Did Home Movies get "better" after they dropped the Squigglevision

[Calhoun07]

For kicks, I looked up some old threads on the AS board about Home Movies and noticed that it got bashed quite a bit early on, and now it's the most revered show of the block. But the early pans of the show usually cited the Squigglevision as one of the reasons people didn't like it. Once Squgglevision was done away with, do you feel the show was better recieved? Did any of you start watching the show after the Squigglevision ended and then become fans, even if you were one of the critics in the past?

[J-chan]

I loved the Squigglevision, but the newer seasons do look cleaner and are less distracting to the eyes. It's easier for me to watch, at least. So yeah, I think Squigglevision was the big factor.

[Chibi Kageboshi]

After season 1 the show drasticly got way better.

[Y3k-Bug]

It has less to do with SquiggleVision, and more to due with writing.

The very first season of Home Movies was sharp, witty, and funny. The second season, wasn't. This is in regards to the very first 2 seasons, the ones with SquiggleVision. I would venture to guess alot of the series past critics were bashing that second season.

Enter the third season. This was where the show's creators had to prove their worth, prove that Home Movies wasn't just a one-season wonder. And they did. It was funny, just as most fans knew it could be.

As for the fourth season, well, you all know how hilarious that's been so far :D

So yeah, moreso writing than its animation style, thats how I see it.

BTW, Calhoun, who is that attractive woman in your avatar? I recognize the face from somewhere...

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Y3k-Bug
BTW, Calhoun, who is that attractive woman in your avatar? I recognize the face from somewhere...

That would be the lovely young actress, Evan Rachel Wood. She's been in quite a few things (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Wood,+Evan+Rachel), but Little Secrets is one of her latest projects rightfully getting more and more attention.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JLNI.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Arxane]

Visually, "Home Movies" has improved greatly after they got rid of Squigglevision. I honestly don't see the appeal of Squigglevision. It gets very annoying after a while, and if used in the wrong way it may have the same affect that Pokemon once had over Japanese children (aka puking, spasms, nausea, etc). Okay, maybe it won't go that far, but it can get irritating to the eyes (at least mine).

This new style is much better, and the stories can actually benefit from it. The first episode of the new season I thought was pure genius (the one where Melissa blew up the Fairy Princess building) and I doubt Squigglevision would've had as big an impact as the new style.

[Shnay]

I love season one. Based on season two, and what I've seen of season three, I don't think they'll ever capture the magic of season one.

I think it boils down to what kind of humor people like. I remember reading a while back someone said something along the lines of how they "loathed season one, but loved season two (especially the "Starboy and Captain of Outer Space" episode). I, on the other hand, am nearly the opposite. I loved season one, and the "Starboy and Captain of Outer Space" episode was my least favorite episode of the series.

I'm not bashing the newer seasons. For the most part, they're great. I'm a diehard Home Movies fan, through and through. But, for me, season one just had a certain feel, a certain charm, that season two didn't capture nearly as much. Now, I'll admit that some of the best episodes of the series are from season two, but it also has some of the worst.

I love Home Movies in general. But if I had to pick a favorite season, I'd pick season one in a heartbeat.

[Travis]

yes, I think they show got a whole lot better.

[Lonestarr]

In terms of writing: The show always kicked butt in this department.

In terms of the look: Yes, I believe so.

[Starboy]

There are a handful of fans who easily prefer the First Season - the Squigglevision Season - often to the point of snobbery. (I think Williams Street fans like Season 1 better, as a lot of the humor relies on awkward silences and reaction shots. Season 2 & 3 have more action sequences and musical numbers - more outlandish type of humor.)

The plain and simple truth is: If the Squigglevision had persisted, the show would've been cancelled. That's how hard it was for most people to watch it. We wouldn't even have a Season 3 to write about if they continued with Squigglevision.

The writing (and improvisation) is still funny as ever. They crosscut between plots and subplots better. It's better timed and edited.

The animation has gotten ambitious. The quality of animation in Season 2 is erratic: Action scenes, musical numbers, movie parodies have mostly been wonderful. But most of the show is just easy-to-watch Squigglevision. The quality of Season 3's animation is more consistent throughout. The peaks and valleys are not so far apart anymore.

