Talkback: "Codename: Kids Next Door" (7/23)

[CookieS]

http://fridays.toonzone.net/talkbacks/premiere.gifhttp://fridays.toonzone.net/talkbacks/knd.gif

7:00 PM & 10:00 PM (et/pt)

Two new cartoons, one new episode, plus all of the drama from season three of KND! An origin story too...always a bonus!

"Operation A.R.C.H.I.V.E."
The history of the genesis of the adult/child conflict.

"Operation S.L.U.M.B.E.R."
Numbah Four wants to join a girls-only special mission.

[Killtacular]

Kids Next Door parodying The Second Renaissance from The Animatrix.

I'm amazed and baffled that of all the shows to get first dibs on such a parody, KND was the first.

[Scirel]

ROTFLMAO


Animatrix Parody.. this is classic..

[Tash]

Oh my god... of all the things I never expected to see on this show, an Animatrix spoof was one of them....

[Scirel]

OMG, this parody is near exact.
The script writer must be a huge animatrix fan.

[Happy]

It's like Animatrix except it dragged in the middle, thus making it more like the Animatrix. The only "good" part was near the end where #1 goes crazy and the weird live-action (and reused footage) stuff pops up.

edit: And it goes against continuity.
edit2:Battle Ready Armor, LOL, never actually thought they'd use the stuff. Also I liked the ending, take that KND and whatshername.

[Cyber E.]

It did a good job as a parody of Animatrix, but it wasn't actually funny to me. It just seemed like one long in-joke that isn't that spectacular unless you can actually get the big joke. It did get a little giggle out me in the end, though.

[wrenchien]

the internal unit :

best opening sequence in any cartoon episode ever, i see.

wow..kids made parents? surprisingly different from what i was taught.

widescreen is the nice.

super double mega treehouse, huh? sounds much like the tower of babel.

did they say cleveland? i know someone who lives there.

this would make a nice movie.

wow.. that was a zany way it went crazy at the end.

whoa.. the parents know?!?

the external unit:

wow... i hate interruptions, looks like 86 gave the knd one of those.

they're up to 40,000 agents!?! that's not a real convincing pair of pigtails.

86 doesn't have many friends. i wonder why...

rainbow monkeys.. at least she's got something in common with little kuki.

if they only knew the real ones slobbered.. would they still care? just maybe.



there's one of those b.r.a. 's chad is wearing. he also wears '
battle ready armor, too!?! heheheheh.

i've realized that #3 must really wear tight stockings. real tight stockings.ooh my.


whoaaa... there's that girl with the purple leotard, cree.... didn't expect her.

those are nice pillows. remind me to get some should work be ok next week. clean ones..

and another betrayer in #12?

i like like like like like like like this episode. though the last troubles me to the future..

[shogunthethird]

wow, animatrix parody, Ash cameo and a set-up for the game on Cartoonetwork.com, not bad at all

[PaQ]

I missed most of the first short. Sounds interesting if it was an Animatrix parody. I'll have to catch that during the encore.

The second one was decent. 86 making this girls only mission which turns out to be a slumber party.. 4 goes uninvited and ends up helping out as the teens were up to no good.. And we see 12 switch sides.. Big Fanny.. "OPERATION S.L.U.M.B.E.R." gets a B-.

[Wanted]

Well, we got to see Father before he turned all silhouetty.

[Xfox]

Wow, after a lot of good episodes recently, I was majorly disappointed this week.

A.R.C.H.I.V.E. literally put me to sleep, so I missed some of what happened. It was just a majorly boring episode.

While S.L.U.M.B.E.R. had its moments- mostly everything Numbuh 4 did was great. Love his "disguise" and his tenacity to go on the "mission". I also loved his reaction in the Truth or Dare portion. But did anyone else get seriously creeped out on seeing the guys in the Battle Ready Armor? Their armor had breasts! *shudders*

[CaseClosed15]

I wonder, is Chad linked with Cree romantically?

Will Kuki and Wally ever admit their feelings, weeeell, what should I expect their only 10(?) after all, hey wait, what if King Sandy comes back, hmmmm ah the tension

Kuki and Wally compliment each other so well
I'll just shut up now I'm rambling...

