Animals.

For the Korean reality show, see Animals (TV series). For other uses, see Animals (disambiguation).
Animals.
Genre Comedy
Created by
  • Phil Matarese
  • Mike Luciano
Voices of
  • Phil Matarese
  • Mike Luciano
Composer(s) Julian Wass
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 10
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bob Saget
  • James Fino
  • Kenny Micka
  • Jen Roskind
  • Joe Russo
  • Josh Polon
Production company(s) Duplass Brothers Television
Release
Original network HBO
Original release February 5, 2016 (2016-02-05) – present
External links
Website

Animals. is an American animated comedy television series created by Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano. The first two episodes were independently produced and presented at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.[1] In May 2015, HBO picked the series up with a two-season order,[2] which premiered February 5, 2016.[3]

Plot

Each episode features a different cast of special guests besides creators Matarese and Luciano. The show primarily features retroscripting, improvised dialogue based on plot outlines.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest stars

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Rats."Phil Matarese & Mike LucianoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoFebruary 5, 2016 (2016-02-05)0.239[6]

Two rats named Mike and Phil attend a party where it is discovered that Phil has never made babies. Meanwhile two police horses, voiced by Paul Scheer and Matt Walsh, discuss a friend who has become a race horse; also two bed bugs voiced by Mark Duplass and Rob Corddry, move into the mayor's pubic hair and talk about one of their divorce and subsequent midlife crisis.

Guest starring Jason Mantzoukas as Fink, Nathan Fielder as DJ Lab Rat, Mary Holland as Bow Rat, Katie Aselton as Rebecca, Jet Eveleth as Scarf Rat, Jennifer LaFleur as Wife, Steve Zissis as Husband
2"Pigeons."Phil Matarese & Mike LucianoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoFebruary 12, 2016 (2016-02-12)0.235[7]

A golf ball is hit into the nest of a sleeping male pigeon named Phil, who believes the ball to be an egg he has laid in the middle of the night. He joins his friend Mike and Mike's wife Megan to their son Jacob's Little Flyers Club where Mike is challenged to race to the Green Lady with the Ice Cream Thingy by Jerry, a pigeon from New Jersey, voiced by Nick Kroll. Meanwhile two caterpillars named Alan and Brian, voiced by Ike Barinholtz and Zach Woods respectively, deal with one of their metamorphosis.

Guest starring Lauren Lapkus as Jacob, Meghan O'Neill as Megan, Joe Mande as Branch, Scott Aukerman as Drug Dealer, Bartholomew Birdman, Andrée Vermeulen as Clarissa
3"Cats."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Wes ArcherPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoFebruary 19, 2016 (2016-02-19)0.188[8]

Two sibling cats, Mike and Phil, discuss their plans for the day when they are interrupted by an alley cat at the window named Alex, voice by Eric André. Mike and Phil let Alex in to use the kitty litter and give him a tour of their apartment where he steals various things. Meanwhile a goose named Shane, voiced by Adam Scott, explores Central Park and meets a swan named Olivia, voiced by Molly Shannon, who is led to believe that Shane is a Black Swan. His secret is found out later at a club and has to come clean.

Guest starring Neil Casey as Max, Justin Roiland as H&M
4"Dogs."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Dominic PolcinoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoFebruary 26, 2016 (2016-02-26)0.282[9]

A Papillon named Phil is taken to a dog park, which is viewed as a prison by the dogs in it. Phil is challenged to a showdown by a poodle named Angela, voiced by Chelsea Peretti. Phil and a pug named Mike plan an escape to avoid the showdown. Meanwhile, a secret is revealed among four dogs being walked also; two dogs, Rusty and Princess, meet on a first date, voiced by Kumail Nanjiani and Ellie Kemper, respectively.

Guest starring Aziz Ansari as Charles, Rory Scovel as Ronnie, Lauren Lapkus as Hollie, Mary Holland as Mabel, Stephanie Allynne as Josie, and Erin Whitehead as Sugar
5"Rats."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Wes ArcherPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoMarch 4, 2016 (2016-03-04)0.290[10]

A rat invents pants; two moths, voiced by Duncan Trussell and Kate Berlant, talk to their friend Kevin, voiced by Pete Holmes, as he tries neon light for the first time; meanwhile a fish couple, voiced by Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kenney, argue in front of another couple, voiced by Mary Holland and Tim Baltz, during dinner, causing a tense situation.

