Review: 'Fanboy and Chum Chum'
Reason to watch: Yet another newbie off the Nick assembly line.
When/Where: Friday at 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon
Nick's new toon, 'Fanboy and Chum Chum'
Photo credit: PR Newswire | Nickelodeon introduces a new animated show to the Saturday morning line-up, "Fan Boy and Chum Chum."
This newcomer is actually getting a rocket launch on Friday, before moving to its regular time period, Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., so Nick must have high hopes, indeed. And, in fact, there are big voice names attached, notably Josh Duhamel, Jamie Kennedy and Estelle Harris. Fanboy - we don't know his real name, but that hardly matters - is a loopy, obsessive 11-year-old who loves comic books so much that he's become a character from one. His sidekick is Chum Chum.
On Friday's opener, they meet Kyle, a new kid in school who's a real wizard, and continue to torment their burned-out teacher, Mr. Mufflin. Interesting visual look to "Fanboy," incorporating the ancient animation style called "squash and stretch" (a technique that allows animators to give toons more realism and weight) along with computer graphics.
BOTTOM LINE By this point, most parents are willing to endure Nick toons as long as they don't turn the kids into homicidal maniacs or brainaddled morons. Some may be cynical of educational claims (see: "Baby Einstein," and multimillion-dollar Disney refunds) that animation empires promise parents. But adults also like to watch on occasion. (See: "SpongeBob.") Don't bother with this one - it's a pure kids' ride all the way. They'll like it just fine. You? Think "fingernails," "chalkboard."
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GRADE B (for kids)
