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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Yngvarr (talk | contribs) at 23:27, 24 November 2008 (speculation on the species, even weasely like this, is WP:OR, since CHG has disavowed any particular species for anything). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Chowder is an American animated television series that debuted on Cartoon Network on November 2, 2007. The show was created by C. H. Greenblatt, a former storyboard artist on SpongeBob SquarePants and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. The title character is a young child named Chowder, an apprentice to a chef named Mung Daal, who owns a catering company serving the fictional Marzipan City. The show combines traditional animation with stop motion animation and puppetry.

Production

During his time working on SpongeBob SquarePants, Greenblatt had been sketching various characters for his own animation series concept. Greenblatt originally based the premise on the idea of the sorcerer's apprentice style of story, such as The Sword in the Stone. The plot devices were modified so that the story revolves around a master chef who teaches his young apprentice how to cook. Chowder himself was developed with no specific species in mind, but rather with the intentions of invoking the image of a child's soft squeeze toy. Some of the inspiration comes from Richard Scarry, with other inspiration from Saturday morning cartoons.

Shnitzel was created originally as a personal character design exercise in the late 1990s.

I was even going to try and animate him in Flash, so I did alternate pieces of him. Back then he was called "Tapiocaca." He was supposed to be sort of like a big rock tiki monster that was always on fire. I even made a cool logo for him. Well I didn't really do anything with him after that, but I still liked the design. So when I was forming the world of Chowder, he seemed like a good fit. I like to think of him as a living menhir from the Asterix comics.

— CH Greenblatt

Once Greenblatt pitched the concept to Cartoon Network, it was about two years before the series was approved for production with another year in production before the pilot episode aired. Greenblatt estimates he spent about seven years working on Chowder before the show made it to air.

Episodes are produced in seasons which consist of 20 half-hour episodes. Each episode is produced with a 30 second puppet sequence that is meant to run over the ending credits. Cartoon Network chooses not to air these credit sequences for first-run episodes, but starting on June 5, 2008, rerun episodes began airing the puppet segments. Episodes can be purchased from the iTunes store in the United States which are delivered with the sequences as are episodes which are available on Cartoon Network's VOD website also within the United States.

One of the unique design features of the show is the patterns used on the characters' clothing or skin. The patterns are developed as a full screen image and then sent to the production house where the characters are modified to fill the patterns in over the character clothing. Using this technique, when a character moves, their patterns do not follow, but display as a "static" background. A similar technique was used in several Japanese anime, such as Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.

DVD Release

The first Chowder DVD was released on November 4, 2008 containing the first five production episodes consisting of ten 15 minute stories.

Setting

Chowder is set in the fictional Marzipan City. For the architectural style of the city, examples from Moroccan and Indian architecture were referenced. The inhabitants of Marzipan City, including the show's primary cast, are composed of various strange non-human creatures, ranging from anthropomorphic animals to more abstract and surreal beings.

The show's humor features puns and meta-references, such as the characters and locations being named after various foods. Many food names are altered, like "grubble gum", "thrice cream", or "blutter". A typical example of meta-reference is found in the episode "Gazpacho Stands Up." Chowder, who is learning to write, accidentally [[fourth wall|scribbles on the televison screen. Gazpacho erases this, leaving the Cartoon Network screen bug untouched. When Chowder points this out, Gazpacho comments "That one doesn't come off. I've tried."

Characters

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• Chowder (voiced by Nicky Jones) - A small, eccentric child who serves as a chef's apprentice under Mung Daal. Chowder lives with Mung Daal and Mung's wife, Truffles, in a room at the top of the catering business. Chowder wants to become a great chef, but he is very impulsive, and often gives in to his urges. He is always hungry and eats anything, even a customer's order. Chowder can also regurgitate objects, and is used as a storage container by the other characters. According to Greenblatt, Chowder is a composite of a cat, a bear and a rabbit, and his species was verified in at least one episode.

