FUTURAMA

Adult cartoons are always hit or miss. The problem lies with the brand of humor the writers decide to utilise. Too many shows rely on toilet humor, missing out on what really makes a show adult- a good storyline.

Futurama is one of those rare adult cartoons that not only brings the jokes, but also brings a storyline better than some of the live action shows. Everything is important. Everything. That shadow on the floor in episode 1? Intentional. "Welcome to the world of tomorrow!" Get used to hearing that. That sad little dog that you cried like a baby for? You'll see him again.

Speaking of poor little doggie Seymour, damn it if those writers don't know how to write a poignant story. Many of the episodes come off as being written for both the sexes, something other adult cartoons hardly ever do. To this day, I can't watch "Jurassic Bark" without sobbing like a baby. I appreciate episodes with a romantic theme, but the target audience might find them too mushy.

The staff also have an excellent work ethic. The alien language is real, the technical stuff is researched, and the characters are voiced superbly. Episodes even reference themselves without being overly obvious. The good thing is that episodes can be watched in practically any order, though naturally newer episodes sometimes make more sense in sequence.

The voice acting is great. Like other leading adult cartoons, several characters are voiced by one person, except the voices aren't that obvious. Fry, Zoidberg, the Professor, and Zapp Brannigan are all the same person, but they sound distinct. Guest stars are common, but they're not your ordinary variety. Al Gore, the cast of Star Trek, and Sigourney Weaver are just a few of the celebs that voice characters.

The show itself is low on my cartoon spectrum in terms of age rating. It goes Flinstones, Simpsons, Futurama, Family Guy, South Park. Every once in a while you'll hear "penis", but I can't recall any beeped swears. Let the 12 year olds watch, I say.