Moonlight Fox (2020) (YouTube Short)

Gonna try something a little different with our latest review…

Moonlight Fox is a character created by Jordan Gibson. From what I understand, the character is inspired by the Tokusatsu genre in Japan (Godzilla and the Power Rangers would be the most famous example to those of us who are unfamiliar), but particularly inspired by the Shōwa era within that genre. There’s also a late 70s early 80s manga/anime vibe pulsing through the marvelous design.

Back in January, a studio named Smallbu Animation Studio decided to create an opening animated sequence to a Moonlight Fox cartoon. Unfortunately, the cartoon is not real but this intro certainly (and thankfully) is:

I’m deciding to review it because it works so well, and I re-watch it a few times every couple of days. Sure, it’s only 7 seconds long BUT what an excellent 7 seconds it is!

First off, let’s talk about the design. I’ve hinted at Gibson’s design of Moonlight Fox in my intro, but let’s take a closer look. The costume is SLEEK, with only two colors and the utility belt plus weapons. The look of the mask holds great mystery, and let’s praise that cape! Overall, just a design that really pops.

The combination of seeing him run, flip and stand dominant (to that music too!) in such a wonderful sequence is quite wondrous. The animation of his movement plus the cape’s is so fluid and dynamic, and the entire thing has some killer composition. I have seen some big-budget studio work that doesn’t reach the level of precision that this short does.

Also, I love love LOVE that it looks like it was created on film. If you don’t know what I mean, watch the piece again; You’ll see little black specs occasionally appear throughout, as well as a subtle “flicker”. MOST things produced nowadays for both theater and tv are made digitally, which is just easier. BUT, it really bugs me when productions are trying to create something within an era but don’t make it look like it was actually made within that era. Yes, it’s a nitpick of mine, but whatever, I like what I like. The Aviator and the Lighthouse did it gloriously, using different film stocks, lenses and lighting techniques to convey that we were in a different time period while watching those works.

They made us FEEL like we were there.

Smallbu’s ambitious attempt to give their piece those specs and that flicker thankfully solidifies that this could’ve been discovered from an animation studio’s vault in the late 70s/early 80s and for that, I am ever so grateful. Feels like I’m there, man.

My only issue with it is that it isn’t a real show that we could watch. That gives me many sad emojis. Booooooooo. As I mentioned on Twitter, I’d watch THE HELL out of it.

Anyway, watch the short. And then watch it again. Follow Jordan Gibson and Smallbu Animation Studios. Show them love for something they made with even more love.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He is also a news writer at DC Comics News. Jose is on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

Sym-Bionic Titan (2010) (TV)

From IMDb: “Three young alien beings with the ability to form a giant robotic warrior attempt to blend into suburbia, all while battling the tyrannical forces that ravaged their home world.”

What I liked:

• A forgotten gem from master animator Genndy Tartakovsky, who I’ve mentioned before when reviewing his latest show, Primal. Paul Rudish and Bryan Andrews, who worked with him on his masterpiece Samurai Jack, co-created the show along with him.
• I didn’t enjoy the show very much during its initial 2010 run and I lost also lost track of it before it was initially canceled by Cartoon Network. But that last episode (Episode 10) that I did watch had one of the best uses of pop-music and animation I had ever seen, which stuck with me. I remember it resonating as something deeply beautiful. Now that it’s on Netflix, I decided to re-watch it on the strength of that sequence. Watching it now with different eyes had me fall in love with its takes on teenage life. Social issues, school hierarchy, vapid popularity, etc., are all touched upon. The show even touches on mobile device addiction, before it was even a thing that people actually suffered from nowadays.
• This show is basically if John Hughes and Jack Kirby mashed the Breakfast Club, Voltron & the Iron Giant together in an anime studio back in 1982, thus creating two perfectly balanced tones for the show: One tone is positioned as the action “Monster of the Week” / Scooby-Doo concept, but the other is an emotional one, spinning fun characters with poignant, teenage drama.
• Unlike traditional cartoons, some characters actually change their clothes!
• Any show with Genndy and his team involved always produces fantastic compositions & framing, and this show is no exception. There are even some fun Ren & Stimpy-esque extreme closeups.
• Stakes, stakes, STAKES. People forget that stories (whether presented through animation or live-action) need stakes, no matter the genre. There need to be events and consequences that affect the livelihood of the protagonists, and thankfully this show remembers and nails them.
• Oh hey, it’s a Paul Dini written episode!