The music is still funny and inspired - kinda like Jack Black's music.

[Mr.Glass]

I have always loved Home Movies and think it has been solid throughout. The Squigglevision was unique, but in ll truth, I got usedto it after a while. So used to it, in fact, that the Flash animation in season 3 looked strange. the animation now is definately much better, but the squigglevision was cool, too. However when they dropped the SV they also dropped the ad-libbing dialogue, which I really liked because it gave the show a realistic and human feel to it. The dialogue is still funny, though. So far, the current season has been the best one. The characters have come full circle and the material is excellent.

SO....

In regard to the intial question, I'd say that I like the flash SLIGHTLY better than SV.

[JDuncan]

In what's probably an unpopular opinion, I think that the show was better with the squigglevision. It just didn't seem the same. It seemed like they sold out. Maybe it's just because it reminded me of Dr. Katz (even more than it should have because the first one i saw was the last 2/3 of Mortgages and marbles, so to me that wasn't Erik and Coach Mcquirk, that was Ben and Dr. Katz). The show still maintains a high level of quality, the third best on ASC (behind ATHF and Sealab (Hesh era, I can't speak for MC Chris-less Sealabs of the future) who are tied for first). Also, they dramatically reduced retroscripting in non-squigglevision shows, which made the show less spontaneous and a lot more forced. It also seemed a lot more subtle with the retroscripting. Now, it's more like a standard animated sitcom. Also, the flash animation makes it look like a Web Cartoon. I think new High Scores look about the same. But, to the newer one's advantage, when Paula Poundstone was voicing Paula (first 4 or 5 shows), I kept thinking she was going to try to molest Jason.

[Spiky_evil]

I thought home movies was crap, until they did away with the squigglevision, then it seemed too get funny and a lot better, i watch it every day now!

[meatwad945]

the newset season looks a lot more "polished" than the other seasons

[TimGuy]

I love it. I love it all. I feel that every season has strong, intelligent adult humor mixed with the over all child-age point of view. Which makes the show even funnier knowing that some characters are only eight. I feel that Jon Benjamin brings a great deal to the show working the constant McGuirk/Jason roles. I feel that "Home Movies" has grown better with age but not with the change in animation style. It's always been one of my favorites and will probably stay that way."Because we'd be AT THE BEACH!" -Space Ghost

[J.C.]

Loosing squigglevision may not of been important for every single person who started liking Home Movies more, but I'm sure it was a big factor for many people. I remember watching Home Movies when it first aired on UPN and thinking that many weren't going to give this show a chance because of the animation and, sure enough, everyone I asked said they stopped watching the first episode due to the way it looked. Squigglevision is just too distracting for many casual viewers who may come across the series while flipping channels or check it out based on others praise.

[Harvey BirdGuy]

I'd couldnt say either was better. Home movies contains some completely great episodes and some not so up to par, in both squigglevision and flash.
Lets take ...It Was Supposed To Be Funny and lets take ...Pizza Club for another. IWSBF had some good laughs but it really wasnt up to standard for Home Movies, I myself didnt think dressing up grandpa in drag was unbelievably funny. Pizza Club on the other hand was indeed funny and had some great laughs, like when they decide if they should scheldule there appointment for central mountain time and so on...
Now lets take...The School Nurse and lets take..Impressions. The School Nurse was a great episode,like when Jason dives at McGuirk screaming "I'll GET YOU!!!!!!!!!" and bites his leg. On the other hand , Impressions was a episdode with a few laughs but still, not a A+ episode.
So if you see where im coming from, Home Movies is a great show with a few weak episodes. In both Flash and Squigglevision. :)

]

[hello_lola]

I liked the Squigglevision style, but I've gotten used to the Flash.

Also, I have a question: is HM retroscripted? Was it ever?

[Evil Dr. Reef]

Originally posted by Y3K-Bug
It has less to do with SquiggleVision, and more to due with writing.

