Review: Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Palo Sinoplia
“My Name Is..”
For the past two decades, Schooly D’s opening salvo has served as the calling card for what is arguably Adult Swim’s flagship series, Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It is hard to believe that we have been entertained by (or, alternatively, subjected to) the misadventures of three fast food items and one schlub from Jersey for so long. The Complete Baffler Meal is a testament to Aqua Teen’s incredible and somewhat, well, baffling, longevity. While the term “complete” is a slight misnomer—more on that below—there is more than enough content here to satiate fans (and/or cause a serious case of indigestion).
The Complete Baffler Meal takes viewers on a 20-disc journey with Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad, and Carl as they ‘battle’ a range of alien threats and homegrown annoyances. The set comprises of the show’s 11-season run on Adult Swim as well as the team’s first feature, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters. Like The Simpsons, Aqua Teen’s plot is dependent upon a lack of continuity. While there are occasional references to past episodes, each 11-minute show effectively hits the reset button. Characters die (repeatedly) only to return without explanation. The Aqua Teen household is destroyed more times than this viewer can recall. What makes this all work, though, is the show’s commitment to surrealist and absurdist aesthetics. There is not even the slightest effort to represent “reality” here, and that suits the show just fine.
There’s no denying that this is a funny show, particularly during its first four seasons. One has to admire the creators’ commitment to the ridiculous, and early episodes feature moments of jaw-dropping hilarity. After the feature film’s 2007 release, there is less milk in the shake; episode quality becomes more sporadic, and it’s clear that the show’s creators are sometimes grasping for ways in which to break the show’s singular mold. (For a chunk of season five, the main characters are absent from the show.) Nevertheless, fans will find content worth their while all the way to the end of the set, though subsequent seasons may require greater patience.
I will turn my attention to the details of this release, which, unfortunately, are a little questionable. Let’s get the biggest complaint out of the way: this is a DVD-only box set. For a seat that retails over $100, the lack of a blu-ray option is more than a little irksome. The series would absolutely benefit from a visual and audio upgrade, and, unfortunately, these discs are simply reissues of the previously released DVD seasons sets. (Seasons 9, 10, and 11 have not previously been released on physical media; that is the only new content for longtime fans.)
Let’s also address the term “complete,” as there are a few notable omissions. An episode from Season 6, “Shake Like Me,” has been deleted from the previous DVD release. The reasons why are fairly obvious, and, indeed, understandable, as the episode features a number of century-old cartoon stereotypes regarding African American men. While I can understand Warner Bros’ desire to eschew this episode, the decision belies the notion of a complete box set.
The never-released episode, “Boston,” is absent (once again) here, demonstrating yet another missed opportunity. Also missing are the “Aquadonk Side Pieces” (a series of 10 shorts available on Adult Swim’s YouTube Channel) and the second feature film, Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Plantasm. That film is available separately on—of all formats—UHD, which renders this DVD-only set even more frustrating.
While the series boasts a wealth of bonus of terrifically funny bonus content (see specs below), all of it is recycled material. There are no newly-produced extras for the previously unreleased seasons; seasons 9, 10, and 11 are purely barebones.
It’s surprising that WB has not taken the opportunity to at least include some promotional material for Plantasm, as, in truth, this set feels a bit like a somewhat lazy effort to profit off the release of the new film. For diehards, though, the inclusion of those last three seasons may be incentive enough for a purchase.
It took this review two months to work through this set. I laughed, I cried, and I sometimes begged for it to stop. For fans of the show who do not own the earlier sets, a purchase is probably a no-brainer. Oldschoolers may want to reconsider taking another dip into Carl’s sketchy swimming pool.
