Big mouth, released in just September of last year, is by far my favorite show out there. For those who haven't seen it, this show is about a couple of 7th graders, navigating their way through puberty with misguidance from their "hormone monsters." Even though this show is about middle schoolers, it certainly is for a much more mature audience. This show is not for everyone, from experience I find either people really love or really hate the show. It is vulgar and dark, yet light and funny at the same time. It's really weird and out there, but that's why I love it so much.
Part of the reason I love this show so much is because of the animation behind it. The artwork is the perfect match for the show's content. Pubescence is full of the horror's of low self-body image. The character's in the show are made to be ugly, with exaggerated features that other characters pick on...such as Nick's "Big Catfish Mouth." Once you get used the the animation style, you realize that all middle school characters are the same amount of awkward, in physic and character, that they are charming, cute and love-able. It makes you think about how in middle school you thought you were the most awkward human there is, but then you realized that everyone was as weird and awkward as you.
When the show first started, the idea came with very little visual content other than a drawing for the Hormone Monster and Nick. The animators had a lot of creativity apart from the writers when coming up with the artistic side of the show. I believe this is one the factors that makes the animated piece so well done, and go so well with the content. It was created by artists' interpretation of the content, not by less artistically talented writers.
Most of the show's cast are more used to live-action roles but loved the opportunity to act in an animation role. They had more freedom to "play and improvise" which I believe adds to how the show ended up so funny.
Animated show's are my favorite form of digital art. They encompass all different types of art, from creativity in writing and humor, to figuring out how to design the show based on that criteria. The show is fun, as is the artwork. I think the art is beautiful in the show, from the character's body's, to the color wheels in their eyes, to the textured backgrounds, to the silly childish artwork of their daydreams. The show consistently breaks the fourth wall by calling out the watcher for binge watching the show. The animation style smashes typical animation walls by giving the show a live-action feel by giving the camera a focus and distance perspective by blurring out what's not in focus. There was so much thought put into every aspect of this show and every time I watched it find something else I didn't notice before that impresses me even more. I love everything about this show and think every piece of it is beautiful, in the most disgusting way.
Show's Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_BoK0OwZs
Research done at: https://dotandline.net/big-mouth-chris-prynoski-a85201867a5f
Silly Daydream Animation:
Textured and Designed Wall Background
Breaking the fourth wall, colored wheel eyes, and blurred background giving the show a live-action feel.
Silly Daydream Animation