[Shesu-San]

Operation: A.R.C.H.I.V.E: I don't think I'll ever eat School lunch again- Rainbow Monkeys? In the meat? Eww...It was kinda interesting though....B+

Operation: S.L.U.M.B.E.R: When they where fixing Numbah 4's hair, how come the girls didn't notice the rope? I mean, they folded it back (Look at numbah 4's hair after they powder his face). And how come the boys have to wear B.R.A's? Why not Battle Ready Sholder pads or something? :D ...B-

[Freedom Fighter]

After missing last week's episode (and waiting for the repeats), I sat down and watched this week's, hoping that a week with KND withdrawal has been solved.

"Operation: A.R.C.H.I.V.E." (1.5 out of 4)
I totally didn't like this episode. Easily the worst episode of Season 3 and probably, IMO, one of the worst of the series, if not the worst. This season has done alot to show that KND doesn't take place in the real world, but in a facsimile where, as shown in this adventure, that adults were originally made by kids. The whole jump out of reality has not been enjoyable, and I know that the show probably won't stop exploring this side of the series. Still... I've found something about the show that turns me off.

"Operation: S.L.U.M.B.E.R." (3.5 out of 4)
From one of the worst to one of the best. A lot of continuity, too. 86 and her continued hate for boys... the Rainbow Monkeys fetish surprised me. Another hint at 3 and 4 as a pairing, yet still no definite answer. Chad and Cree also reappear, donning B.R.A., no less. More of an action-oriented episode than a comedy one this time, but no matter. These episodes that tie directly into the main continuity are always well done, and this was no exception.

[RedBoot]

This show continues to surprise me in that it has some episodes that are absolutely incredible, and others that are pure drivel that I'd expect to see on Nick.

Anyway, the Archive episode was great, but I have to wonder whether or not the target audience would understand or even enjoy the episode...oh well, for people like me it was great.

[DSRGirl]

Anyway, the Archive episode was great, but I have to wonder whether or not the target audience would understand or even enjoy the episode...oh well, for people like me it was great.
In the entire homage to the Animatrix's "Second Resistance" people seem to forgetten it was written entirley in mind for kids. Sure, you're average 2-11 year old won't what it's entirley a refrence too, but they'll get kids being bored, they'll get kids being afraid of spanking, they'll get adults making kids work hard with chores and jobs, they'll get the creation of familes, they'll get the torture of school. The little jokes are still there for them to enjoy, even if the big jokes are the ones we get.

"A.R.C.H.I.V.E" Was pretty interesting. I kinda like the theory of kids creating adults, and it was kinda of they're own faults for the war. I mean, when treating the adults like they did, who wouldn't expect rebellion? Interesting how it was Father who was the first to rebel. That does make him the ultimate villian of the series dosen't it? So if Kids created Adults, that means that they were the little adam and eves in the gardan of wisdom, and boredom was the apple that led to them loosing they're paradise. If you want to get biblical.

As a liker of continuity, I enjoyed "S.L.U.M.B.E.R." I've been waiting for an ep to show Chad and Cree working together. Although wasn't the Code Module suppose to be in the Artic Base? Did they move it to the moon base after Father's attack on it in "T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G?" And what will this mean for the rest of the KND? I guess future episodes will just tell us the details. For now, we can just know this: "G.R.A.D.U.A.T.E.S" will tell us things that will relate to this.

[Pokejedservo]

It gives one a good view on just how great KND can TRULY be in the future.

[Bubblegum Girl]

Archive was an intresting episode. It shows the origin of Father and how the KND Moon base was formed. Maybe they should an episode on how the KND came to be. That episode really left some unanwsered questions. If kids created adults, what happen to the teenagers? Were they formerly kids that went into transformation thanks to the adults? And does every adult known about this or just Father and his evil minions?

Slumber was okay. I knew #86 didn't have any real friends, due to the fact that she's a complete jerk. It was sweet of #3 to say that she's #86's friend. How funny it is to see teenage boys wearing bras. :D

[Rurouni Kenshin]

I watch this show every once in a while and could someone tell me why the leader of the Kids Next Door is now evil?