Disc 1:
Season 1, Episodes 1-7
Extras:
Commentary Tracks for “Rabbot: The Original Cut,” “Mayhem of the Mooninites,” and “Space Conflict from Beyond Pluto”
Rabbot: The Original Cut (15 minutes)
San Diego Comic Con International 2002 (4 minutes)
Disc 2:
Season 1, Episodes 8-16
Extras:
2 deleted scenes (Easter Eggs)
Disc 3:
Season 1, Episodes 17-18; Season 2, Episodes 1-6
Extras:
3 extended scenes (Easter Egg)
Disc 4:
Season 2, Episodes 7-11
Extras:
Commentary Tracks for “Super Trivia,” “The Meat Zone,” “Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future,” and “Baffler Meal”
“Baffler Meal” (A Space Ghost Coast to Coast episode featuring “prototypes” of the Aqua Teens, 12 minutes)
“Baffler Meal” Music Video (3 minutes)
“Future Wolf II: Never Cry Wolf: Origin of the Series” (a 7-minute mockumentary)
“Future Wolf III” (19 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage)
Deleted Scenes (3 minutes)
Disc 5:
Season 2, Episodes 12-20
There are no extras on this disc.
Disc 6:
Season 2, Episodes 21-24
Extras:
Commentary Tracks for “The Last One”; “The Clowning”; “Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary”;
“The Shaving”
“The Last One,” Script Reading (14 minutes)
“Frat Aliens,” Script Reading (12 minutes)
“The Dressing,” Script Reading (14 minutes)
“Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary,” Script Reading (13 minutes)
Promos: 11 TV Spots (30 seconds each)
“Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary Karaoke”: 1) Atlanta, 2) New York, Now you Try! (3 minutes, 30 seconds each)
“On Loan from the Private Collection of Visha Roney” (Sketch Gallery, 7 minutes, 30 seconds)
“How to Score Big Making Money Writing for Television” (Behind the Scenes, 36 minutes)
“Put This on Your Phone for Instant Popularity” (9 voicemail messages, approximately 15 seconds each)
Deleted Scenes: “Broodwich”; “Dr. Weird Ice Cream Social”; “Dr. Weird Clowning Ending” (4 minutes)
Disc 7:
Season 3, Episodes 1-7
If you hit “Play All,” on this disc, you’ll get a 7-way split screen that plays all of the episodes simultaneously.
Extras:
Commentary Tracks for “Video Ouija”; “An Unremarkable Voyage”; “Gee Whiz”; “edork”; “Little Brittle”
Disc 8:
Season 3, Episodes 8-13
Extras:
Commentary Tracks for “Mooninites 4: The Final Mooning”; “Dusty Gozongas”; “Hypno-Germ”; “Carl/Spacegate World”
“Funny Pete Stuff” (TV spots, 6 minutes 30 seconds)
“San Diego Must Be Destroyed 2004” (San Diego Convention Promo, 3 minutes)
“Spacecataz” (Animated short, 10 minutes)
“Raydon” (Live-action short, 11 minutes, 30 seconds)
“F-art” (Fan art gallery, 12 minutes)
“The Faces in Front of the Throats That Make the Voices That Speak into the Microphone” (behind the scenes footage, 21 minutes)
“Send Us Money for This” (Aqua Teen Movie Promo, 40 seconds)
Easter Eggs: Live Music from the Aqua Teen creators (7 minutes); More Live Music (4 minutes); “Raydon” Outtakes (6 minutes)
Disc 9:
Season 4, Episodes 1-9
Extras:
“Dickesode,” Uncensored Version
Disc 10:
Season 4, Episodes 10-13
Extras:
“Favorite Episodes Promos” (9 minutes, 30 seconds)
“Aqua Teens Respond to the Critics” (5 minutes)
“I Like Your Booty but I’m Not Gay Music Video” (2 minutes)
“ATHF Movie Premiere with Space Ghost” (red carpet interviews, 30 minutes)
Deleted Scenes (4 minutes)
“Learn to Shred like the Master” (extended scene, 1 minute, 30 seconds)
“Tera Patrick Eats a Hot Dog” (behind the scenes footage, 1 minute)
“Granny Takes Her Top Off” (behind the scenes footage, 3 minutes)
“Space Ghost Coast to Coast, ‘Chambraigne’” (Space Ghost episode featuring a pair of big-brained antagonists who cross over into the Aqua Teen universe, 12 minutes)
“Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am Trailer” (ad for PS2 video game, 1 minute)
“The Worst Game Ever” (A playable side-scrolling video game that takes about 45 minutes to complete. Lives up to its name.)
