A Nickelodeon 2-in-1 Review Deal! Catscratch & The X’s
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2023
- Running for a single season from 2005-2007, Doug TenNapel’s undergroundest of underground productions has finally crossed EmployeeAMillion’s path. Catscratch is about a trio of rich cats doing whatever they wanted, but could Nickelodeon let Doug and his team do whatever they wanted?
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The X’s is an often overlooked NickToon created by Carlos Ramos and broadcast from 2005-2006. While visually stunning and full of potential to be a family-wide classic, can The X’s survive this video’s critical scrutiny?
Probably. Here’s most of the show on director David Marshall’s Vimeo account. Even if I’m not crazy over it, I want it to be better known.
vimeo.com/user18319683
Uncredited music in this video includes the show’s intro/credits instrumentals, and Click Clock Wood Lobby from Banjo Kazooie for the intro.
Catscratch: 0:38
The X’s: 11:29 - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I'm especially fond of The X's art style. It has that colorful no outline style like Samurai Jack.
Catscratch deserved at least three seasons.
Cat scratch reminds me of the dynamic between the first TMNT show and the comic that started it all.
Remind me to give it a watch.
It's funny how, despite the ladder two shows being treated as "post-Avatar" Nicktoons (even if they aired the same year), the 2005 Nicktoons surprisingly have a lot in common with each other than one would think. First of all, this is like the first year where all of the shows produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio weren't co-produced by another studio. No seriously, not even the original Avatar was co-produced by another studio. Second (while these three shows were all pre-Cyma Zarghami shows), they were the first shows to premiere after SpongeBob was artificially extended. With the previous 2000s shows, they at least aired when everyone though SpongeBob would eventually end, but these three shows all premiered not only when the fourth season of SpongeBob was announced, but also after the first SpongeBob Movie premiered (which at that point, Nickelodeon decided to keep SpongeBob going, despite Stephen Hillenburg's wishes, and was basically the point where SpongeBob became the company's official corporate mascot). Not to mention, this was also the first line-up of shows where Rugrats wasn't really a priority for the network anymore (as this is the only set of Herb Scannell Nicktoons to premiere while the original Rugrats wasn't airing new episodes), making them more like precursors to the next generation of Nicktoons, instead of true second generation Nicktoons that aired at a time where Rugrats was a cash cow for the network. Finally, while the season number varies, they all got around 20 episodes for their respective seasons; this is like the only era of Herb Scannell's Nicktoons where all of the shows got around 20 episodes for their individual seasons. Most of the H.S. tenure Nicktoons did adapt an "around 20-episode" format for a season, but there were some shows that had exceptions for their individual seasons, like ChalkZone and All Grown Up. Not to mention, all 2005 Nicktoons ended their run on the network; contrast that to the 2000-2004 lineup (unless if you count Action League Now, to which I don't), where it's a perfect split in which some shows ended on Nickelodeon while others ended on Nicktoons Network. All the 2005 shows proved was that not every show (before 2006), who was a victim of another popular show's success, would be moved to Nicktoons Network. Contrast that to most post 2006 Nicktoons that aired on Nickelodeon, where pretty much majority of them eventually moved to Nicktoons Network, with some exceptions, making it apparent that it would become the standard for newer shows if they didn't get SpongeBob ratings. Also, its fucking ironic how every show this year is easily compared to somethong in the past: X's - Incredibles, Catscratch - Aristocrat, Avatar - Xailon Showdown. Thats more of a problem with 2005 as a whole ( the major studios, for some reason, all produced shows thay were similar to stuff from the past), but I do find it kinda funny, considering Avatars reputation and all.
Only main differences between these three would be that Avatar premiered before Season 4 of SpongeBob (possibly giving it an advantage of some sort), and it somehow got two extra seasons while the other 2005 Nicktoons didn't. Also not helping the fact that Avatar really was a standout show for Nickelodeon, while X's and Catscratch were just typical Nicktoons really, so airing those two later in 2005 didn't really help things out in hindsight.