[Nin-Nin69]

Dear cartoonists of the world,

Can we please stop with the Matrix parodies? Please? It's been done to death like Titanic. If you like John Woo's work so much, try to parody his earlier and better work prior to MI:2. I have yet to see anyone do that yet.

Nin-Nin69

[DSRGirl]

Archive was an intresting episode. It shows the origin of Father and how the KND Moon base was formed. Maybe they should an episode on how the KND came to be.
In the opening sequence when the file of "Origin of Adults" was opened, there was also a file of "Origin of Kids Next Door" among other files. Maybe that will be saved for "A.R.C.H.I.V.E 2" or something like that.

That episode really left some unanwsered questions. If kids created adults, what happen to the teenagers? Were they formerly kids that went into transformation thanks to the adults?
I believe that the Adults used School to also stop kids from being young forever, and made them able to grow up. The Teenagers are the Adult's greatest weapon against kids. They are loyal to the Adult and have they're wisdom of the world (at least part of it) and are almost as fast and as energetic as kids are. In turn, the kids balanced out the cycle by making Adults bore children so that Kids would never run out of soliders to start fighting in the war.

And does every adult known about this or just Father and his evil minions?
I'm also guessing that before all of they're minds were erased, some of the Kids erased the Adult's mind of the truth too. You know, so they would be at least more on an equal footing.

I watch this show every once in a while and could someone tell me why the leader of the Kids Next Door is now evil?You mean Chad? (aka former Number 274). Well, to be technical, he was just one of the heads of the orginization. I believe the real leader of the KND is Number 362 (seen in "F.U.G.I.T.I.V.E"). And as for why he's evil, he turned into a teenager in "E.N.D" and couldn't be part of the KND anymore. So like any other teenager, he works with the Adult against the kids. Although he's probably one of the few teens with knowledge that he was a former KND (Cree, aka Numbah 5's teenage sister, is another one of those few teens).

Dear cartoonists of the world,

Can we please stop with the Matrix parodies? Please? It's been done to death like Titanic. If you like John Woo's work so much, try to parody his earlier and better work prior to MI:2. I have yet to see anyone do that yet.

Nin-Nin69
And as Matt Wilson said before, no one until now has parodied the Animatrix, specifically the "Second Resistance" shorts. Most Matrix parodies are on the first movie, the Bullet Time scene, or maybe the second movie's fight scene on the truck, or something like that. But this is the first parody of an Animatrix short. And a pretty good one too.

[John Pannozzi]

A.R.C.H.I.V.E.: The most disturbing thing I've ever seen. It's this kind of conspiracy crap that makes me believe the world isn't real and I'm some genetic experiment created by aliens and everyone besides me is artificial. Man, I need to get out more.


S.L.U.M.B.E.R.: I was confused by the end.

[Nftnat]

