Animated series with a whole lot of "spirit". ;D

phelanvelvel

I loved this show as a kid, and as an adult, it's possible I love it even more. The Beetlejuice/Lydia relationship is cute and sweet indeed, but what takes it over the top is the fact that one half of the duo is a supernatural entity with magic powers and the other is a human girl with a fondness for the macabre. Their adventures together, both in our world and in the Neitherworld, are imaginative and will make you wonder what you would do if you could summon a ghost at your whim.

The second version of the series' intro, beginning with episode 30, is quite possibly the best animated intro I've ever seen. The animation therein is darker than it is in the cartoon itself, and that is where you get a real nod to Beetlejuice's film counterpart. The intro begins with a beetle crawling inside the nose of a surreal-looking Beetlejuice face (eyes closed), while Lydia chants his name. On the second mention, Beetlejuice opens his eyes; on the third, we're shown a grave site. Lightning strikes the ground and the titular character bursts from the soil and shouts "It's show- time." It's really quite striking, and I wish they could develop a series today in that darker style.

My favourite episodes are the ones that involve a lot of interaction between BJ and Lydia, particularly the ones where they travel between the two worlds multiple times. The duality of life and death, with sweet child and wicked ghost not only co-existing but enjoying one another, is what sets this show alight. Of course it does have a great deal of silly, corny humour and sight gags, as other reviewers have mentioned, but it's done in a very campy way that I find charming. You grow to love it because it's Beetlejuice's personality.

Some ask the question of how BJ and Lydia could possibly be friends after the events of the film. My question is rather whose idea it was to make them friends in the cartoon, because it really ended up working out. Stephen Ouimette (BJ) stated in an interview that when recording dialogue, he and Alyson Court (Lydia) would perform the dialogue "first and together". This is apparent--their interaction is genuine and it's easy to imagine them really having those conversations, rather than reading lines to themselves.

All in all, great show. If you're an adult, it will likely take your mind off of the mundane for a bit. If you're a child, you may be tempted to try Lydia's chant for yourself.

score 10/10

phelanvelvel 6 November 2014

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3118687/