In 2001, Lizzie McGuire premiered on Disney Channel and soon became the first hit of the modern Disney Channel era. The show was a live-action/animation hybrid with the animated Lizzie providing the inner-thoughts of the title character. Now Disney XD, is hoping an live-action/animation hybrid will become its first blockbuster hit.
But the similarities between Lizzie McGuire and Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets end with the show’s chosen medium. Lizzie was targeted at girls, while Kirby tries to woo boys. The animation is Lizzie is limited to one character, while Kirby features a wide variety of his creations. And last I checked, Lizzie did not feature fart and vomit jokes several times per episode.
I am getting ahead of myself; “Kirby Buckets” follows the adventures of13-year-old aspiring animator Kirby Buckets and his friends Fish and Eli. Kirby’s dream is to become a famous animator like his idol, Mac MacCallister. The show also features Kirby’s sister, Dawn, and her best friend, Belinda. During his adventures Kirby is joined by his animated characters such as Tri-Butt, Dr. Gut-Punch, Macho Taco, Octo-Stache, Scrunch Face and Dawnzilla (who is inspired by his sister’s awkward teen phase).
Let me start with the good. The young cast does a spectacular job. The only cast member that I am familiar with was MeKai Curtis who played Alexander’s best friend in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and reprises the best friend role here as Fish. The likeable actors made me want to like the show, but alas, I was disappointed.
The animated characters had no development. Perhaps that will change with time, but tri-butt has no personality. I get it. He has three butts. But a character, that does not make. As a Disney fan, I know characters have to have more than bizarre physical characteristics. How fun would Frozen be if it started Snow Girl and she just kept walking around making snow with no care in the world. Perhaps Kirby has a lot to learn about being an animator. May I suggest he at least reads “The Illusion of Life”?
I also admit that farts are funny. But when you keep going to the bodily function well anytime you need a laugh, you are just being lazy. Does Disney XD think that boys need farts and vomit to be entertained? If so, there should be the type of outrage that accompanied the Merida makeover.
Disney XD is still trying to find it’s footing, much like Disney Channel tried when it switched from a general entertainment pay-tv channel to a basic cable children’s network. Hopefully, a show will come along and be the phenomenon that Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana were for the mother-ship. Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, Kirby Buckets is not that show.