Steven Speilberg Presents Freakazoid – Season 2 DVD Review

If you don’t remember the mid-90s animated adventures of Freakazoid… well, it probably isn’t all that surprising actually. You probably heard about it at some point, but it was a cartoon and a lot of people aren’t going to be in that loop.

Freakazoid is a wildly funny show about mild-mannered Dexter, who becomes a superhero of dubious superheroness. The show is a fast-paced ride filled with the zaniest comedy ever brought to you by a blue guy in his pajamas. A medium largely for the lampooning of all things superhero and countless bits of pop culture as well, Freakazoid is a show for anyone with a lively sense of humor.

Average, mediocre Dexter, who is turned into wild and easily-distracted Freakazoid (whose main superpower is apparently “being really wild at you”) makes for some of the funniest moments that aired on television at the time. If you are among the uninitiated, the rollercoaster is a hard one to describe. Something like a mashing of The Tick and Robin Williams’ Genie from Alladin, but with teen angst, five gallons of coffee, and villains who are giant, walking brains.

Put together by writers of some of the best animated shows of recent times (including Pinky & The Brain, Batman: The Animated Series, and Animaniacs), Freakazoid is madcap while cerebral, and delivered with a style and perspective well removed from a show for children (though my 7 year-old rolls around laughing).

Season 2 offers some celebrated episodes. Dexter’s Date features a tribute to Hello Dolly by way of “Bonjour Lobey”. Mission Freakazoid which won Tress MacNeille an Annie for playing Debbie Douglas. Freak-A-Panel, which contains the song “Invisibo”, which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. And, The Freakazoid, which is the run at The Godfather.

Keep in mind also, that the show did win the Outstanding Original Song Daytime Emmy for the title song, and won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.

The show had an unfortunately short run, and this is just the sort of thing you love to see released on DVD. The antics of Dexter (made superhero by freak internet accident, by the way) are great fun, and worthy of repeated viewings.

The 2-disc DVD release doesn’t come loaded with extras, but there are a couple interesting ones. ”A Full Season’s Worth of Commentary (in five minutes or less)” brings together an ensemble of writers, directors, etc. for a look at several key moments of the season. They’re an odd bunch, which is no surprise, and their thoughts on some of the more interesting elements of the season are worth a look. It runs about ten minutes. The release also includes the Demo Tape for “Bonjour Lobey” (which plays only audio), and while perhaps an odd feature, it’s rather fun.