Another week, another pair of KND episodes, or sometimes a single long episode, but not this time. Let's get to it, then.
First off, y'all should know that I'm an historian. Y'all should know this by now from my posts here and elsewhere; I have this inexhaustible desire for knowledge. Therefore, I was looking forward to this episode based on the title alone; I tear through archives for breakfast. Did it live up to its billing? Well...
Ancient Recorded Children's History Is Very Enlightening, written by the usual, storyboarded by Moore w/ Leard. We see a computerized archive - I should point out right now that I'm about the only one here who's never seen the Animatrix and am therefore ignorant of the inside stuff. Anywho, we see numerous files, including Age of Spinach and History of the Kids Next Door. Creation of Adults is selected, File 7-23-68. I'm curious; someone's birthday? I found the computerized feminine voice familiar, kind of like the voice of the old Faster Than Light Newsfeeds that used to run on the Sci-Fi Channel. (Speaking of Sci-Fi...)
The beginning is kind of like the island in U.T.O.P.I.A. No doubt in that episode Chester had his happy whatever scan #1's mind and, well, y'all can guess. Unfortunately, the children eventually succumb to boredom and laziness. That perfect world, paradise, is not enough. It's sad but true; if people are allowed to do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want, as much as they want, even then, the time will come when it's not enough. So to loook for more they go messing where they shouldn't be messing, and there goes paradise. I could hold forth here on the sin nature, but something tells me that this is neither the time nor the place.
It occurs to them to make adults, among other reasons, to reach the cereal on the tall shelves. This begs questions of why and how tall shelves were made, how the cereal got on thsoe shelves, etc. Hey, isn't this kind of the same reason those aliens came for Bull in the final episode of Night Court? Anyway, whatever possessed children to make adults, they made them. And what are adults made of? Onions and carrots and fish and glasses and pipes for smoking and dentures and tubes of stuff (might be toothpaste, might not) and one or two other things. (Chemical X? I don't think so.)
With the creation of adults, with names like Mr. Ploppeter, we see the dark underside of kids. We see the boundless potential for cruelty and meanness, even in kids, check that, especially in kids. They created adults to serve them, never mind that these adults might have their own thoughts and feelings. They are living beings, doesn't anyone care how they're being treated? Apparently not, as the kids lay more and more chores on the adults, up to and including the Super Double Mega Triple Treehouse.
In this dark time for adults, one man arose, Mr. Wigglestein. He was the first to throw off the chains of oppression and refuse to take it anymore. Was spanking really necessary, though? In hindsight, perhaps not. Suppose he had cried under the constant oppression from his 'kid' (hmm, wonder what happened to that kid); what would have happened? Could the adults have done something different, something to call attention to their plight? Perhaps Mr. Wigglestein could have taken the owefully misnamed 'easy way out'; would that have accomplished anything?
Well, all this is really doing us no good, because what happened, happened. Namely, the Really Bad Thing That Happened. We see the discovery of Spanking, and thus Mr. Wigglestein becomes Father.
The adults make their own paradise, which they name Cleveland. Among other things, like eating liverwurst sandwiches, they invent Rainbow Monkeys; you might notice they're invented from meat.
Now we see the greed of the kids. They're not satisfied, not with anything they have, no matter how much it is; they must have that which the adults make. Their rationale is that since they made adults they're entitled to everything adults make. It's the same thinking that made it all right to enslave adults for all that time. The mind might question what - in the opinion of kids - are the species of kids and adults. Kids actually think they're superior to adults, why, is that any better than adults thinking they're superior to kids? And do they really think that?
With the unwarranted assault on Cleveland, the naked attempt to deprive adults of their energy source, coffee. With the adults eventually powering down, there would be no resistance as the hordes of kids swoop down on Cleveland, loot and pillage and plunder with no regard for others, To these kids, adults have no rights at all! So they come with their pitiful balloon weapons, trying to bomb the Barstucks Cuppa Joe which naturally withstand the assault with nary a dent. Nevertheless, the assault has been made and needs to be responded to in kind, with the Big Time Out. Yes, those fellow adults among you, you have by now figured out my true identity. I am Father, Mr. Wigglestein. The KND's own records bear out their rapacious laziness and greed and hate; is it any wonder that I did what I did? I had to free my fellow adults from their bondage, I HAD to--
Sorry, I don't know how that happened. One might wonder, though, why adult creation are so much better made than that of kids; but I'll let that go.
"Run away like little girls!" Aside from potential insult to the half of the kids who happen to be girls, I wonder if that was a reference to Monty Python's Knights of the Holy Grail.
So the S2M3 Treehouse is the symbol of kids' greed. I say no more. So they went to the moon. Why the moon? There are so many unanswered questions here. And the moonbase was thus established. I guess they didn't know how to control the environment or whatever.
Ambassadors from the adults. And then. the creation of families. Why couldn't it have worked? Who knows. This is the kids' pov; do we know the whole truth? What is the slant of the adults?
Then come schools, and homework, and the microwave cranial jellifiers that masquerade as fluorescent lights. And the reason they don't want to brush their teeth (T.E.E.T.H.) is to avoid potential for thermal tracking devices? Who knew? Wonder what they do for food when their teeth fall out.
It's a class report? I guess that's all part of the Animatrix ref which I don't understand. And the teacher's name is Freibingle.
#1 and #2 are in the same class, eh? Is that a different class from the one #2 has with #3?
So #1 gets the grade of FF-.
They know. I'm reminded of those commercials for Spy Tech gear. "They have Spy Tech. They know!"
I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts on S.L.U.M.B.E.R. Good night, y'all.

