MovieChat Forums > The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008) Discussion > Actually quite disturbing...

Actually quite disturbing...

posted 16 years ago by ryan-285
45 replies | jump to latest

Am I the only one who finds Flapjack to be an incredibly disturbing show?

The animation is kinda freaky. Flapjack hangs around a bunch of creepy older men - asking to be friends and to go on adventures with them - which seems like a bad thing to have on a show aimed at children. Not to mention it is weird for seemingly no reason. The episode with the plague was actually quite disturbing to me and I'm a 23 year old. My 13 year old brother occasionally watches it, but he really doesn't like it either.

I'm wondering what people find enjoyable about this show - because I can't find anything redeeming about it.

[–] kittd82 16 years ago

it reminds me of Courage the Cowerdly Dog mix Ren & Stimpy

its disturbing in a cute way (to me)
and Flapjack is adorable!

This is A Sig
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[–] le_beau_peintre 16 years ago

It's a cool weird creepy. Tim Burton movies like Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach were like that too, yet we were ok with letting little kids watch that. And honestly, you aren't giving kids enough credit if you think they'd think it's fun to hang out with old men. They aren't stupid; we act like they're stupid small fragile teacups, and they're not. And I'm almost 21 and enjoy the show.

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[–] TheSnappySneezer 16 years ago

I'm 29, this show is brilliant, most interesting is the animation and character design. This show is much better for kids than the other stuff being forced upon them. You must be products of bad parenting.

[–] Damokaiwa 16 years ago

I found the plague episode to be surprisingly disturbing, and I watch things like in my sig all the time.
I also freaking love this show. This, Chowder, and Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Tokyo Gore Police
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[–] ryan-285 16 years ago

How is it better than the other stuff? I suppose I would prefer kids watch this instead of the merchandise oriented Pokemon and other series of that ilk.

However, a show where a man "accidentally" cuts his hand off in a machine that is hand-cranked - by himself - is at least creepy. Then he makes a wooden replacement hand, but it is for the hand he still has... so he cuts off his remaining hand in order to use the hand he made. That is twisted. At best.

I loved Rocko's Modern Life, I certainly liked Courage, and Chowder is actually pretty darn good. Sure I'm outside of the target demographic now, and maybe I wouldn't like Rocko so much if I watched it again. But Flapjack just seems twisted for the sake of being twisted to me.

I don't see many parallels between Flapjack and Chowder however. That plus Flapjack is one of the most annoying characters in recent memory. Rocko was endearing, even Heffer was very likable. Courage is a character that you can identify with, to an extent. Even Eustice had some heart to him. Flapjack just seems stupid, and annoying just to be annoying.

Maybe I'm just analyzing this show more than I should be, but everything seems off about Flapjack to me.

Also-
I don't see how I am a product of bad parenting for not liking this show. Care to elaborate on that statement?

[–] Damokaiwa 16 years ago

Chowder and Flapjack:
Both have high production values and good, original animation, and both feature random stop motion scenes and excellent voice work.
Both have good, original humor and story telling, and very subtle hints at more mature topics and jokes.

Tokyo Gore Police
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[–] kittd82 16 years ago

However, a show where a man "accidentally" cuts his hand off in a machine that is hand-cranked - by himself - is at least creepy.

i thought that was hilarious! a hand-crack grinder cut of his hand!? he pretty much caused his own pain.

I don't see many parallels between Flapjack and Chowder however. That plus Flapjack is one of the most annoying characters in recent memory.

i dont see Chowder connection either. they both have different points. i think Flapjack is cute!

Flapjack just seems stupid, and annoying just to be annoying.

he's a child, what should he act like?

This is A Sig
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IMDB...its not fanboard

[–] Sigil_21 16 years ago

I think that as disturbing (not in a funny way thoguh), people will still watch it. I don't understand why people these days like The Simpsons and South Park, Futurama, etc.

Perhaps it's because I'm a classical person. I like Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, the classics.

I don't know what the world has come to, but times change.

There's a difference between humor and creepiness.

Don't get me wrong, Tim Burton's works are good, but this isn't that kind of good IMO.
"You're the Edward I never could have."

[–] TheSnappySneezer 16 years ago

I love Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, Tex Avery at MGM, Betty Boop, Popeye, Koko the Clown, Flip the Frog, The Little King as well as old live action comedy like the films of Wheeler & Woolsey, Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon,Charley Bowers and many others. I think it my old world sensibilities that finds Flapjack so much more appealing as it reminds me of an old style of comedy and has some anarchistic qualities that I do applaud. There is a touch of Fleischer in the inventiveness of this.

Oh, by the by, Flapjack kind of reminds me of what I would think Casper would be like before he killed himself.

[–] Damokaiwa 16 years ago

Tex Avery is the man, and the Looney Toons and Marx brothers are great, but Koko the Clown? Flip the Frog? Wheeler & Woolsey? You're 29? more like 79!

I'm just kidding, I love old classic stuff like that. (And old classic people like Bricolo)

I'm only twenty, but I agree. It seems to hearken back to a time before political correctness, overly sensitive "family groups", and humor based around today's teen pop culture, flatulence jokes, and hits to the groin.

"Oh, by the by, Flapjack kind of reminds me of what I would think Casper would be like before he killed himself."
What?? awesome.

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[–] Benetnash 16 years ago

I like The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Rocko's Modern Life, & Flapjack, because they're children cartoons, but sort of aimed at adults.Courage is a bit scary, and Billy & Mandy is a cartoon where 2 kids hang out with the Grim Reaper, and they're always getting in trouble with demons/monsters.

I'm gonna eat your brains & gain your knowledge!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] jldandrea87 14 years ago

All I got from this post is "I'm 100 years old and out of touch with modernity."

[–] bajoros 16 years ago

I love Flapjack and think he's really cute and not at all disturbing. K'Nuckles is weird but not in a sinister way at all. I have a hard time thinking of the voice of Brian Doyle Murray as sinister or creepy. He's legendary. Bubby is a perfect softening balance for all the weirdies on the dock. All the characters are uniquely unattractive and it's dark in a benign way. I'll take this show any day over Courage. I think Eustice is the most rotten, mean-spirited creepy man character out there and the setting for that show is downright depressing. So in comparison, Flapjack is actually lighthearted.

[–] chart3 16 years ago

is it just me, or does Flapjack seem both strangely naive and innocent and devious and demented at the same time? he reminds me of a young PeeWee Herman mixed with Ed Grimley.

[–] DevilYouKnow 15 years ago

Funny you should say that. Pee Wee Herman was the original choice of voice for the show but didn't show up for rehearsals or taping, so the creator took it upon himself to do Flapjack's voice.

Good idea as I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job.

http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8567

[–] chart3 15 years ago

I'm glad he never showed up. It appears that he did the staff and the fans a big favor. Thanks for that info!

[–] cgshowbiz 16 years ago

the show is no more disturbing than some of the imagery on Ren and Stimpy...and I was like 11 when it first came on...

*Christina*

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] laeyisoracle 16 years ago

Flapjack boarders on the "adorably cute" to "downright disturbing". Flapjack himself, is an adorable little guy. The whale's cute too. But then you'll have occassional scenes that are extremely detailed paintings depicting characters's up close, and they are pretty sick. And yeah, Ren & Stimpy did that as well, but it was pretty gross back then. Flapjack reminds me of a cuter and more disturbing version of Spongebob.

[–] 16 years ago

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