Guest starring Alia Shawkat as Sharon, Ali Wong, as Dana, Marc Maron as Rat Marc Maron, Neil Casey as Reporter & Security Guard, Kate Berlant as Fashion Rat 1, John Early as Fashion Rat 2, James Kyson as Floor Manager, Amir Blumenfeld as Chinese Food Rat 1, Jake Hurwitz as as Chinese Food Rat 2, Meghan O'Neill as Announcer, Declan Carter as Child Rat
6"Pigeons."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Dominic PolcinoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoMarch 11, 2016 (2016-03-11)0.247[11]

Pigeon Phil runs into trouble after being reunited with the father who abandoned him; Mike struggles to encourage his son to be a seagull scout; two turtles fight over the love of a mechanical frog; a skunk learns the truth about his date's past.

Guest starring Mitch Hurwitz as Larry, Lauren Lapkus as Jacob, Meghan O'Neill as Meghan, Horatio Sanz as Julio, Jessica St. Clair as Kaitlin, Lennon Parham as Ashley, Ben Schwartz as Antonio, Nicole Byer as Stephanie
7"Flies."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Wes ArcherPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoMarch 18, 2016 (2016-03-18)0.187[12]

A pair of flies experience the highs and lows of life over a few hours; a self-conscious horse is encouraged to let it out; bodega-dwelling cats rap.

Guest starring Lawrence Matarese as Phil's Dad, Liz Luciano as Mike's Mom, Robert Morse as Old Phil, Jack Axelrod as Old Mike, Meghan O'Neill as Eliza, Wanda Sykes as Chance, Cobie Smulders as Anni, ASAP Ferg as Bodega Cat #1, and ASAP Rocky as Bodega Cat #2.
8"Squirrels. Part I."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Dominic PolcinoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoMarch 25, 2016 (2016-03-25)0.256[13]

After their home collapses, two squirrel brothers find their survival skills tested while on a journey to freedom; a snake and her mouse prey face off; pet store puppies settle a turf war.

Guest starring Claudia O'Doherty as April, Katie Aselton as Mom, Jay Duplass as Dennis, Jake Hurwitz as Older Bully, Amir Blumenfeld as Younger Bully, Mindy Sterling as Psychic Lady, Kurt Vile as Kurt Vile, Jon Lovitz as Old Ben, Jenny Slate as Snake, Gabe Leidman as Mouse, Shawn Wayans as Tommy, Marlon Wayans as Ry-Ry, and John Witherspoon as Jimmy.
9"Squirrels. Part II."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Dominic PolcinoPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoApril 1, 2016 (2016-04-01)0.149[14]
10"Turkeys."Phil Matarese & Mike Luciano & Wes ArcherPhil Matarese & Mike LucianoApril 8, 2016 (2016-04-08)0.246[15]

Critical reception

The first season has received mixed reviews from critics. As of April 2016, it holds a 60% "Fresh" rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews, with an average of 6.3/10.[16] On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 54 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17] Maureen Ryan of Variety gave the first season a negative review, writing, "The animated HBO show has a lot in common with programs like Girls, Louie and Baskets, and like Togetherness, it boasts Mark and Jay Duplass as executive producers. But the extraordinarily tedious Animals., unlike those shows, fails to hit any of its chosen targets. It is unfunny, its animation is unexceptional and the studied banality of its dialogue is excruciating."[18] Conversely, David Wiegand writing for The San Francisco Chronicle gave the season a positive review, writing, "The deadpan approach only enhances the delicious off the wall comedy of Animals. The series is batty and brilliant as it turns the whole notion of anthropomorphic cartoon animals on its fuzzy ear."[19]

References

  1. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 20, 2015). "Animated Series ‘Animals’ Adds Indie TV Flavor To Sundance Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 29, 2015). "HBO Gives 2-Season Order To ‘Animals’ Animated Comedy From Duplass Brothers". Deadline. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "HBO Confirms Debut Date for Animated Adult Comedy Series "Animals"". The Futon Critic. November 25, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Animals". HBO. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Radish, Christina (February 3, 2016). "Animals': 14 Things to Know About HBO’s Bewildering Animated Series". Collider.com. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  6. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (February 8, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.5.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (February 16, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.12.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (February 22, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.19.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  9. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (February 29, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.26.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  10. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (March 7, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.4.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (March 14, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.11.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (March 21, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.18.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (March 28, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.25.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 7, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.1.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  15. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 12, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.8.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Animals : Season 1 (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Animals : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (February 3, 2016). "TV Review: ‘Animals’". Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  19. ↑ Wiegand, David (February 1, 2016). "‘Animals’ cuts the cute, but remains wildly kooky". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 10 April 2016.

External links

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