[DSRGirl]

It's a class report? I guess that's all part of the Animatrix ref which I don't understand.
No, it isn't. It's one of those "Gotcha" endings that try and trick you to think something's happening when it really isn't. As in, you think this is some story archieve being selected from a database, when it's really Numbah One's History report. That was defintley not in the Animatrix, let me tell you.

[Nftnat]

I know, it's a day late, but those who are familiar with my work can tell you that's pretty good for me. So, let's get to this Stupid Little Undercover Mission Becomes Exciting Romp, which was written by the usual with Alison Wilgus, and storyboarded by Fontenot w/ Suarez.
We start with an unexpected visit by #86, just as #1 is going over how the hamsters don't clean themselves, although #2 is working on- Anyway, #86 needs volunteers for a secret mission, probably so secret KND command doesn't even know. I think she's misusing her authority, but that's just me.
#4 thinks it might have something to do with the 'ultra-importanic' (wow, this guy butchers the language!) code module, which #86 then confides is safe on the moon; no doubt it was moved there from the Arctic base after the events of T.R.A.I.N.I.N.G. But #4 continues to abuse his executive privilege with the language as he accuses #86 of using 'reverse psychologist' and speculates on attempts to 'borify' kids.
Well, as to #86's invite, #5 turns her down, which is regrettable; she would have made a difference here. #3 accepts, though, and #4 is determined to be on the mission by hook or crook. They go to round up some more volunteers.
Now I think those of us who care about shipping between the KND at all are definite #3-#4 shippers, and we know from E.N.D. that #86 thinks #4 is cute; the mind then reels at the possibilities that this mission could bring to fruition, or at least to start thereon.
In addition to #86 and #3, this mission involves #12, #23, and #430-teen-7, who is really #4 in a really bad disguise. It's at #86's house, and the mission turns out to be, a slumber party. How slumberific, which I'm almost certain someone has used before.
We meet #86's mother - more on that later - who calls her Fanny. I think I heard her called Franny somewhere, probably short for Frances or Francine er sum junk. We find that she has no friends, which is no surprise. I kind of feel sorry for her. It's kind of like Helga G. Pataki if she was a high-ranking member of some secret worldwide organization of children, and no Arnold. But enough digressing into another show, on another network, never mind how much I like it.
#86 loves Rainbow Monkeys? No, ********, way! I did not see that one coming, at all!
Of course we have to have a bit of #3-#4 stuff, and this episode didn't disappoint. Playing Truth Or Dare, #3 is asked if she like-likes #4. Heh, like-like, the infamous phrase brought to us by 'The Wonder Years', and more recently by 'Hey Arnold!'. #4 of course is freaked, and #3 is embarrassed. Then #86 screams.
It seems that while setting about contacting Global Command she has a run-in with her mother, or not her mother, wait, that's not her mother, that's Chad, the former #274! (C.H.A.D., F.U.G.I.T.I.V.E., U.N.D.E.R.C.O.V.E.R., E.N.D., and L.E.A.D.E.R. pretty much sum up his appearances up to now)
#86 is concerned about her mother's well-being; this is not really surprising. The KND might be at war with adults, but they can make exceptions for their own parents - #1's father in O.O.M.P.P.A.H., #2's mother in T.O.M.M.Y., etc. #86's mother is fine, she's just been gotten out of the way for a bit, for a free spa day at Chez Massage.
He's wearing a bra! So it really IS Battle Ready Armor. #1 and #2 should have gotten some to examine for weaknesses, like they were going to do back in S.U.P.P.O.R.T. Even so, going up against five KNDs at once would put him at a disadvantage, if he didn't have a hostage, #86's Perfect Pajama Rainbow Monkey.
The hostage situation doesn't faze #4, who thus blows his cover, while saving the Rainbow Monkey - kind of - and gets Chad out of the way. #86 is about to chew out #4 when one of the other girls points out that if Chad was sent here to take care of them something must be happening on the moon.
Something is. #86 and the others journey there posthaste, finding #55 minding the store, so to speak. Apparently he's another high-ranking member as he and #86 are jointly responsible for security on the Code Module.
One little thing here, shouldn't this place be better patrolled and guarded, at all times? It's like there's just these six KNDs there, just #55 alone until #86 and the others got there. There were more than that on F.U.G.I.T.I.V.E. and U.N.D.E.R.C.O.V.E.R., and in E.N.D. they were all over the place. Even if the Americas are sleeping at the time, KND is a global organization; there should be enough operatives from Europe and Asia and Africa to keep the moonbase fully staffed.
Anyway, #55 and #86 both have to say their own codewords, in their own voices, to unlock the place where the Code Module is; that's sensible security. #55's code word is 'Yipper', based on the comic book and trading card character from L.I.Z.Z.I.E., C.A.N.N.O.N., and P.O.P. #86's code word is 'Rainbow Monkey Hugs', which is not as big a surprise now as it was before this episode. I guess her love for Rainbow Monkeys is no longer such a secret. Now, if either of her parents were employed by the same company as #3's mother and #4's father, can you imagine how different O.F.F.I.C.E. would have been?
Now stepping forward is a second group of slumberers; they're our heroes' doppelgangers, down to the badly disguised #4. Then the other #86 turns into Cree, and the others are some of Chad's football teammates from L.E.A.D.E.R.! And they're all wearing B.R.A.'s, too!
The battle is on. #55 is quick to help, as he should, which sways the balance in favor of the good guys. Then, treason, as #12 shows her true colors. It seems that 13 is following 12 - which is usually the case, lol - so she figures why not turn now and beat the rush. And the Code Module is lost to them, and ultimately, to Father. And she was #86's best friend too, kind of.
With the episode ending in this manner, so many questions are left hanging. What are the adults' plans for the Code Module? How will this tragic loss cripple the KND? Will they be able to overcome it? With #3 as her friend, will #86 continue to soften, to any degree? Will her feelings for #4 come out, thus forming a possible #3-#4-#86 triangle? Could there possibly be something between #55 and #23? Will we see #12 again? What will Chad, Cree, and the rest of the team do next? How long is it until #86 turns teen, she does seem as old as Chad, even now? And on, and on, and on.

