Animals.

My first experience with this show happened about a year ago. I was in the hospital recovering from a life-threatening medical emergency. Was loopy from medications and alternating between consciousness and Lala land.

Hospital TV had HBO, and an Animals marathon was playing. I didnt know if was a real show or a dream. But the dialogue had me tuned in on some level. So smart. Now it's one of my favorite shows.

...which I watched in its entirety yesterday. I came across the show quite by accident. I was flipping through channels when HBO's Animals caught my eye. I figured it was going to be another attempt at stealing South Park's thunder as kings of adult cartoons. I was wrong. Like South Park, the minimalist animation keeps the focus on the dialogue which is a social commentary on sibling rivalry, sexual identity, steroids, bullying, how the roots of traditions need to be tested, and just some situations that show how people - shown as animals - in different phases of life deal with situations in general. The show has an improvisational spirit, and everything said has a reaction that is hilarious, but not in a staged or forced way.

Each episode of the first season is named after the primary animal that is the focus - "Squirrels", "Rats", "Cats", "Dogs", etc. All of them are living in New York City. In parallel with these animals dealing with what is for the most part, every day life, there is an ugly tale of human life going on in which there is corruption in high places, adultery, and murder. The humans never speak in recognizable words. They just speak gibberish like the adults in Charlie Brown do - "wah wah wah blah blah" - or something similar. It is the animals who speak and often eloquently so. Only in the last episode does the ugly tale of human behavior that has been building in all of the episodes intersect with the stories of the animals, and then in the most ironic way possible.

Some of the reviews for this show, are...misguided? I mean, the first review said you should watch "The Simpsons" if you want a funny animated comedy. A bit outdated. "Animals" has its own charm and a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, at least for me. You'll be able to recognize a lot of the voices from the alt-comedy world. Off the top of my head there's Nathan Fielder, Nick Kroll, Jason Mantzoukas, etc. I've yet to watch the third episode, but the first two were unlike anything I had seen before. It's a blend of crude humor, surprising emotion, and outright funniness.

Yes, the animation is not good. But, it is purposefully NOT GOOD. The whole point is these animals are caricatures of humanity, which is obvious if you pay even a little attention to the dialogue. These rats aren't suppose to seem like life-like rats, because they aren't, they're just an embodiment of human emotion and stupidity.

All in all, this show is not for everyone. That's obvious. It might even take you a few viewings to really understand what the creators are hoping to achieve, but its a great show with vast potential and I hope HBO keeps it running.

Also, "The Simpsons" is whatever, go with "Rick and Morty" if you want an awesome animated comedy that isn't this one.

Happened about this show totally by happenstance. Looking for something to watch while at the office. Gave it a shot just based on the sheer volume of funny people associated with it. 100% glad I found it. Overarching human (no voices)story is dark and twisted, but the animal stories weaved within are funny and cleverly done by some of the funniest in the biz. I think the animation is actually underappreciated. While the animation in is simple in its motions, the artistic style and detail is very well done. Give this show a shot for sure. It is a strange but inventive and funny show.

I think this show would be better received if it was on Adult Swim and not HBO. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like some nice, simple humor that doesn't try so hard I'd recommend checking it out.

There seems to be a lack of love for the animation. It is definitely not the prettiest I've ever seen, but its different. It runs like a comic strip, and it works with the rest of the show because it is simple. Animals is the show that all of us have thought about at some point in our lives. "What would animals say if they could talk?" A lot of the jokes are about sex, but that makes sense in the animal world. What else are animals all about besides getting food and making babies?