Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Movie Review

Why the Chicken Never Made It Across the Road

Reviewed by Michael Reuben April 12, 2012

How to describe Robot Chicken to those who don't already know Adult Swim's stop-motion animation sketch funhouse? Like many originals, it walks the fine line between clever and stupid, lurching from one side to the other. Its creators' knowledge of popular culture is vast and sophisticated, as is their juvenile proclivity for gross-out jokes based on mayhem, bodily functions or (preferably) both. But even though their work is designed for short attention spans, they know how to set up a joke. If Terry Gilliam were starting out today, he'd be working at Robot Chicken.

The show's first foray into Blu-ray came with the third of their Star Wars specials, which betrayed so much fanboy devotion in their satirical detail that they were blessed by the Master Jedi, George Lucas himself. My colleague Ken Brown thought the material was wearing thin by the third outing, but had no trouble concluding that "Robot Chicken belongs on Blu-ray". Season 5, which was the first to be formatted in 16:9 and broadcast on HDTV, confirms Ken's conclusion, though I suspect the previous seasons would benefit from Blu-ray treatment as well.

Robot Chicken is the joint creation of Seth Green (who's most famous for his portrayals of Dr. Evil's son in the Austin Powers films, the "real" Napster in The Italian Job and guitarist-turned-werewolf Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Matthew Senreich (who's most famous for . . . co-creating Robot Chicken). Various stories have circulated about the origin of the title. The one I believe was told by Green on a talk show shortly before the show's debut; it rings true, because it has the same element of randomness as the tales of the creation of the name "Monty Python's Flying Circus". Green said that he and Senreich made a list of a dozen or so silly-sounding titles, and "Robot Chicken" was what survived the Cartoon Network legal department's clearance process.

For those who don't already know, a Robot Chicken episode runs just over eleven minutes. Taking its cue from the name, the title sequence presents a mock "framing concept" that's a mash-up of Frankenstein, The Bionic Man and A Clockwork Orange. A random chicken is plucked from the road by a mad scientist, who modifies it to be half-chicken, half-machine, then straps it to a chair with its eyes forced open in front of a huge bank of TV monitors displaying everything. The show's sketches—all of them created with stop-motion animation and populated by characters voiced by Green, Senreich and an array of guest talent (see the "Voice Acting" featurette and the bolded names in the list of commentators below)—are supposed to be the synthesis of whatever the chicken sees, distilled from its addled brain by the scientist's devices for some nefarious purpose. (Residuals, perhaps?)

In the inventive 100th episode that concludes Season 5, the chicken finally escapes its prison and embarks on a rampage of vengeance, only to discover that you can't go home again. I'm sure there's a moral there somewhere, but the warning with which Mark Twain prefaced Huckleberry Finn almost certainly applies. (To anyone who can't remember, or never knew, what that warning was: You're on the internet. Look it up.)

Before we reach that point, though, we've been treated to nineteen episodes of inspired lunacy that only the demented minds behind Robot Chicken could conceive. An advantage of home video is that none of the language has to be bleeped or any of the images blurred. So, for example, in the parody of I Dream of Jeannie in episode 83, where Tony comes home from a bad day at NASA and, after a few drinks, commands Jeannie to magically harass his employer in childishly outrageous ways, the giant lollipop with male genitalia that assaults a rocket on the launching pad can be displayed in full detail.

A sampler of other notable moments: We get not one, but two parodies of Avatar. The first takes all those jokes about the Na'vi being Smurfs literally (episode 82); the second envisions Pandora as a non-stop orgy set to music (episode 83; "Blue Bunnies"). In episode 86, which was a Christmas episode, Santa Claus pays a visit to the Coca Cola Company's board of directors, who have been "naughty" by using his image to promote holiday sales for many years without paying him royalties; meanwhile, Kevin, the Home Alone kid, gets caught by his own booby traps. In episode 86, the Keebler Elves have to defend themselves against their most dangerous enemy: Cookie Monster. The entire Muppet crew shows up in episode 88, where we discover that they've been keeping a secret for all these years and that someone they thought was dead has returned seeking revenge. In the film Inglourious Reaterdz (episode 89), a unit of specially selected World War II commandos plot to kill Hitler by showing him the Cuba Gooding, Jr. film Radio. And in episode 93, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are tried, convicted and sentenced for murdering the Wicked Witch of the West, and sent to a prison that feels a lot like the one on HBO's OZ (and not just because the most brutal inmate is voiced by OZ veteran J.K. Simmons).

