Koala Man

"Everybody got to evelate from the norm" (Vital Signs by Rush)

The Big Lez Show, Danger 5, Italian Spiderman, Smiling Friends, Bushworld Adventures, Yolo, Solar Opposites.

These are just some of the title of the people behind this new TV Show, created by the prolific mind of Australian animator Michael Cusack.

Koala Man is a tv show about a regular mid-age family dad that try his best to make the right thing, even if there is no reason to do that and even if his family is experiencing a crisis. There is honesty in the frustration lived by Kevin Williams/Koala Man and episode after episode you start to understand that his obsession with the justice is just to cover other kind of issues. All the supernatural events connected to the routine of the simple town of Depto are just the norm, a metaphor to analyze the Australian society (Australia that could be the Netherlands, the UK, or every random not so big country of the Europe) in the era post covid, an era self-aware of his own unselfishness and inadequacy, envy of the illusion of the America dream.

The Australian Time zone: The narrative of the alternative story backround created because of Australia Time zone (no spoiler don't worry) is probably the most superb part of this not so silly cartoon, something similar to the alternate storyline written by Alan Moore in Watchmen. I'm not joking.

Excellent Acting with a really great cast.

A great music direction composed by Brendan Caulfield Oustanding Animations (The Emu episode have one of the greatest animation and music I ever saw for a first season tv show episode).

If you like only one of the title I wrote at the beginning of this review, you will love this show.

I feel like if your going into this show as a non Aussie a lot of the humour will be lost on you. However as an Australian having a cartoon on the level the Big Lez Show which a high production value is quite the special treat!

To any Aussie who has grown up with Michael Cusack cartoons on YouTube and classic Aussie characters such and big Lez and Mike Nolan you will definitely find some enjoyment in this show. Plus this show has a nice added bonus of some big name Aussie battlers such and Hugh Jackman and Hugo Weaving who give surprising good preformances in the silly and strange take on Australia.

I first watched Koala man as a series of YouTube shorts and when I first heard of the series I was very excited. I am pleased to say I have not been disappointed by Michael Cusack's latest series. I have appreciated most of his work and style and this series is absolutely no exception. I like the animation stlye, it's oddly sloppy but well done nature is something I appreciate. The jokes lead from banal everyday events taken to their comedic extreme with a man dressed as a koala. I don't know why but the Australian accent adds a lot to the humour for me, I know it's part of the Aussie thing but still the voice actors delivery and accent for me adds to the humour. It's very much the style my friends and I have enjoyed whilst we were growing up and I am pleased it now has a series and recognition. I hope it goes a long way.

Ok, I may be a sucker for adult animation, and also for Australian culture. So I was pretty much destined to enjoy this show. What I didn't know is that I'd enjoy it this much.

It's not based on bits like Family Guy, and it's not as smart as "Rick and Morty," some may see it as a desperate grab for American attention by throwing all this Aussie culture in their faces to woo them, with funny little cultural things like "showbags" and "sausage rolls" and other Aussie quirks, along with character donning the striking and appealing Aussie accent. But some of us are suckers for it, because let's be honest, our own culture is usually boring to ourselves. And Australians are, well, COOL to us yanks. Believe me, that accent holds a lot of power over us. It's more exotic than anything in Europe. So congrats Hulu, you did your research, and you found something that would catch our attention.

The show centers on Koala Man, the not-so-covert identity of a local family man who is a lot like Stan from "American Dad," but only the Australian version. He's a stickler to rules, and prides himself as being the head of a family, which he loves about as much as rules themselves. He exists in what appears to be an alternative reality of Earth, where strange things happen like animals talking, aliens screwing planets, and psychic powers are actually real. It's a wild world, and it's all in Australia. It certainly feels like Australia's trying to teach America and the rest of the world something about Aussie culture. I have always enjoyed Australian cinema, and this comes as a fresh addition to the adult animated comedy scene.

So after watching the entire series in one sitting, I can syat that it's failr enjoyable. For non-Australians, there are alot of jokes and references some people can't understand, but regardless of the cultural differences, it's a bloody good time for everyone to enjoy the absurdity of the show.

Though the general art style of the characters is based of oversaturated adult animated sitcoms, there are plenty moments of animation that stand out. Though it makes sense, by means to keeping Cusack's art style seperate from Smiling Friends and YOLO Crystal Fantasy.

Main characters are enjoyable to watch, despite having the cliche basis of a somewhat dysfunctional family to go through many experiences, they're charming as they are. Side characters are also enjoyable too, with small moments to shine for comedic relief.

It gets pretty ridiculous in the last 2 episodes, but in a good way that leaves alot of room of character depth and expanding it's own world. Can't wait to season 2 and what Michael Cuscak and the rest of the cast and crew can offer!