Jtalledo

Considering that this show WAS based off the old series staying Larry Storch and both this and the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoon (which WAS based on the hit movie) were released as roughly the same time it wasn't really a copy of either the original Ghostbusters movie nor the other cartoon. However, it was a pretty cheap way to capitalize on the success of the movie and its name recognition. I mean, do you think we'd see a remake of the original Filmation series if it wasn't for the big success of the completely unrelated movie of the same name? Thankfully, the producers of the other, much better series cleared things up with the "Real" prefix to the title.

That having been said, I don't remember this series being really any good. I do remember being a bit confused as a kid as to why the ghostbusters were a bunch of stupid kids with a darn talking bat. Soon though, kids realized the series wasn't the real deal and watched the real one.

Say what you want about Extreme Ghostbusters, from the tacky name to the controversial new characters, it was a decent show. I remember being really surprised turning on the TV one morning in 1997 and seeing the series on air. As a longtime fan of the GB, it a pleasant surprise indeed. Needless to say, I watched it almost every day before taking the bus to school.

The new characters have garnered mixed reviews, but I liked them. Kylie is absolutely adorable and Eduardo was hilarious as the token laid-back slacker of the group. Roland was low-key, but played the role of the big brains of the group well. Garrett was really the only questionable addition. I know that it's been said that they didn't have him in a wheelchair just for the sake of having a character in a wheelchair on the show, but his ability to keep up with the rest of the ghostbusters borders on unbelievable, even for an only semi-serious cartoon. Still, his experience in "extreme" (there's that word again) sports does explain his ability to keep pace with his fellow ghostbusters. The retention of Egon, Janine and Slimer (who undergoes a little facelift) is necessary and is definitely a nod for long-time fans of the old cartoon. Voice acting with both main and supporting characters was superb.

The stories were pretty decent. The first episode does a decent job picking off where the last series left off and examining how Egon's character has changed. The ghostbusters seem more inclined to battle demons and such rather than the old straight-out spooks of the original series, but there's really not much difference between the two monsters. For the most part, the plots are more serious though there's still the humor from the classic series. All the busters seem to have a sense of humor, except maybe for the dry Roland. Still, the plots were fun, particularly the last few episodes of the series, which featured the return of some familiar faces.

The show's biggest downfall is definitely something most mid-late 1990 Sony cartoons are guilty of: lackluster presentation. Also seen in "Men in Black: The Series", "Jumanji" and "Godzilla", "Extreme Ghostbusters" features some pretty uninspired character designs and animation. Each of the ghostbusters is obvious patterned after a ghostbuster from the original cartoon, (Eduardo as Peter, Garrett as Ray, etc.) except for Kylie. The character designs are pretty outlandish and look more like caricatures. The other ghostbusters and even the new Egon, Janine and Slimer redesigns are OK, but Roland just looked freaky. The original series was way better in the design department. It's also incredible how the animators made New York seem as people-free as possible; you'd think they could through a few more crowds on the streets here and there. Colors are drab and lifeless, a contrast from the original series bright designs. The soundtrack is passable, though most of it isn't very distinct. Some of it was actually reused in Men In Black! Mid-season, the additional of a new version of the old Ghostbusters theme as the new title music did help though.

While XGB may not be as good as the original cartoon it follows, it did do a decent job of continuing the series as whole. It's too bad it wasn't give the chance it deserved.