Sealab 2021

Sealab 2021
Genre Comedy
Science fiction
Surreal humour
Created by Adam Reed
Matt Thompson
Voices of Harry Goz (2000–03)
Michael Goz (2003–05)
Kate Miller
Erik Estrada
Brett Butler
Ellis Henican
Bill Lobley
MC Chris
George Lowe (2000–02)
Theme music composer Julie Stepanek and performed by Calamine
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 52 (and 1 unaired pilot) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Adam Reed
Matt Thompson
For Williams Street:
Mike Lazzo
Keith Crofford
Producer(s) Adam Reed
Matt Thompson
Running time 12 minutes
Production company(s) Williams Street
70/30 Productions
Radical Axis
Hanna-Barbera (original footage)
Release
Original network Cartoon Network (episodes 1–3)
Adult Swim
Picture format 4:3 SDTV
Original release December 21, 2000 (2000-12-21) – April 25, 2005 (2005-04-25)
Chronology
Preceded by Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Related shows Sealab 2020
External links
Website

Sealab 2021 is an American television series. It was shown on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. Cartoon Network aired the show's first three episodes in December 2000 before the official inception of the Adult Swim channel on September 2, 2001, with the final episode airing on April 25, 2005.[1] Sealab 2021 is one of the four original Williams Street series that premiered in 2000 before Adult Swim officially launched, the others being Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

Much like Adult Swim's Space Ghost Coast to Coast, the animation used stock footage from a 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon, in this case the short-lived, environmentally-themed Sealab 2020, along with original animation. The show was a satirical parody of the original Sealab series, and the conventions of 1970s animated children's series generally. While there was initial resistance from several of the original series' creators to the reuse of their characters, production moved forward on the series.[2] Sealab 2021 was produced by 70/30 Productions, which eventually closed in January 2009.

Summary

Adam Reed and Matt Thompson, the creators and writers of Sealab 2021, came up with the idea for the show in 1995 while they were production assistants for Cartoon Network. They stumbled on a tape of the show Sealab 2020, and wrote new dialog. Cartoon Network passed on the show because they did not believe it was funny. Five years after quitting Cartoon Network, the two went back to the original tape, this time making the characters do what they wanted. Cartoon Network bought the show, coincidentally around the same time that Adult Swim was created.[3] The original "pitch pilot" is available on the Season 1 DVD as a special feature.

Very few of the episodes of the series share any continuity or ongoing plot. For instance, the entire installation is destroyed at the end of many episodes, and crew members are often killed in horrible ways, only to return in the following episode. There are occasional running gags, such as the "Grizzlebee's" restaurant chain, the character of Sharko, and Prescott, the half-man, half-tentacle monster "from the network." While the show claims to be set in 2021, it contains many references to the pop culture of the 1980s–2000s, and makes use of other cartoons from the 1970s besides that on which it is based, such as 1973's Butch Cassidy for the on-screen appearances of the Sealab writers, and various one-off appearances of other characters.

Paul Di Filippo of the website Sci Fi Weekly in his review of the Season 3 DVD, felt that general fan opinion of the show declined sharply following the death of Harry Goz (the voice of Captain Hazel Murphy) during Season 3.[4] After four seasons, the final episode aired on April 25, 2005.

Characters

Episodes

Fifty-two 11-minute episodes of Sealab 2021 were produced, as opposed to only 16 25-minute episodes of the original Sealab 2020. Sealab 2021 is rated TV-14, however some episodes were rated TV-PG and TV-MA.

Reception

In January 2009, IGN listed Sealab 2021 as the 79th best in the "Top 100 Animated TV Series".[5] In 2013 IGN placed Sealab 2021 as number 22 on their list of Top 25 Animated series for adults.[6]

Home releases

DVD NameRelease DateEpisodesAdditional Information
Season OneJuly 20, 200413This two disc boxset contains the first 13 episodes ("Radio Free Sealab" through "Swimming in Oblivion"). Bonus features include alternate endings for episode "I, Robot", deleted scenes, the original pitch pilot, and uncensored scenes for "Radio Free Sealab". Music during the main menu is the original recording of the theme song.
Season TwoFebruary 1, 200513This two disc boxset contains the second set of 13 episodes ("Der Dieb" through "Return to Oblivion"). Bonus features include commentaries for all thirteen episodes, an animatic for the unseen episode "Ronnie", and other assorted bonus features – many of which involve women in bikinis. The DVD cover, used for the "Bizarro" episode, is a homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #100, by artist Dave Cockrum. Music during the main menu is the theme song played backwards. This season two DVD is included on Adult Swim in a Box, which was released on October 27, 2009.
Season ThreeJuly 12, 200513This two disc boxset contains the third set of 13 episodes ("Splitsville" through "Neptunati"). Bonus features include two unseen episodes and the animatic of a third unseen episode, commentary for four episodes, and other features. Music during the main menu is the music used in the "Red Dawn" episode.
Season FourAugust 8, 200613This two disc boxset contains the final 13 episodes ("Isla de las Chupacabras" through "Legacy of Laughter"). Bonus features include alternate endings and deleted scenes. For this release, Cartoon Network abandoned their usual digipak packaging design in favor of a more traditional amaray style keep case. During the main menu, underwater sound effects are used.

See also

References

  1. "Sealab 2021 Episode Guide". TV.com. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  2. Holman, Curt and Kuldell, Heather. "Midnight Munchies with [Adult Swim]" (2005-03-09) Access: 2009-12-29. Quote = "Do the original creators of Birdman or Sealab ever come up to you and say, 'What the hell did you do to my character?' Crofford: Actually, yes. Ouweleen: Yes, they're mad about it."
  3. "Predictability is a Disease: Adam Reed and Matt Thompson, Sealab 2021". 2003-03-13. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  4. "SCI FI Weekly: Review of Sealab 2021 Season-Three DVD". 2005-11-21. Archived from the original on 2007-01-26. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  5. http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/79.html
  6. Fowler, Matt (15 July 2013). "The Top 25 Animated Series for Adults From caped crusaders to web-slingers to danger zones, here are the best animated shows to enjoy as a grown up.". IGN. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

External links

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