What I didn’t like:

• I have commitment issues when it comes to television, and love when a show can knock out a whole story in a single season or two (like Over the Garden Wall and Gravity Falls, for example). This show was canceled after one season but left us with an incomplete story and some important questions to ask. It would be nice if Adultswim (or even Netflix) would let them do one final season, much like they thankfully did with allowing Samurai Jack to close out its epic tale.
• Is there really a “Wazzuuuppp???!!” reference? Eh, the show is from 2010, so….I GUESS.

Overall: Sometimes we need to revisit something in order to fully appreciate its brilliance, and Sym-Bionic Titan was better than I had remembered. Maybe I didn’t give it much of a chance when it originally aired, or maybe the nine years that have passed have changed my perspective. Maybe it’s both. But thankfully, it’s a show that gave me characters that felt real, and had emotion and heart. It not only reminded me why I love Genndy Tartakovsky’s work so much, but it also reminded me that heart is the focus of everything even when you’re a kick-ass action cartoon. Watch it on Netflix.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He is also a news writer at DC Comics News. Jose is on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

Dollface (2019) (TV – Season1)

From IMDb: “After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, a woman tries to reconnect with the friends she lost during the relationship.”

What I liked:

• What an extremely funny and smart commentary on modern day relationships, feminism, friendship and sex.
• Each character is delightfully comedic, and situations are wonderfully setup and paid off.
• Smartly nuanced, with each of the 10 episodes being a wholly satisfying experience; Especially episode 9, which is a fantastic take on the Wizard of Oz.
• Kat Dennings is an all-time top-5 celebrity crush for me, but if she wasn’t in it I’d still love the hell out of this show.
• Shout-out to my friend Katy G, who made a brief appearance in the first episode (which I didn’t know before watching).

What I didn’t like:

• There was nothing in this show that I did not enjoy.

Overall: I wish all comedies were as intelligent, engaging, funny and quick-witted as this one. I’ll happily watch season 2.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He is also a news writer at DCComicsNews. Jose is on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

Victorious (2010 – 2013) (TV – Full Series)

From IMDb: “Aspiring singer Tori Vega navigates life while attending a performing arts high school called Hollywood Arts.”

What I like:

• I first caught a rerun of Victorious in 2014, the year after it had ended. I was in a different phase of my life and trying to shy away from “Hard-R” rated material that had suddenly start to make me feel uncomfortable. While flipping through the channels, I stumbled upon the show and was immediately hooked by the tween-centered humor, which lies right between family-friendly and mild innuendo. It was exactly what I needed at that time, and it help carry me through my Dad’s eventual passing away within the year. Its light-hearted laughs, awkward characters and catchy tunes carried me through the roughest part of my life. I don’t have cable anymore, and I hadn’t watched it in almost 5 years until Netflix just added it to their service. Thankfully the show is still great, still making me laugh and feel good so many years after missing it.
• Well-written characters are the main focus of the show. Most of them don’t really have “arcs”, but the overall story line doesn’t need them to have one (if you watch the show, you’ll understand).
• Those characters that do have arcs service that overall story line. One of those characters is a pre-super-mega-star Ariana Grande. There’s also a couple (that the fans lovingly nicknamed “Bade“) within the context of the show that goes through a story arc that spans all of the seasons, resolving itself toward the very end of the series.
• Grammy winning producer Leon Thomas III is also one of the main cast members.
• Shout-out to Daniela Monet for the amount of great physical comedy she performs throughout the series.
• You can definitely see the evolution of the show throughout the seasons. The humor gets sillier but better while the main premise of “Teen Stardom” gradually shifts. This works within the universe the show established, with the final season being the most developed and funniest. It also had the best clips during the intro song, more focused on everyone instead of mostly just rando-kids dancing around. I’ve included that later intro below, instead of the usual trailer.
• Speaking of the final season, certain aspects of the show that were pretty much only reserved for lead Victoria Justice‘s character were now allowed by other cast members, such as their use of “The Slap”, a Twitter-ish social media platform.
• Occasionally breaks the 4th-wall in the most subtle ways.
• It kinda’ makes me miss high school.