If you already know Robot Chicken, these descriptions are unnecessary. If you're a stranger to the series, either that much will grab you, or nothing will. A warning, though: Addiction comes in many forms besides speed, crack and internet porn. Once you develop a taste for this stuff, one day you may find yourself confessing your secret shame to friends and family, choking out the words between tearful sobs that, yes, you're a fan . . . of . . . Robot . . . Chicken!

Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Some viewers have urged that Blu-ray doesn't make sense for material like Robot Chicken. They're entitled to their opinion, but I put them in the same category with people who don't take comedies seriously enough to award them a Best Picture Oscar. Whatever one may think of Robot Chicken's humor, which, like a lot of comedy, routinely crosses the boundaries of good taste, the show's visual craftsmanship is meticulous, and it has improved with each season. When the Cartoon Network began showing it in HDTV with Season 5, I was impressed with the obvious care invested in each figure (most of them custom made), down to the details of miniature outfits and props. The image on Warner's 1080i, VC-1-encoded Blu-ray reveals even more. These are animated toys, and most of them are supposed to look fake and cheesy. But the animators have found exactly the right balance between the amount of realism needed to bring the animation to life and the degree of fakery necessary to keep it funny. Especially with the graphic violence and vile excretions that the writers insist on including in their sketches, that balance is essential—and the Blu-ray lets you see every stitch, brushstroke and carving.

Color delineation is excellent, from the pastel world inhabited by "Bitch Pudding" (a much beloved character) to the dark jungles where a new variation of the Predator is found to the familiar Muppet world where secret history is revealed. Indeed, over the twenty episodes, just about every possible color scheme gets a showcase, including black-and-white, and they all shine on Blu-ray. Black levels and shadow detail are excellent, and there's virtually no video noise or other interference. (As far as I can tell, the show is shot digitally.) Why would a fan want anything less than the best presentation possible?

Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track has a solid presence, but Robot Chicken isn't an audio showcase. The sketches switch too quickly for the audio mix ever to get an opportunity for anything but the most basic effects. Occasionally a vehicle or a gunshot will pan to the rear, but that's about it for discrete rear activity. However, the surrounds are frequently used to support the front speaker activity, and the result can be interesting. When chintzy effects like those used in the Yogi Bear/Power Rangers parody in Episode 100 are spread among all five channels, they become truly camp and much funnier.

Shawn Patterson was the composer for Season 5, and he continued the tradition of musical pastiche for which the show is known. The bass extension on a song like "Blue Rabbits" will let you know your sub is there, but it won't challenge it. Robot Chicken is famous for burying punchlines just before a "channel flip", and during broadcast they're often lost in the static. I found the dialogue clearer on this track. Depending on your taste, that may or may not be a good thing.

Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The video for all special features, like that for the twenty episodes, is 1080i.

The Robot Chicken crew are too pop culture savvy not to understand that purchasers of DVDs and Blu-rays expect bonus features galore, and they don't disappoint. They're even sensitive enough to user-friendliness to give a near-complete listing of the features on the back cover of the Blu-ray case. The only thing that wouldn't fit was the list of commentators for each episode. So allow me:

• Commentaries: Bolded names (first occurrence only) indicate notable acting or musical talent. Listening to the commentaries is like eavesdropping on a college dorm party that you wish you could join, because everyone is obviously having a blast. Within the cacophony of laughter and voices talking over each other, it's possible to make out a few stories, some of which may even be true. Note that the episode titles are a combination of two film titles.
  1. Saving Private Gigli: Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Shawn Patterson, Tom Root, Katee Sackhoff, Matthew Senreich, Ross Shuman, Michelle Trachtenberg
  2. Terms of Endaredevil: Abraham Benrubi, Savelen Forrest, Seth Green, Colin Hanks, Breckin Meyer, Tom Root, Matthew Senreich
  3. Big Trouble in Little Clerks 2: Doug Goldstein, Seth Green, Meredith Salenger, Matthew Senreich, Patrick Stump, Skeet Ulrich
  4. Kramer vs. Showgirls: Matt Beans, Seth Green, Rob Ronning, Matthew Senreich, Dave Sheridan, Alan Tudyk
  5. Malcolm X: Fully Loaded: Abraham Benrubi, Madison Dylan, Donald Faison, Mike Fasolo, Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Dan Milano, Matthew Senreich
  6. Robot Chicken's DP Christmas Special: Sasha Barrese, Macaulay Culkin, Mike Fasolo, Clare Grant, Seth Green, Matthew Senreich
  7. Major League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Marc Summers, Lea Thompson, Zeb Wells
  8. Schindler's Bucket List: Rove McManus, Seth Green, Katee Sackhoff, Matthew Senreich, Michelle Trachtenberg, Nakia Trower-Sherman, Victor Yerrid
  9. No Country For Old Dogs: Seth Green, Tom Kane, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich, Zeb Wells
  10. Catch Me if You Kangaroo Jack: Diablo Cody, Seth Green, Cam Leeburg, Breckin Meyer, Tom Root, Matthew Senreich, Zeb Wells
  11. Beastmaster and Commander: Kyle Arenson, Abraham Benrubi, Seth Green, Jamie Kaler, Jenna Malone, Breckin Meyer, Tom Root, Matthew Senreich
  12. Casablankman: Matt Beans, Rachel Leigh Cook, Seth Green, Dan Milano, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich
  13. The Departy Monster: Seth Green, Matt Mariska, Matthew Senreich, Harland Williams, Zeb Wells, Elijah Wood
  14. Some Like It Hitman: Nathan Fillion, Mila Kunis, Chris McKay, Tom Root, Seth Green, Matthew Senreich
  15. The Core, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover: Brian Austin Green, Seth Green, Tennessee Norton, Danny Pudi, Tom Root, Matthew Senreich
  16. Casablankman II: Jordan Allen-Dutton, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Affion Crockett, Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Erik Weiner, Mae Whitman
  17. The Curious Case of the Box: Jordan Allen-Dutton, Quinton Flynn, Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Laura Ortiz, Matthew Senreich, Quinton Flynn
  18. The Godfather of the Bride II: Allison Brie, Affion Crockett, Seth Green, Tom Root, Matthew Senreich
  19. Fool's Goldfinger: Jordan Allen-Dutton, Doug Goldstein, Seth Green, Jeri Ryan, Matthew Senreich, Patrick Stump, Erik Weiner
  20. Fight Club Paradise: Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Shawn Patterson, Tom Root, Katee Sackhoff, Matthew Seinreich, Ross Shuman, Michelle Trachtenberg


• Featurettes: Of the seven featurettes, some give genuine background on the show, some play like sketches, and some are more akin to home movies. You decide.
  • A Day in the Life of Robot Chicken ( 7:11)
  • Voice Acting ( 5:02)
  • The Jon Hamm Story ( 1:30)
  • Nathan Fillion: Conspiracy Theory ( 1:17)
  • Behind the Scenes: Blue Rabbits ( 2:14)
  • Behind the Scenes: Episode 100 ( 2:42)
  • Taco Libre ( 3:41)


• Chicken Nuggets: Four of the episodes (nos. 81, 83, 86 and 100) can be played with additional video commentary as an option. Press enter whenever the chicken icon appears on the screen. Although I'm normally not a fan of this sort of feature, it does fit with the fractured style of Robot Chicken. Still, the chicken icon appears so often that it would have made more sense to structure this feature as a picture-in-picture commentary that plays simultaneously with the episode.


• Promos (22:21): Many of Robot Chicken's promos are original standalone sketches, and every Season 5 spot seems to be here (including some I don't recall seeing). Also included are rarities like a Top Ten countdown of their favorite episodes that Green, Senreich and writer/producer Tom Root did for New Zealand's Comedy Central.


• Deleted Scenes (10:59): There are seven of these, and not all are from Season 5. Most are preceded by a short clip where someone from the Robot Chicken crew explains why the sketch wasn't used.


• Deleted Animatics (1:39:45): These are several dozen sketches that were abandoned in early production, before any figures were created for filming. Included at the end are the seventeen minutes of "Deleted Channel Flip Animatics", which are listed separately on the back cover of the Blu-ray case. These are the short sketches that end with a channel flip and are the Robot Chicken equivalent of a one-liner.


• Alternate Audio (6:46): A series of unused audio takes, set against stills from the scenes. Most of them should be called "outtakes", because the speakers can't stay in character. (Then again, "character" in Robot Chicken is a fluid concept.)


• Sing-a-Long ("Blue Rabbits") (1:24): The complete Avatar parody with lyrics on-screen, which appears in a slightly shorter version in episode 83, "Big Trouble in Little Clerks 2". I can't now remember whether it was bleeped when broadcast or had alternate audio, because, for reasons that will be immediately obvious, the version here and in the episode couldn't be shown on broadcast TV.

Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the words of the song that concludes the 100th episode and plays over the menu (transcribed as best I can, because the subtitles aren't complete):

What a journey we've been through so far,
Because of you we had to raise the bar.
Maturing toys and violence,
Molesting your brain and then buying your silence,
And you were there and nothing was taboo.
We love you!
Nerds on unicorns, dirty filthy puppet porn.
We love you!
Robotic sexual assault, it's not the washing machine's fault.
Five whole seasons of nothing but pleasing
When I called out for reason, you gave my life some reason
Thank you!

There's nothing like Robot Chicken. Highly recommended for those who come prepared.