The very first season of Home Movies was sharp, witty, and funny. The second season, wasn't. This is in regards to the very first 2 seasons, the ones with SquiggleVision. I would venture to guess alot of the series past critics were bashing that second season.

This is what I was thinking as well. I don't think the Squigglevision was what was dragging the show down, it was (in my opinion) some of the jokes/gags that were written into the show. I mean, half the jokes that were in the first season were about directors & film styles that many people, myself included, just didn't get. The other half were funny, and witty, but the humor was hit-or-miss for me. I consider myself to be pretty well-versed in the general film-area, but half of the first season's jokes were so "in" that a lot of people (again, myself included) just didn't understand them. They were snobby indie-film jokes. This doesn't mean that the jokes in seasons 3+ were "dumbed-down", but I think the show took a more general approach. It started to expand on Brendon's life, instead of just making snobby, high-brow jokes about his films. To quote Andy French:
"That's so Kafka-esque."

[maddogmike]

People liked Dr. Katz quite a bit. I don't know the ratings, but it went several seasons on Comedy Central without change. I don't remember any dislike for the Squigglevision.

On Home Movies, the Squigglevision gimmick is pretty unnecessary, but I got so used to it that when season 2 started, it felt weird. It took me a few episodes to get used to non-Squigglevision. But now I don't miss it at all.

I do miss Paula Poundstone, however.

[randomguy]

Well, I like the Flash more as an art style, but I still think Season 1 was better overall. Like Shnay, I preffered the characterization and tone in that season a lot more. Season 2 was good, and honestly, Season 3 has been way too outlandish so far for me to enjoy it much.

[Shnay]

Originally posted by Evil Dr. Reef
...half the jokes that were in the first season were about directors & film styles that many people, myself included, just didn't get.

...half of the first season's jokes were so "in" that a lot of people (again, myself included) just didn't understand them. They were snobby indie-film jokes.

...It started to expand on Brendon's life, instead of just making snobby, high-brow jokes about his films.

Really? I didn't really pick up on that. Sure, there are some film parodies and refrences, but I don't think there were many "snobby indie-film jokes." Most of the refrences that were in season one were to movies like Chinatown, certainly not an "indie film."

But maybe I'm just forgetting something. Do you remember any specific examples?

[randomguy]

*shrugs* Y'know, when I first watched Home Movies, I found it surprising that there were as few film references as there were (y'know, for a show themed about making movies). I mean, I can spot a couple (the Chinatown Reference, Jason's Scarface and Clockwork Orange posters, Jason commenting on Scorcese's book), but overall, there are scant references to real films in "Home Movies". And none that I can remember about Indie film.

Hell, Sealab has had more indie parodies than Home Movies, with its "Living in Oblivion" and "Waking Life" spoofs.

[adultswimfan]

It would be cool if CN decides to make a flash version of the episodes that are in squigglevision, and a squigglevision version of the episodes that are in flash.

[Joe Tully]

Originally posted by adultswimfan
It would be cool if CN decides to make a flash version of the episodes that are in squigglevision, and a squigglevision version of the episodes that are in flash.

Though that might be somewhat interesting, I can't see CN paying money for Soup2Nuts to make them different versions of already-aired cartoons. And I'd rather see them spend the money on new episodes.

[Evil Dr. Reef]

Originally posted by Shnay
But maybe I'm just forgetting something. Do you remember any specific examples?
Not off the top of my head. I remember when I watched it right after it premiered on UPN back in '98(?), and while I got most of the jokes, the others just made me go "Huh?". When I started watching it on ASC when it premiered last year (A year ago this weekend, in fact), I either didn't get the same jokes or got them, but just didn't think that they were all that funny. I skipped over most of the first & second season, and started watching right about the time that they dropped the Flash. Next time reruns come up, I'll try & watch the first season to see if I get it better this time. Go figure.

[Mynd Hed]

I'm somewhere in the middle here. I hate... hate... HATE... HATE Squigglevision. It literally makes my physically ill to watch it. But I thought the first season had such great writing that I was willing to watch it, and I laughed my ass off, Squigglevision or no. So I take the loss of Squigglevision as a welcome change. But the thing that drew me to the show in the first place- the writing- has remained consistent, and so I'd still be watching the show today, even if it were still in Squigglevision. I wouldn't like the Squigglevision, but I'd put up with it if I had to.
But that's just me.