Cartoon Network went a similar route in the mid 2010s, Where We Bare Bears was the network's last successful cartoon (Akin to Avatar, which both series got spinoffs 7 years after their premiere). Most of their shows afterwards lasts about 1-3 years before ending (With Craig of the Creek being a rare exception.) Compare that to hits like Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Uncle Grandpa, Steven Universe, Clarence, and We Bare Bears that lasted between 4 to 8 years. Even Teen Titans Go!, a heavily despised show, manages to last a over a decade, and it's around the time it reached over 100 episodes that CN started caring less about their cartoons, with the network treating it as special as SpongeBob. We Bare Bears probably managed to escape this because it premiered shortly before TTG premiered it's 3rd season. Wonder if you can connect the dots yourself and how it's similar.
@@happaxgamma Very similar.
always though they were the last Scanell era shows. I guess they were also the last shows i remember premiering before i turned 13 in late 2006. 2006 had no new toons so by the time El Tigre i was watching Disney Channel shows, for the plot of course. But to be honest, i still think even Mighty B fits right in with Spongebob and Angry Beavers, which makes sense since it had a lot of Spongebob writers and a similar art style to most 90s/2000s Nick shows.
Furr Scanell Kills Mr Blik Gordon Quid and Waffle Cat!!!
Furr Scanell Kills Monster Andean Mountain Cat!!!
When I saw Zombie Party a Go-Go, I thought one of the zombies was Cramdilly.
That black cat in Catscratch sounds like Al the toy collector from Toy story 2 and Tantor from Tazan and Mr X sounds like kronk from emperors new grove and Joe form Family guy.
Like Clone High,Catscratch deserves a"possible"season 2 someday.✨
Agreed. But that seems pretty unlikely due to its creator (Doug TenNapel) being a homophobic guy.
@@brycefourn2001 What he say?
@@brycefourn2001 What did he said?
1:53 "da scene"
@@SparklingWithNiGHTS-yv5fe You but what did he did
It's Ed edd and Eddy, but with cats.
Not even close of what you just said.
@@durece100come on the led are just Ed Edd and Eddy.
Catscratch is a animal version of Ed Edd and Eddy and The X’s is a bit like The power puff girls. Both shows power puff girls and The xs is about action butt kicking.
I'd say it's more like Codename kids Next Door or Kim Possible
Literally the three stoges of Nickelodeon.🐱
The replacements came out in 2006 when the xs got canceled.
The Replacemebys came out July 2006 The X’s ended in November so they were around at the same time temporarily.
I never knew people considered Avatar to be the ending point for classic nicktoons, but I guess I can see how that makes sense. I’d say it probably has less to do with avatar though and more to do with the success of the SpongeBob movie and Nickelodeon going full steam ahead on making that their corporate cash cow.
Anyways, I remember both of these shows airing and have similar opinions. I always liked Catscratch when it was on, especially the art style and vibe of the show, but I also never felt like seeking it out if that makes sense. I’d pretty much only watch it if nothing else was on, but I only have positive memories of it.
The X’s I always disliked. Looking back at it now I think it’s the art style, it’s just really over-stylized and it feels like it has no room to breathe, like everything is fighting for your attention. I remember watching the premier and just thinking it was okay, I don’t think I watched it again after that but Nickelodeon didn’t exactly give it much screen time anyways during its short existence. I kind of just forgot it existed after it premiered.
Anyways great video as always! Looking forward to the Tuff Puppy review, I remember that one being really annoying lol
It's ironic, since Avatar was the first Nicktoon to premiere after the first Spongebob Movie and before the fourth season was announced. In some ways, it was lucky.
17:00 I've always thought it was an afro too, I still dig the design.
Ah yes, the show where an adult cat has a crush on a small child 😬
I recognize the outro theme from some old Avatar commercials but didn't know there was an instrumental, could you please link it?
Can you review The Mighty B! at sometime?
