Why Animation Throwdown (Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad, et al.) is a complete mess

By , on September 19, 2016
Last modified 7 years, 6 months ago

If you didn't already know, Animation Throwdown is a weird mash up of a plethora of adult cartoons (not those ones, you dirty bugger).

It smashes together Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad, King of the Hill, and Bob's Burgers (I've never heard of that last one either), and turns the resulting dog's dinner into a card battler.

I know, it's bizarre.

In the 'worst crossovers ever' debate, this is up there with Batman v Superman (dreadful), Simpsons x Family Guy (can you tell I don't like Family Guy?), and LEGO Minecraft (they're both the same bloody thing!).

Let me explain just why I think Animation Throwdown is such a mess. (Content warning: contains hot takes. [Not hot cakes. Though that would be great right about now.])

King of the Hill

Who the hell cares about King of the Hill and Bob's Burgers?

I've never heard of the latter, and King of the Hill is as relevant now as it was 10 years ago, ie. it's not.

The only time I want King of the Hill to be mentioned is when I'm playing 007: Nightfire multiplayer.

American Dad

American Dad is just a rubbish Family Guy

I like Seth MacFarlane. There, I said it. He seems nice, and he writes a lot (which I can respect), and does silly voices.

But the shine is kind of taken off it when the voices are the same in both his shows, especially when one just appears to be a significantly worse version of the other, with none of the charm or endearing characters.

Family Guy

Family Guy is just a rubbish The Simpsons...

I like Family Guy. There, I said it. It's kinda funny, in a 'it's half midnight and I can't be bothered to get off the sofa and go to bed so I'll just sit here and rot while watching BBC Three' sort of way.

But the shine is kind of taken off it when it's exactly the same as The Simpsons, a show that predates its paler, less funny cousin by a decade.

The Simpsons is a classic. One of the greatest cartoons of all time - a show everyone can enjoy, with some genius jokes that simultaneously hit different notes for adults and children.

Family Guy is a follower. A replicant. A copycat. An imitator. A white (yellow) family with an idiot dad, competent but sidelined mother, nerdy daughter, teen son, weird baby, and dog? Where have we seen this before? (*Thinking Face Emoji*).

The Simpsons

... as is Futurama

I have a little more time for Futurama than I do for Family Guy. At least Futurama doesn't fall ill to the same cliched characters, and the setting is a little more different.

But you don't get cancelled twice if you're a show worth keeping. Unless you're Arrested Development, that is.

Futurama

Together, these mismatched, ill-conceived, B list imitations make an average at best combination in Animation Throwdown.

Probably. I haven't played it. ;)