The animation is solid (even great at times,) it's got a decent art style, and I really dig the concept of a less dressed up wizardry world that can actually be revolting at times, but the writing just isn't there.
It's stuck between this horrible in-between of being completely sweet/sincere and also trying be clever with writing that comes no where near the level of wit that a show like Gravity Falls had. There's no solid enough narrative hook that pulls you through the whole series other than the basic notion that Luz wants to learn more magic and that Eda is cursed/being chased. Conflicts are solved too easily, nothing really really feels at stake, and characters are all way too quick to admit/explain their wrongs and forgive each other.
I should have figured something was up when the first episode felt like a two parter condensed into an 11 min episode. Some more screen time between Luz and her mother might have really benefited the story and Luz's character, or enforce the fact that Luz doesn't fit in with her human peers without spelling it out.
After dragging myself through 17 episodes I can't say I'm really willing to go on with it. I hope Amphibia is better.
For some reason, women writers seem to think that relationship drama should take the spotlight in a story that takes place in fantastical worlds. Star Vs, Steven Universe, Owl House. I can guarantee you when Sabrina Cotugno gets her own show, she'll do the same.
Summer Camp Island seems to be the exception where Julia Pott actually took out the love drama from the pilot to focus entirely on fun adventures in a whimsical world.
Andrew Wright
I don't mind character drama with a fantasy world backdrop but the writing isn't good enough to establish anything solid enough for me to care about. Almost all the characters get along with everyone else and there's no real antagonist that moves the plot forward towards something.
Brody Hernandez
it gets worse, user. amphibia is much better.
Hudson Moore
relationship drama is fine, the problem is these people have no idea how they work, and the networks are of course allergic to actual relationships since, in this insane day and age, any relationship means instant sex. sadly SCI went the same libtard route as other cartoons so it's kinda ruined, but it was very sweet for a while.
Ryan Lewis
Owl House I feel has no cohesion, like if lesbians were clumsily grafted on Harry Potter
Out of all the modern cartoons out there, I‘ve only watched amphibia, glitch techs, and owl house. Owl house is the worst one by far basically for the reasons you already mentioned. Glitch techs and Amphibia are on par imo and pretty good. Maybe GT a lil higher since the animation is great.
Honestly makes me sad that owl house seems to get more attention than both of these shows.
Thomas Hill
Netflix She-Ra too, despite She-Ra being an action toyline. Noelle even admitted that she doesn't really like writing action
And this is coming from a femanon. I watch Glitch Techs instead
Kevin Hughes
Oh yeah also forgot to mentioned hilda. That show is pretty good too.
William Reyes
>I hope Amphibia is better. Oh it is, just take it slowly as the first season prioritizes character development over lore.
Jonathan Young
It's being ruined by dyke shipping
Zachary Miller
Amphibia is pretty fun, S1 could really have used some flashback episodes, and you'll know what I mean by the time you finish the season.
Alexander Perez
That's hardly the show's worst problem. Hell it's even keeping it relevant at the moment.
Sebastian Collins
this
Luis Morales
How bad does SCI get? I've been thinking about watching.
Chase Fisher
This just seems like a general thing for cartoons now, even those run by male showrunners. Worst part is that I’ve never heard of it really succeeding.
Jeremiah Jones
Well I just got done watching the first episode of Amphibia and I already like it way better. Hoping the rest forward is just as good.
Dominic Stewart
It's definitely not true, Amphibia is lead by a man and is all adventure. Gravity Falls was all adventure.
Ryan Torres
Not so much. Kipo is adventure and action driven. Adventure Time was (obviously) adventure driven until Sugar started putting in her input which jumpstarted the whole relationship aspect as being a big development focus. Primal is action driven. Victor & Valentino is action driven.
Again, this is in regards to shows that take place in whimsy or fantastical worlds where you have a lot to explore, not so much stuff like "everyday sitcom" or "slice of life" cartoons like Regular Show (I know wacky stuff happens in that show, but it's not really a fantasy world, it's an exaggerated world with no real lore behind the crazy) or Bojack Horseman. The big spotlight on relationship development in those shows make sense.
But for something like Steven Universe, if I had to choose between exploring Homeworld or exploring the relationship between Connie and Steven, guess which I would choose.
John Wood
I'd say it's a result of a misprioritisation in terms of A. rushing Amity's development and B. focusing way too much on the high school setting and high school characters at the expense of Eda, the most interesting character (despite or perhaps because of her being a flat out ripoff of Stan from Gravity Falls)
Thats what you get when you hire deviantart-divas and similar kind of nerd fandom girls as your writers. They primarily talk about ships and not much else and that the only thing you're going to get in shows they get to write themselves.
Sebastian Jenkins
just stick to Amphibia, it has great visuals, storytelling, animation, characters, mystery and worldbuilding, but it takes a while for the plot to kick in but overall its amazing
Sebastian Torres
Yeah, so far amphibia is still the better show. Just wait for both to end for a more significant judgement but I doubt that it'll change.
Ian Mitchell
This. There's nothing more cringe to me than actively acknowledging "fandom" culture within your show, and the Owl House does it almost every week. It isn't clever, it's hack. It also says more about the kind of people they have working on this show than I ever could.
Leo Murphy
Relationship drama managed to not overshadow the actual real plot in Trollhunters, at least...
Juan Morales
So no one here has anything interesting to say right
Jack Kelly
Yah I can agree with you on that.
Jayden Howard
or stupid internet jokes like the guy with the fedora being one of the things she most fears
