Back in June I did DuckMonth(Woo-Hoo!). A series of reviews that looked at all facets of media from the 80s DuckTales series. The reason was that it was in anticipation for the August 12th release of the new DuckTales series. First announced in 2015, plans began to unfurl for a new take on Uncle Scrooge, the nephews, and the rest of the Duckburg gang. As time moved forward, more pieces of information began to come out, and the more the hype began. Now that the series premiere has aired, was that hype worth the wait, or did it "ruin my childhood"?
The simple answer is yes. This was well worth the hype and more.
What we got from the new DuckTales series from its two part premiere is a rare example of a perfect rebot. One that feels like a fresh take on a past product, while still showing love and devotion to what came before it. In this case, it's not just the 80s series that gets love, but the classic Uncle Scrooge comics of Carl Barks and Don Rosa. From the animation to the clear use of Barks art that lines the walls of McDuck manor, it's clear the writers wanted to show love and devotion to the original comics, while dropping plenty of great visual references to the 80s series (along with references to plenty of other Disney Afternoon locales).
It's characters within also feel much more diverse and creative than even in the original series. For example, the nephews now each feel more in individuals than their previous incarnations. Huey is more the boy scout, often following the junior woodchucks guidebook for answers. On the other end of the spectrum, Louie is more laid back and quick to greed. The one with the most development so far is Dewey, who is the more adventurous and outgoing of the triplets. Each of them now representing each side of their Uncle Scrooge. Speaking of Scrooge, he's back and better than ever. Scrooge is still just as miserly and cheap as he always was and his adventurous side has never left him. David Tennant is nailing this role, and I can tell through the voice work that he is having a ball. I think Alan Young would be proud to have such a great successor.
When I reviewed the pilot of the original DuckTales, I had said that Webby's new change in character is what intrigued me the most. Although I had my concerns that she would just be another Mabel Pines character, that seems far from the truth (although the grappling hook is kind of on the nose-err, bill). She is very enthusiastic and energetic, but also wants to have a chance to see the world and have real friends. Also I like that Webby is immediately accepted by the nephews. None of that stupid "eww girls" nonsense from the original series. Another character who got a massive overhaul was Mrs. Beakley, who is less the kindly old nanny from the original and more the straight man of the group. Constantly trying to keep Scrooge in line while keeping things from falling into complete chaos. And Launchpad is still Launchpad. The lovably dim chauffeur of Scrooge who may also be a pilot. And yes, he still knows how to crash a plane.
Then there's Donald Duck. I think I like how they've handled Donald the most. Another issue I had with the original DuckTales is that Donald barely appeared in the series due to him being in the navy. Now he's just as integral to the series and the adventures. I like that there's history between Donald and Scrooge. That they used to be adventurers (with someone else that I won't spoil here, but it will make your jaw drop when they reveal it) until something caused them to have a falling out. I like that Donald isn't dimwitted or gullible. He is a capable adventurer and also knows what kind of a danger that Scrooge can be. It makes more sense in why he doesn't reveal that Scrooge is the great uncle of the nephews until he reaches a moment of desperation (AKA in need of a babysitter). Although Donald's infamous accent makes him hard to understand, particularly now that Tony Anselmo is much older and gruffer, but it wouldn't be good old Unca Donald without it.
As for the episodes themselves, they were both great. We learn about all the characters in the first episodes, particularly Scrooge and Dewey. Scrooge is tired of his buttoned down life and seeks to return to his days of treasure hunting, while Dewey hopes to prove to Scrooge that he can be a valuable asset in adventuring. We get the return of longtime baddy Flintheart Glomgold who is just as greedy and cruel as usual, plus, like I said earlier, we get a major reveal that looks to be what sets the rest of the season in motion. It's a perfect pilot, not needing to take too long to build it's universe, and keeps you invested from start to finish. It fits in perfectly with reboots like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as reboots that get how to be reboots. Taking the elements of what made the franchise great to begin with while forging its own path, creating a fresh new experience. Something to please old and new fans alike.
In the end, I highly recommend DuckTales 2017. It's got the adventurous spirit, the humor and the heart of the classic Disney series. Like I said during DuckMonth, I have faith in these writers and in Disney themselves to give us something worthwhile that will breathe new life to the franchise while also being something that doesn't "ruin your childhood". The series proper premieres proper on September 23rd, and I can't wait to solve more mysteries and rewrite more histories.
No comments:
Post a Comment