I wonder if Nickelodeon did not know what snafu meant not something kid appropriate can tell you that
after you review tuff puppy can you do a retrospective on mad the Cartoon Network show that nobody talks about
The two most underrated Nicktoons of all time.
waffle is the best boi. and happy rainbow capitalist mouth❤🧡💛💚💙💜💸
you know to say im happy that catstrach got cancelled i worry it could of turned into spongebob if it went for too long so whats the lesser of two evils
To me, it's like Invader Zim, where it does deserve more episodes, but at the same time, it feels complete the way it is now, so it's not a huge deal.
@@alexkumaratunga2834 do you think the xs could of benifited from an ongoing narritive because i think it could of and also wonder if shows should be cancelled after 1 season to me no first season is really super awesone because their still trying to figure things out and also what he said about xs villains not being that intresting i kind of have the same problem with american dragon jake long with the exception i never were that intresting at all drakken and shego the villains from the xs and americn dragon they are not
@@kelsey1467 The X's, in general, needed another season. I'm not sure if an ongoing narrative would make the show better (it depends on if the creator is on board with the idea and if the show can execute serialization well), but you can tell that the first season of the X's was a first season (even coming from a fan of this show). If Nickelodeon needs to bring an old show back, this should be one of them; not Avatar, Fairly OddParents or SpongeBob. Pretty much most 2000-2005 Nicktoons, except Fairly OddParents, All Grown Up, and Avatar needed more material in my opinion.
Yeah, I also don't remember the Jake Long villains being that memorable, although I did like the villains from the X's (even if I agree if they needed more screentime).
@@alexkumaratunga2834 do you think jimmy neutron should come back considering you think that needed more material a review of that show i watched said the biggest con was that its extremely fourmuliac and never strays form that pathe even once their right but at least the show ended before things got too horrible and i thought the ending was decent albeit a bit openended
@@kelsey1467 The original crew wanted this show to continue for another season so they could put the gang into middle school and write more plots about that. This fact, in addition to some things like the whole Jimmy x Cindy nonsense could've been resolved with said extra season.
Pug
Hello, great video!, but i remember from one of your other videos that you want to keep politics out of your videos, are you still keen on doing that, right?. Im just curious though. (sorry if my english is not my best, not my first language)
Yeah, I had to bring up Doug’s views super duper briefly so people in the comments wouldn’t be reminding me of it. I felt it was a big enough part of the creator to acknowledge, but didn’t want to pull a Quinton and derail the review for a minute. Sorry for not sticking to my word about keeping politics out of reviews, this is the most it’ll be present. And thanks for reminding me.
No problem.
@@EmployeeAMillion just wanted to jump in and say you were totally valid in bringing up the creator being bigoted for half a second, I wouldn’t say that’s political even lol. I’m glad I know that information now
@@EmployeeAMillion tuff puppy??
TUFF PUPPY??????
@@GregCubed Nadie te pregunto.
Personally, I don't really follow with the "post-Avatar" mindset most people have with Nickelodeon, since not only in a business sense, Avatar isn't the most important show in world, but Catscratch and X's are technically second generation Nicktoons, where, although yes, they lasted for a season, they premiered before 2006 (where the network got a new CEO in January of that year), so they really belong with the shows from the first half of the 2000s (the X's was the final Nicktoon that premiered under Herb Scannell time as the president of the company). I really don't like the air date order for some of these older Nicktoons. With the case of the 2005 Nicktoons, X's and Catscratch should've premiered first, then Avatar, in hindsight, since not only would it likely make more people aware of these two shows existence, but Avatar would've been a perfect cartoon to end on, in the perspective of a president of Nickelodeon.
Also, fun fact: the Avatar crew actually based one of their characters on the creators of Catscratch and The X's:
books.google.com/books?
id=dKbiDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=the+swampbenders+avatar+carlos+ramos&source=bl&ots=-4XAPW7COE&sig=ACfU3U0WBGUIAcHNc9fYCgsItDTYJGUwHw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiOw4GNnqP_AhVzElkFHVfbDEsQ6AF6BAgmEAM#v=onepage&q=the%20swampbenders%20avatar%20carlos%20ramos&f=false
first (am i funny now)
yes
@quoffee8614 thank you
Mr Blik is a Black Panther!?
Gordon Quid is a Bobcat!?
Waffle Cat is a Snow Leopard!?