Oh man, this brought me back. Very nice! I’m still amazed at Batman the Animated Series, even as my kids are watching it. The whole episode of Poison Ivy seeming to live a life of domestic bliss only to be discovered cloning her babies and husband periodically to keep up an illusion. That still disturbs me and makes me wonder about what’s being argued. And there are several other episodes like that.
The other shows you mention also had their moments. And what’s funny is that even adult entertainment has to deal with the same challenges. Although many people raved about the Penguin show on HBO, I thought it dragged, precisely because it deviated so much from the Christian ethos of the animated Batman. Just senseless nihilism and lazy mafia stereotypes. And of course, properly woke!
Here was my review on it that dovetails into some of things you’re talking about.
First, the Regime has, by cramming Wokeness into every available media, essentially reverse-engineered the "creatively bankrupt, milquetoast, media of Conservative Christian productions of old." I'll see your VHS, animated Christopher Columbus show and raise you Concord, Sony's nine-figure video game debacle.
Second, the quality of VeggieTales started to drop pretty drastically as the reach and popularity of the brand took off. The material produced in the early- to mid-nineties definitely has the qualities you describe. But by the end of the decade, the creators were so focused on churning out product that the sincerity really took a hit. Vischer has reflected on this at some length, indicating that in hindsight, the material really started to verge into mere moralism rather than genuine catechesis.
My guess is that we're probably of an age, because I started to age-out of my interest in VeggieTales just as these changes started to accelerate. I, too, have very fond memories of the first dozen or so VeggieTales releases. But when I occasionally come across some of the material released after that, I find that it lacks most of what made the early material so charming.
Every piece of media has an expiration date where it's best to close up shop because quality degrades as the theme becomes stale, even with talented writers.
I watched veggie tales with my kids 20 - 25 years ago , they loved it . I have looked up a few lately to watch with my grandson and they have been ......."Modernized" . with lots of PC and lots less faith .
Sincerely love VT with all my heart - I'm so glad to have grand babies to share VT with! TY for this blues clip - I had never seen it before. Delightful like all VT.
I missed the superhero renaissance of the nineties, but was the correct age to experience peak Veggie Tales with my children.
“And now it’s time for Silly Songs with Larry…”
No forced catechesis there! Just the joy of pure zaniness.
Oh man, this brought me back. Very nice! I’m still amazed at Batman the Animated Series, even as my kids are watching it. The whole episode of Poison Ivy seeming to live a life of domestic bliss only to be discovered cloning her babies and husband periodically to keep up an illusion. That still disturbs me and makes me wonder about what’s being argued. And there are several other episodes like that.
The other shows you mention also had their moments. And what’s funny is that even adult entertainment has to deal with the same challenges. Although many people raved about the Penguin show on HBO, I thought it dragged, precisely because it deviated so much from the Christian ethos of the animated Batman. Just senseless nihilism and lazy mafia stereotypes. And of course, properly woke!
Here was my review on it that dovetails into some of things you’re talking about.
https://www.realclearbooks.com/articles/2024/12/10/the_penguin_has_mommy_issues_1077343.html
Two observations.
First, the Regime has, by cramming Wokeness into every available media, essentially reverse-engineered the "creatively bankrupt, milquetoast, media of Conservative Christian productions of old." I'll see your VHS, animated Christopher Columbus show and raise you Concord, Sony's nine-figure video game debacle.
Second, the quality of VeggieTales started to drop pretty drastically as the reach and popularity of the brand took off. The material produced in the early- to mid-nineties definitely has the qualities you describe. But by the end of the decade, the creators were so focused on churning out product that the sincerity really took a hit. Vischer has reflected on this at some length, indicating that in hindsight, the material really started to verge into mere moralism rather than genuine catechesis.
My guess is that we're probably of an age, because I started to age-out of my interest in VeggieTales just as these changes started to accelerate. I, too, have very fond memories of the first dozen or so VeggieTales releases. But when I occasionally come across some of the material released after that, I find that it lacks most of what made the early material so charming.
Every piece of media has an expiration date where it's best to close up shop because quality degrades as the theme becomes stale, even with talented writers.
I watched veggie tales with my kids 20 - 25 years ago , they loved it . I have looked up a few lately to watch with my grandson and they have been ......."Modernized" . with lots of PC and lots less faith .
Sincerely love VT with all my heart - I'm so glad to have grand babies to share VT with! TY for this blues clip - I had never seen it before. Delightful like all VT.
"I'm Bob. I'm a tomato and I'm here to help you."