This is another show that ridden under the radar, well ok the show was a hit but as time went on it's been a little forgotten. This show is another gem from my childhood, when I was a kid I was really into the anamorphic animated shows as I was a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" fan (no surprise). Back in the 90's this subgenre was in top gear. Yeah, this show does sort of take a cue or two from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" it's nothing new but there's nothing wrong with that as long as it's unique and like any good bike runs. This show you can say is "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" mixed in with "Renegade".
The plotline is good, yeah I know it's really ridiculous and absurd, but then again most of the anamorphic shows usually are but at least it's unique which is what really counts and as usual with these shows you just simply roll with it and have fun which is exactly what this.
The animation is solid 90's goodness, from the background, characters, down to the bikes. I really like the use of some darkness and grit in the show which helped give the show sort of a neo noir and tough gearhead quality to it. The humor is solid, this show is funny it doesn't really take itself too seriously and nor do we. There are both visual and verbal jokes, some of them are surprising clever ones which I was a little surprised they had on a kids show which is part of why they work so well. Music is also good; I really love that theme song which is another one of my favorite themes of all time.
The characters both good and bad are solid. Really like the Mice whom all have unique personas and are both bad assess. Also, it's funny how all three are such bad assess that they also seem to cause or inadvertently cause destruction in each episode. But all three of them there is good back and forth with each of them and of course much like the Turtles they have their home city which is Chicago. And they have their signature favorite food and drink which is hot dogs and root beer, which makes sense as hot dogs are the states signature food. There is also a good voice cast which makes it even better.
Throttle voiced by one of my favorite voice actors whom is also no stranger to the anamorphic subgenre Rob Paulson, he's my favorite one as he to me is sort of the Reno Raines/ Lorenzo Lamas mouse, as his character is a little similar to the Reno from the TV show "Renegade" he's even dressed similar to him. Really like that voice which is almost Eastwood like as it has a tough calmness to him. He's sort of one that's on the passive aggressive side, which really gives him that leadership quality where he is calm at thinking things through but exercises tough aggression when needed. I also like that he is never without his sunglass, sort of makes him look cool but at the same time gives him a mystic quality.
Vinny (voiced by Ian Ziering) he's the white mouse, he's my second favorite. He's like Michelangelo as he's sort of on the non-serious side. He's energetic as he's a person that just loves to have fun. I really like that he's a doer, as he just don't want to wait or even take the time to think to do certain things or even get to action he just simply want to do.
Mondo he's the third mouse that is on the more serious and sometimes angry side, which makes him almost like Raphael. Really like the bionic arm he has much like The Winter Solider/Bucky Barnes from "Captain America" as it has super strength but also brings out a powerful laser gun.
Charlie she's sort of like April of the bunch as she's fraking hot with a rough sassy persona to boot, but what I like about her is she's not a stereotypical damsel in distress but is actually a person that is useful and helpful to the Mice as she always repairs and engineers their bikes. And she also can hold her own against danger.
But this show of course we're here for the action and vehicular action which is has plenty of. I always love seeing the mice use their bikes, I remember when I was a kid I wanted to ride them. Each of the bikes are unique as they are equipped with different types of weapons all useful at the right, sometimes convenient times. Really like the designs of them which really fit each character, the two I really like are Throttle's bike which is pretty much a Harley Davison, with the pommel horse handles and the seat back. Vinny's is a red bike that is designed much like a Kawasaki Ninja bike, though from most of the design it also reminds of the cycle from the anime film "Akira".
Though I like how their bikes can scale up and down building or even have turbo boosts which can make them do some super jumps and sometimes areal tricks, which I always thought was cool and was a big advantage to their battles, though how the heck the bikes could do that, let alone how the mice can stay on those bike while going up and down is anyone's guess. We of course also see the Mice use fist a cuffs and even guns so there is a variety of action as best of all don't hold back much.
This is another show I'd like to see a revival to, a good one that is there actually was one around 2008 but it wasn't very good. And better yet they could have a silver screen film, either live action or animated if it's done well and right, and the right director like Justin Lin from the "Fast and Furious" franchise, thoughts to consider anyway.
"Biker Mice from Mars have enough millage for fun."
Rating: 3 stars
