Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts : Season 2
Might contain spoilers.
I remember starting the first season on the strength of a glowing review from The Mary Sue. I almost gave up two minutes in, but I managed to overcome my strange reluctance, for which I am inexpressibly grateful. By the end, I was hooked.
Dave is by far my favourite character. I can’t get enough of Deon Cole’s vocal performance, or the inventive facial expressions. There was a moment in ‘All That Glitters’ when four words about rocks sent me into paroxysms of laughter. I love Mandu, too. It genuinely hurt when he started feeling useless in the same episode. And oh yes, let’s not forget the Timbercats!
The music is amazing in its versatility and its fusion of modern and traditional elements, starting with the opening theme, which introduces just enough elements to create something memorable. I enjoyed the way musical numbers manifest organically at unexpected moments, as well.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts may be a child-friendly animated show, but it certainly has an edge, and as with any truly great work, it can resonate with anyone. It never feels ‘safe’. At the same time, Kipo the character is the living personification of the power of believing in other people and believing in yourself. Well that, and being a science experiment.
I’m not fully comfortable with Scarlemagne being painted as sympathetic, considering his past actions, but I can understand the rationale. I certainly can’t wait to see where the story goes in the third (and final, much to my disappointment) season.