What I didn’t like:

• Because of the expansion of the main characters, certain characters like Lane the guidance counselor, Andre’s grandmother and Tori’s dad had their roles severely reduced.

Overall: Re-visiting it has been an absolute treat. Not only was I able to see episodes that I had missed before, but I was able to take in the whole journey of these characters I love…especially Jade (played by the Dynasty reboot’s Elizabeth Gillies). Heart-eyes emoji FOREVER, Jade! But anyway, don’t be deterred just because it’s a show aimed at teenagers; Adults CAN enjoy shows that don’t have sex/nudity, violence and drug use. If you’re looking for fun characters in episodes and situations that will make you laugh away life’s monotony, then watch Victorious on Netflix.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He’s on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (2019)

From IMDb: “John Mulaney and his kid pals tackle existential topics for all ages with catchy songs, comedy sketches and special guests in a nostalgic variety special.”

What I liked:

• When I was a kid, “children’s shows” didn’t talk down to their audience. Shows like Sesame Street, The Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact (of which this show most resembles) understood that children were smart and had issues and questions of their own. Co-writer and show creator John Mulaney (who is only 4 years younger than me) grew up with those same shows and happily brings that depth to this show, albeit in the most gleeful way imaginable.
• Yes it is a comedy, but there are some deep themes explored within the confines of the genre, mostly during some insightful testimonials.
• KILLER musical segments pop up between skits, and every song is an exercise in astounding writing and whimsical bravado. My favorites are the bombastic, voodoo-vibed Algebra Song and the Schoolhouse Rock feeling Plain Plate of Noodles.
• The best part of the show is the cast, which is made up of 90% unknown child actors. Each one gives an A+ effort for whatever their roles demanded.

What I didn’t like:

• Even though it’s made up of many short skits, its total run time is one hour and ten minutes, which makes it feel a little long. Maybe they could’ve broken it up into multiple episodes.

Overall: A wonderful throwback to the smart children’s shows of before. If it ever became a traveling theater show, I’d absolutely see it live. For now, it’s only a Netflix special, which you can watch here.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He’s on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

The Mandalorian (2019) – Season Finale

From IMDb: “The Mandalorian comes face-to-face with an unexpected enemy. ”

What I liked:

• Gratuitous Gina Carano entry. I really wish she’d get her own spin-off show, because I think she is the character with the most depth. She’s my favorite character on the show, celebrity-crush aside. Ialsoloveher.
• The full Biker Scouts scene at the beginning was THE BEST THING THE SHOW HAS DONE. Seriously, it’s the best Star Wars sequence created since Yub Nub.
• IG-11 gets some good growth this episode.
• Oh hey, a River Styx analogy.
• Oh hey, it’s Giancarlo Esposito.
• Carl Weathers’ character says “Mando” just as much as he would say “Stallion” in the Rocky series. He must like repeating people’s names.
• [SPOILER (highlight text to read)] Ok, the last scene between Mandy and Baby Yoda was really sweet.

What I didn’t like:

• Each episode generally clocks in at about 40 minutes, but they could be shorter, ESPECIALLY this episode. Specific bits of dialog get repeated more than a few times. The Irishman had the same issue and that could’ve been shorter too.
• OMG I HATE THE GENERIC BABY NOISES THEY GIVE BABY YODA. Seriously, they give him the freeware/instant message “baby” noises that came with Windows 95 or AOL.

