Lakewood Plaza Turbo- New CN Show Inspired by DragonBall

[Innagadadavida]

There has been a pilot online since 2013 of this show called Lakewood Plaza Turbo. It was produced by Cartoon Network and it fits in with their typical oddball sensibilities. This show is different than the others in its relation to Dragon Ball. Because the influence of Dragon Ball on this show is as direct as it can get. This almost qualifies as a parody of Dragon Ball. Its kinda like Adventure Time, Street Fighter, Dragon Ball, and Regular Show combined. Here's the part I found most interesting about this. Stephanie Nadolny, the previous voice of Kid Goku in FUNimation's English Dub, plays the lead role. K.O. is a young child with the heart of a warrior. Very much inspired by Goku.

Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn4L4aPXBgE

The show has been green lit for production apparently. And will be airing on Cartoon Network in 2014. It was created by Ian Jones-Quartey who voices the bug character, Rad. He also plays Wallow on Bravest Warriors.

[Gyt Kaliba]

...I...my brain is full of...what even is this?

Okay, to be honest...I'm not a big fan of this level of off-the-wall humor, stuff like Adventure Time, or Gumball, or that one show on Nick about the kid and his snake, and so on. I like off the wall, I like random...but there's a limit to it for me that these kind of shows go past, leaving them not funny, but just downright bizarre. Now, to be fair, I've not seen a whole lot of AT, and some scenes have amused me, so that one I want to give a chance eventually. In general though? This just isn't my kind of show.

That said though, watching this pilot, I...still don't know what to think. I'd give it a chance if it does get a series order, but I'd mostly be doing it for Nadolny. I for one actually loved her Kid Goku, and find her to be a fine enough voice actress in general, so I really want to support something else that she gets involved in so that she can do more work again. But I just dunno how much of this show I could survive.

[Codarik]

Yeah I saw that a while ago, glad to see Stephanie Nadolny still is voice acting.

[Chuquita]

Just watched; seems average, but the art is so ugly (imo) I don't think I could watch it beyond this pilot. Those huge rectangles that pass for noses on half the characters; guh.

Adventure Time is way easier to look at and has a more interesting world imo.

[Flame Dragon]

Great, references to Megaman, DBZ and Terminator in the first twenty seconds.

[AnzuMazaki]

Good to see Nadolny voice acting again

[NitroEX]

Just watched; seems average, but the art is so ugly (imo) I don't think I could watch it beyond this pilot. Those huge rectangles that pass for noses on half the characters; guh.

Adventure Time is way easier to look at and has a more interesting world imo.

I can't stand the art on any of these new cartoons. Adventure Time included. If people thought kids drawing disproportionate anime characters was bad I can't wait till we get a whole new wave of kids drawing nothing but circles and squares with tubes for arms and legs. Cause you know, drawing like a 4 year old is awesome.

[Innagadadavida]

I can't stand the art on any of these new cartoons. Adventure Time included. If people thought kids drawing disproportionate anime characters was bad I can't wait till we get a whole new wave of kids drawing nothing but circles and squares with tubes for arms and legs. Cause you know, drawing like a 4 year old is awesome.

I disagree. First of all, not all children draw. And secondly, just because a child watches a cartoon with simplistic stylized art does not mean that they will lack influences from more realistic pieces. I mean, ignoring the fact that there is a wealth of material to draw on from before the current line-up of animated programs, this style is temporary. And its not even the dominant style, at that. The simple art style that influences many of the modern cartoons commissioned for CN is a phase; just as the big-nosed, beady eye look of early Western Animation. You don't have to like it, but the bottom line is that it is here. And if you can get passed the simple artwork, there is a lot of new and interesting things being done under the hood with many of these programs.

What I find fascinating is that Dragon Ball is now directly influencing western animation. That's not to say that it hasn't been for a while now. But think of it this way. Many of the children who grew up watching Dragon Ball on television are now of the age where they are entering the work force. This includes animation and other careers involving fictional fantasy storytelling. This Plaza show is just one example of that. There are some very clear nods and homages to Dragon Ball that are executed in such an affectionate way. These could only come from someone who has real genuine love for Dragon Ball. And its more than just the voices or the attacks. Take the (very short) training montage from that Plaza show pilot. K.O. was doing a typical training routine just like Goku. He was being challenged in new and interesting ways, with strange and horrifying opponents. The twist is that these opponents are all older women and they're in a yoga studio. Its the same style of absurd juxtaposition that you'd get from Regular Show. I'm not sure if I like it, but I respect it for being creative at least.


So what you get is this: kids these days are watching cartoons that were influenced by cartoons kids my age watched. That is kind of scary, because that might cause many to -miss the point- in some ways. But I would argue that very same thing happens all the time. My generation watched cartoons that were influenced by things we never really saw much of. For example, how many people from my generation watched the Kung-Fu and Wuxia films that inspired Dragon Ball? I did. But only because I was fortunate enough to have someone lift the curtain for me and show me all the influences of Dragon Ball. Not everybody had that. And it's not their fault. Don't pity the kids. They're just doing the same thing we did.