series ran for a total of four seasons from 1999 to 2004, with a total of 52 episodes. Although it had a relatively short run, “Home Movies” has remained popular among fans of adult animation.

MORE ABOUT COACH McGUIRK

“Brendon, let me tell you a little something about women. Women are like men. But men are not like women…”
One of the standout performances from the show was H. Jon Benjamin as voice for the co-main character, Coach McGuirk, Benjamin’s distinctive voice and comedic timing brought the character to life, contributing to the show’s humor and charm. You can hear the voice in your head now but more likely as Archer or more importantly as Bob Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. But it was his Coach McGuirk that gave us that distinctive sound of weariness, cyniscm and graveliness first. Almost like getting your reps in a gym, you could see the comedic muscles of H Jon Benjamin just building up as the show progressed and evenutally delivered future projects like the aforementioned Archer and Bob that cemented his place in voice over history.

CONTINUED INFLUENCE
“You read a book a month? Man, it would take me like a year to read a book a month” – Brendon Small
In addition to Benjamin’s success as Coach, “Home Movies” helped launch the careers of its creators, Brendon Small and Loren Bouchard. Small went on to create the animated series “Metalocalypse,” while Bouchard later created the critically acclaimed show “Bob’s Burgers.” When you watch both successive projects, you can see elements from Home Movies in both. Many of the oddball quirky characters of Bob’s Burgers definitely came from the lore of Home Movies. The band Dethklok could almost trace it’s origins to the character of Duane from Home Movies who had Brendon, Melissa and Jason film his music videos throughout the series. Aside from their future projects, the overall style and dialogue this show captured seemed to permeate many of the more adult themed style cartoons to follow, further cementing Home Movies legacy as an influencer.

DUST OFF THE DVD BOX SETS AND POP IN A HOME MOVIES
“Home Movies” holds a special place in the landscape of adult animation, known for its distinct animation style, improvisational dialogue, and offbeat humor. It remains beloved by fans for its unique blend of relatable characters, creative storytelling, and its portrayal of the joys and challenges of childhood and creativity.