Pixels in the Animation

The hosts wrap up 100 episodes of Pixels in the Animation by discussing video game franchises that never got animated adaptations. They debate what Metal Gear Solid, Metroid, Final Fantasy 6, Space Quest, and other classic games could have been as cartoons, and why certain properties would have made better series than others. The conversation touches on animation styles, storytelling potential, and how different eras would have handled each concept.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil count down their ten worst video game cartoon episodes they've actually watched and never want to see again. From Donkey Kong Country's ugly CGI to Street Fighter's misunderstanding of Akuma, Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins' unfinished animation, and Super Mario World's cringe moments, they break down what makes these episodes terrible and why they stand out as the absolute bottom of the barrel in video game cartoon history.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil count down their ten favorite episodes from the video game cartoons they've covered over seven years. Neil's entire top ten consists of Earthworm Jim episodes, which he argues were consistently excellent across the board. Mike draws from a wider range of shows, including episodes from Mega Man, Captain N, The Legend of Zelda, and Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. They discuss what made these episodes stand out, from creative premises and voice acting to origin stories and character moments.

Neil and Mike review Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet, the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph. They discuss the film's scattered plot, heavy product placement and internet-focused memes, the strongest Disney princess sequence, and how it compares to the original film. The hosts examine character choices, animation style, and whether the movie holds up as a video game adaptation.

TfG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil explore video games adapted from cartoons and animated shows, from classic Disney and Konami licensed games on the NES to arcade brawlers like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men. They discuss what makes certain properties work well in game form, highlight standout titles like Turtles in Time and Spider-Man and the X-Men, and reflect on licensing challenges that keep beloved games from being re-released.

Mike and Neil look back at Nintendo Power magazine, from its 1988 debut as the successor to the Nintendo Fun Club newsletter through its evolution across the NES and Super Nintendo eras. They discuss memorable issues, how the magazine served as the primary source for game secrets and tips before the internet, its coverage of Nintendo accessories, and how its identity shifted dramatically after the mid-90s with the rise of the N64, Pokemon, and competing magazines like EGM and GamePro.

Mike and Neil dive into three early-80s video game cartoons: Saturday Supercade (featuring Frogger, Donkey Kong, Q*bert, and Donkey Kong Jr.), the notoriously bad Pac-Man cartoon, and Pole Position. They discuss how little these shows had to do with their source material, the voice talent involved (Frank Welker, Barry Gordon, Lorenzo Music), and why these cartoons were largely forgettable—or deliberately forgotten. Pole Position emerges as the least terrible of the three, though still generic.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil wrap up their coverage of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with a full series recap. They discuss favorite and least favorite characters—praising Grounder's comedic value and Sonic's supporting cast while finding Scratch tiresome—and highlight standout episodes like Grounder the Genius, Birth of a Salesman, and the Chaos Emeralds arc. The hosts also dive into animation quality, voice acting performances by Long John Baldry and Gary Chalk, trivia about the show's production, and how the series adapted elements from the video games.

The hosts wrap up their coverage of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with reviews of the final episodes: "Lifestyles of the Sick and Twisted," "Sonic is Running," "Roboninjas," the series finale "Sonically Ever After," and the Christmas special "Sonic Christmas Blast." They discuss dated references, questionable creative choices, and whether any of these episodes deserve a second watch.

Mike and Neil review five episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Robotnik's Rival, The Magic Hassle, Sonic the Matchmaker, Tails Prevails, and Zoobotnik. They discuss inconsistent plotting, poorly executed premises, the disconnect between episode titles and actual content, and the show's reliance on PSA segments. Neil expresses frustration with the series' quality as they approach the final episodes.

Neil and Mike continue their journey through Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with five more episodes: Babysitter Jitters, Honey I Shrunk the Hedgehog, Robotnik Land, The Mobius 5000, and The Little Merhog. The hosts struggle through increasingly repetitive plots, from yet another babysitting story to undersea adventures, while finding brief moments of relief when the show incorporates actual Sonic game elements.

The hosts review the Chaos Emerald story arc from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, covering four episodes: "Sonic is the Sheriff," "Black Bot the Pirate," "Hedgehog of the Hound Table," and "Prehistoric Sonic." They also discuss two standalone episodes that precede the arc: "Robo Olympics" and "Magnificent Sonic." The discussion covers time travel storytelling, animation quality improvements in the arc episodes, and the hosts' wish that this serialized story had been part of the series from the beginning.

Neil and Mike review five episodes from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Attack on the Pinball Fortress, Mass Transit Trouble, Coachnik, Untouchable Sonic, and Super Robotnik. They discuss Robotnik's various schemes, the recurring butt jokes, animation quality improvements in the Super Robotnik episode, and the controversy surrounding Mass Transit Trouble's removal from circulation after 9/11.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil review five episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Robotnik's Rival, The Magic Hassle, Sonic the Matchmaker, Tails Prevails, and Zoobotnik. They discuss competing plots, returning characters, and what makes each episode work or fall short, with particular enthusiasm for the absurdist humor in Zoobotnik.

Neil and Mike review five consecutive episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Machopper (a recurring memory-loss joke), Momma Robotnik Returns (adoption court drama that hits close to home for Neil), Spaceman Sonic (stranded at a space station with a sneezing alien), Mad Mike the Bear Warrior (an ice sculpture scheme), and The Last Resort (Robotnik's fake retirement trap). By the end, both hosts are visibly fatigued with the series quality and ready for it to improve.

Neil and Mike review five more episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Submerged Sonic, Boogie Mania, Musta Been a Beautiful Baby, Robotnik Jr., and Full Tilt Tails. They discuss animation styles, recurring plot tropes, and what makes Robotnik Jr. stand out as one of the series' best episodes so far.

The hosts review five episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, discussing recycled plotlines and voiced character performances. Grounder the Genius stands out as the highlight, with Gary Chalk shifting to a dry, posh delivery when Grounder gains intelligence. Tails in Charge lets the sidekick shine with problem-solving, while Sonic Gets Thrashed and Sno Problem tread familiar ground with villain schemes. The crew compares the series' reliance on well-worn cartoon tropes to other franchises like Transformers and notes how the show's humor comes from characters outsmarting the dim-witted robots rather than animation gags.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil continue their run through Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with five episodes: Tails' New Home, Over the Hill Hero, Blank Headed Eagle, Mystery of the Missing High Tops, and So Long Sucker. They discuss the series' continuity, heavy-handed PSAs, humor, and a noticeable decline in episode quality as the podcast progresses.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil review five episodes from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic's Song (about Robotnik outlawing music), Birth of a Salesman (featuring a conniving gadget salesman named Wes Weasley), Best Hedgehog (revealing Robotnik's backstory and a chaotic wedding), Robotnik Express (a train-based adventure with mistaken identity), and Too Tall Tales (Tails accidentally enlarged by a growth machine). The hosts discuss recurring themes, animation quality, and compare the series to other Sonic cartoons and classic Looney Tunes.

The hosts review five episodes from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic Breakout (a jailbreak episode featuring a cartoonist character), Trail of the Missing Tails (introducing Dr. Warpnik), Close Encounters of the Sonic Kind (an alien prince story), Mama Robotnik's Birthday (featuring Robotnik's obnoxious mother), and Big Daddy (a gorilla-focused episode). Discussion includes comparisons to other cartoons, animation quality, and the show's episodic structure.