What I’m in the middle about:

• [SPOILER (highlight text to read)] The show wears its Samurai/Western influences HARD, and the show goes full Lone Wolf & Cub at the end.

Overall: FINALLY, it’s over. A highly imbalanced show featuring more filler and fan service than story progression. LOOK, some (probably most) people will read all my criticisms and say “Come on Jose, it’s Star Wars! You’re being too hard on it.” Like I mentioned in my review of The Rise of Skywalker, nothing gets a free pass. Good things should be reward, and bad things should be criticized. If we don’t criticize these things, then bad becomes the standard. We cannot have that, and we can’t let nostalgia take away our analytical minds. That’s like saying those two Ninja Turtle movies that Michael Bay produced were awesome “Just Because”, when in actuality they’re terrible. I’ve said it before…Demand more from what you consume. I will not be watching season 2 of the Mandalorian.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He’s on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

From IMDB: “The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga.”

What I liked:

• INCREDIBLE cinematography by Dan Mindel. I marveled at so many impressive compositions that I lost count. Some shots even looked like paintings because they were framed and colored so well.
• LANDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
• Brings new ideas and concepts into the typical Star Wars story. One of them was “lightspeed skipping”, which I had never heard of before.
• Hey, new vehicles! People tend to forget (or turn a blind eye to the fact) that Star Wars is a corporate merchandising machine that LOVES selling toys. We get some awesome ones here, like a water skiff and the “Treadspeeder Driver“.
• Hey, a water sequence! I’m a Pisces so YAY water!
• Babu Frik > Baby Yoda. #Truth
• I was happy to see Chris Terrio’s name in the credits. He won the Oscar for writing “Argo”, a film I’m quite fond of.

What I didn’t like:

• I was a little lost within the first half hour of the story. Lots going on.
• Yes, lots going on BUT Rose was setup so well in the last movie and doesn’t get to do much in this one. I was a bit disappointed with that.

Overall: First and foremost, Rise of Skywalker is a movie, so I’ll judge it as one. Period. Nothing gets a free pass, I don’t care who is in it, who made it or what it’s about. It could be a movie about Spider-man playing basketball against Metallica while a bunch of pinup girls are filming a stop-motion animated short film, I’d still judge its overall production. HOWEVER, I’ve spent so many decades with this franchise as both child and adult, that I have to gauge it in an additional way. Star Wars has a toxic fanbase. The “hardcore” fans take things too seriously, expecting each new movie to appease to whatever movie they saw as children. That has caused me to distance myself from the franchise over the last five years. Having said all of that, I loved the Rise of Skywalker, both as a movie and as the “finale” of the “Skywalker Saga”. I felt like it completed this massive story and was happy that I’ve been there for the whole thing. Because of that, I hope they never make another Star Wars movie ever again.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He’s on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.

The Mandalorian (2019) – Episode 7

From IMDB: “An old rival extends an invitation for The Mandalorian to make peace.”

What I liked:

• Hey it’s Gina Carano again! Can we just have a spin-off series based on her character? Call it “The Shock Trooper”.
• How does Mandy’s armor stay so shiny each episode? Does he spray it with a repellent or does he just stick his head in the SHINE-O BALL-O?
• There’s a really cool gunfight between our regular characters and some flying creatures.

What I didn’t like:

• Blankity blank.

Overall: FINALLY, an episode as good as the first that contributes to the overall story. It’s too bad it had to pass through so much bad and cliched filler to get to this point, but a lot happens here and I had to keep my review short.

Jose Zuazua is editor-in-chief of Quick Lunch Break Reviews. He has an associates degree in film production and has been published both online and in print for Los Angeles City College’s award-winning Collegian newspaper. He’s on Twitter and Instagram, and is also currently writing his first short novel.