Disc 11:
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters
Extras:
Commentary track featuring Dana Snyder, Fred Armisen, Todd Hanson, and Patti Smith (yes, that Patti Smith, despite a complete lack of involvement with the film)
Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes, 30 seconds)
Alternative Trailer (1 minute, 30 seconds)
Sizzle Reel (4 minutes)
The Thing We Shot Wednesday Night (behind the scenes footage, 26 minutes)
“Art and Music Gallery” (slideshow, 16 minutes, 30 seconds)
“John Schnepp 3D” (CGI animated short, 3 minutes)
Disc 12:
Aqua Teen Movie Bonus Disc
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters: Deleted Movie (a feature-length rough cut of the 1st Aqua Teen film, featuring a number of deleted scenes, 1 hour, 20 minutes)
Extras:
Fake Endings (a collection of 10 “endings,” 6 minutes, 30 seconds)
Deleted Scenes (a collection of 8 segments, including an extended episode of the TV series, 34 minutes)
Music Videos (a collection of animated videos, live performances, and clips from recording sessions, 27 minutes, 45 seconds)
Pete Promos: “Dana Man-On-The Street Promos” (2 minutes); “Overhead Projector Presentation Promos” (2 minutes); “Dana Snyder/Bob Odenkirk Interview” (4 minutes, 30 seconds)
Disc 13:
Season 5, Episodes 2-10 (Episode 5.1, “Boston,” remains unaired and unreleased).
Extras:
Commentary tracks for “Hoppy Bunny”; “Reedickyoulus”; “The Marines”
Disc 14:
Season 6, Episodes 1, 3-4 (Episode 6.2, “Shake Like Me,” is not included in this collection.)
Extras:
“I’m Pissed” (A collection of Carl’s rants about sports teams, 34 minutes)
“More Funny Pete Stuff” (TV Promos, 3 minutes)
“Terror Phone” (live action short, 14 minutes)
“ATHF Zombie Ninja Pro-Am Minus the Explosions” (a collection of cutscenes from the PS2 videogame, 25 minutes)
“Radical Axis Presents Radical Axis Presents” (a behind the scenes mockumentary, 4 minutes)
Disc 15:
Season 6, Episodes 5-10; Season 7, Episodes 1-5
Extras:
“Live Action Behind the Scenes: The Making of 12 Minutes of Television that Changed Television for 12 Minutes” (18 minutes, 30 seconds)
“Rubberman Behind the Scenes: Your Mom and Uncle Sing about Condoms” (3 minutes, 30 seconds)
“Dumb Down Your Smart Phone” (a collection of fifteen ringtones voiced by Carl and Meatwad)
“Terror Phone II: The Legend of Rakenstein” (live action short, 15 minutes, 30 seconds)
“Live Action Carl: The Dave Long Story: Shave Your Head, Grow a Mustache and Gain 80lbs for a Shot at Fame” (a compilation reel of would-be Carl impersonators, 11 minutes)
Disc 16:
Season 8, Episodes 1- 10 (Note: Discs 16 and 17 reverse the episode order of Seasons 7 and 8, but, well, it doesn’t really matter. At all.)
Season 8 changes the show’s title to Aqua Unit Patrol Squad. There are no extras on this disc.
Disc 17:
Season 7, Episodes 6-12
Extras:
“Terror Phone III” (live action short, 14 minutes, 30 seconds)
Disc 18:
Season 9, Episodes 1-10
Season 9 changes the show’s title to Aqua Something You Know Whatever. There are no extras on this disc.
Disc 19:
Season 10, Episodes 1-10
Season 10 changes the show’s title to Aqua TV Show Show. There are no extras on this disc.
Disc 20:
Season 11, Episodes 1-10
Season 11 changes the show’s title to Aqua Teen Hunger Force Forever. There are no extras on this disc.
Aqua Teen Episodes + Film Duration: 27 hours
Aqua Teen Extras Duration: 18 hours
Total Approximate Running Time: 45 hours