[Shnay]

Originally posted by Evil Dr. Reef
I skipped over most of the first & second season, and started watching right about the time that they dropped the Flash.

I'm not sure, but I think we might be defining the first and second seasons as different things.

I consider all of the Squigglevision episodes to be "season one." You could, technically, divide them into the UPN Squigglevision episodes being season one, the CN Squigglevision being season two, and the CN Flash being season three. However, I think most people here consider everything in Squigglevision to be season one, then the Flash episodes up until "The Wedding" to be season two, and the last four episodes that have aired to be sesaon three.

If that's how you already viewed the seasons, then sorry for the unneccessary explanation. However, if it wasn't, then I hope we're at least on the same page now.

Anyway, there are many moments in which the humor from the first season is different from season two. So, if that's just not your type of humor, you might not have gotten some of the jokes, or not thought they were very funny. Some of the jokes were definitely a little weird, but I don't think they ever used any indie movie refrences to make them that way.

[hank murphy]

they could be stick figuires and id still watch

[Calhoun07]

"season one" was in two parts, the first on UPN, the second on Cartoon Network. There were 13 episodes made in squigglevision, which comprise season one. 5 aired originally on UPN, and the other 8 aired on Cartoon Network.

[jrh31584]

The abandonment of Squigglevision probably improved people's views of the series, since people could now think "hey this is funny" instead of "hey this hurts my eyes i'm changing the channel." I haven't watched HM a lot recently, since i'm rarely able to catch anything before about 11:30, so I don't think i can make a fair assessment of the change in quality of the series itself.

[unknown hero]

the new form is way better than sqigglevision, that just gave me headaches

[adultswimfan]

I've also noticed Brendon's voice is different in season 2.

[snorlaxhead]

I liked it better with squigglevision. I honestly think these new eps are worse than the old ones.

Think of it, what if EEnE was made into a new season without squigglevison?

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by snorlaxhead
I liked it better with squigglevision. I honestly think these new eps are worse than the old ones.

Think of it, what if EEnE was made into a new season without squigglevison?

It would still suck??http://216.40.241.68/otn/wink/wink_2.gif

[sl4]

Retroscripting!

Retroscripting!

Retroscripting!

What the heck is Retroscripting?

I feel really stupid here, not knowing this... :D

[dino boy]

What the heck is Retroscripting?

I second the motion - I would really like to know what the process of retroscripting entails. All I know is that it relates to squigglevision somehow, and when they used it the show was a lot better, in my opinion. It seemed like there was more overlapping conversation, awkward pauses, random trains of thought, and improvisation.

[Joe Tully]

That's the basic idea, dino boy.

Retro=backwards
Scripting=scripting

The VAs have some idea of what the plot is going to be and follow the general plan, but do a fair amount of improvisation, leading to awkward pauses and so on.

[Orange Star]

I say that Home Movies stayed exactly the same before and after SquiggleVision. I mean, SquggleVision was the only way you could see Brendon crossdressing and saying "I'm a pretty lady, I'm a pretty lady!" But Flash is the only time you get to see a member of the cast use hair spray to blow up a building.

[Sandro]

I absolutely hate Squigglevision. It hurts the eyes and it makes for harder viewing. Now, in Ed, Edd & Eddy, I hardly notice the Squigglevision because its not being blatantly shown so that's okay. However, I cannot watch my television when Squigglevision like in the first episodes of Home Movies causes me to practically get seizures!

[sl4]

SEIZURES!

:D

[Idioteque]

I love both seasons, for different reasons. Season one's humor is more my style, but I can still enjoy the show as it is in other seasons. Art-wise, I'd say I prefer flash over squigglevision.

[Opaque]

i'd say its about the same in the joke department.. and as far as the squiggle vision goes... at first i cared when it stopped, but now it doesn't mean anything to me...