Overall, this pair of episodes could have been better. In A.R.C.H.I.V.E. we see the total lack of such higher feelings and concepts as compassion, mercy, and love; and a war that neither side shows any inclination of discontinuing any time soon. And in S.L.U.M.B.E.R., the KND suffer their worst loss in the history of the series, and we are reminded once again that eventually even the most loyal, most valiant, most heroic members of the Kids Next Door - even #'s 1 through 5 - will one day turn 13, and then all bets are off. All told, it was quite depressing, which made me all the more grateful for the concert I went to right after watching this; it helped lift my spirits. I don't rate these episodes, but if I did, these would be rated high, though not as high as most of the others. Maybe if I'd seen Animatrix, like pretty much everyone else here; oh well. Maybe P.I.N.K.-E.Y.E. and K.A.S.T.L.E. will be funnier; we'll see. I'll catch y'all next weekend, and we'll find out. Until then.

[Numbuh 4]

Good god Nftnat. ...maybe someday I'll actually read those posts.
But for now:
Archive-1/5 (Only funny part was the "run like girls" thing and Nigel's end to the report)
Slumber-2/5 (I was expecting sooooo much more then what I was given)

Not to pleased with this week's episodes.

~:knd4:
Thrice as dumb as you.

[Nftnat]

Thanks, Numbuh Four, I think.
About what I said earlier, I can see that I made a mistake. #86 will be turning teen around the same time as #1 as they were in kindergarten together (E.N.D.).

[Agent S7]

I actually thought Archive was pretty good.

Didn't watch SLUMBER, didn't want to.

Archive: 8.7/10
(This is because I love the Animatrix. If you think that any parody of anything is overdone (which some of you seem to), then I don't like you.)

[NozeNuggets]

Well, AgentS7, thanks for bringing this thread back from the deceased.