• Mung Daal (voiced by Dwight Schultz) - The elderly chef who runs the catering company at which Chowder works. Whilst it is not known exactly how old he is, he has mentioned that he has cooked for at least 386 years, and he celebrated 450 years of marriage to Truffles (see below). He is a blue-colored humanoid of indeterminate species.
• Shnitzel (voiced by John DiMaggio) - A rock monster and professional chef who works at Mung Daal's Catering Company. His vocabulary consists almost entirely of "Radda", although he sometimes says other simple words. Shnitzel is the "straight man" to the other more excitable characters, and is frequently agitated. He gets stuck with menial labor or cleanup duty, as well as the heavy lifting, because he is extremely strong. Although usually angered by Chowder's antics, Shnitzel really has a soft spot for Chowder, as he cries when it was thought that Chowder has vanished forever. Kevin Michael Richardson voiced Shnitzel for one episode, "The Froggy Apple Crumple Thumpkin", and was replaced at the last moment by DiMaggio due to Richardson being busy with other projects at the time. Greenblatt said Shnitzel stays with Chowder, Mung, and Truffles because they are "like his family."
  • Greenblatt added scratches and grooves to portray "all the abuse he's taken over the years." Shnitzel had a "swirly pattern" in the pilot episode "Froggy Apple Crumple Thumpkin." Greenblatt changed the design to "straight criss-crosses" since the swirls too closely resembled hair.
  • On his website Greenblatt says that he would "rather not" have Shnitzel say any other phrase except "radda radda radda." Greenblatt added that "It's like asking if Chewbacca will ever speak English. You can pretty much say he won't, but you don't want to rule out any weird alternate universes or anything."
• Truffles (voiced by Tara Strong) - Mung Daal's wife, who handles the business side of Mung's catering business. She is a mushroom pixie. She is practical, but has a foul temper and easily loses patience with her husband, his staff and their customers. Greenblatt said that he based Truffles on his mother.
• Gazpacho (voiced by Dana Snyder) - A storekeeper who sells strange produce and ingredients. He does his best to offer advice to Chowder when needed. He lives with his overbearing mother, who never appears. Gazpacho shows no interest in moving out and improving his own life.
• Panini (voiced by Liliana Mumy) - A girl who has a crush on Chowder, and lets him know this at every opportunity. Chowder does not return the feelings, and responds with "I'm not your boyfriend!" whenever she greets him. She is an apprentice to Ms. Endive. According to the creator, she is of the same species as Chowder, although she is pink and has large ears.
• Ms. Endive (voiced by Mindy Sterling) - A female chef who teaches cooking to Panini with strict discipline. She regularly berates Mung Daal, whom she considers a rival. In the episode "Chowder's Girlfriend", it is revealed she despises boys and boyfriends because her fiancé did not show up on their wedding day. The creator describes her as Martha Stewart with Oompa-Loompa colors.
• Kimchi (voiced by C.H. Greenblatt) - Chowder's pet, who lives in a cage next to his bed. Kimchi is a brown-colored cloud (an anthropmorphized flatus). He likes things that smell bad, and he "talks" by making flatulent sounds.
• Gorgonzola (voiced by Will Shadley) - A young apprentice candle holder with a surly attitude. He resents Chowder due to him having a better job.

Episodes

As of November 16, 2008, there have been 22 half-hour episodes of Chowder aired. Thesecond production season of 29 half-hour episodes premiered on November 6 with "Panini for President/Chowder's Babysitter" being the first official airing episode of a month long run.

Reviews

After its premiere, the show was given mixed reviews by most newspapers and online animation websites. Some of the reviews are positive, two raising questions as to whether Chowder can entertain with its occasional bathroom style humor, or sometimes recycled material.

Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter thinks that the show will appeal to both children and adults alike, using exotic artwork, unusual settings, and a zany cast of characters. On Toon Zone, Ed Liu expands on the animation and crazy antics of the characters, pointing that the humor of the show is kid-friendly without being juvenile. Liu reminds his readers that Chowder is still in its early phases, and with just a little more time to develop, he feels that the show will be successful. Aaron H. Bynum on Animation Insider also mentions the animation, settings and crazy characters of the show, ending with the comment that Chowder is one of the biggest projects Cartoon Network has undertaken in recent times.

The New York Times agrees with the stylistic animation, but gives question to the physical humor of the show, using the character of Kimchi as an example. Mike Hale feels that the writing is bland. Robert Rich at The Daily Texan opinions that some of the unoriginality of the show is due to Greenblatt's involvement with successful shows like The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and SpongeBob SquarePants. Chowder's eating habits are a source of concern, given the social concerns of obesity in children. Rich also feels Chowder is unoriginal and full of cliché, with nothing to set it apart from the current generation of cartoons.

Award nominations

See also

C.H. Greenblatt has also worked on the following cartoons as a writer and story-board artist:

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

References

1. ^ Ed Liu (2007-10-30). "Toon Zone Interviews C.H. Greenblatt on Crafting "Chowder"". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
2. ^ ""What is Chowder?"". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2007-11-12.
3. ^ Joe Meyer (08-02-2008). "Interview: C.H. Greenblatt". Kitty Sneezes.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. ^ Steve Fritz. "Meet the Master Chef – C.H Greenblatt". Animated Shorts. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
5. ^ "Nerd Armada: Shnitzel FAQ". Nerd Armada. C.H. Greenblatt. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
6. ^ "Nerd Armada:Let the New Chowders Begin!!". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
7. "Nerd Armada: More Puppets". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
8. "Nerd Armada: Chowder Patterns". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
9. Amazon DVD display page
10. ^ Greenblatt, C.H. (November 6, 2008). "New Chowder Tonight". Nerd Armada. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
11. Greenblatt, C.H. (October 12, 2008). "Real World Food Counterparts". Nerd Armada. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
12. "Gazpacho Stands Up". Chowder. 2007-12-14.
13. "The Puckerberry Overlords". Chowder. 2008-01-18.
14. "Chowder". Cartoon Network.
15. "Certifrycation Class". Chowder. 2007-11-16.
16. "Mung on the Rocks". Chowder. 2008-03-06.
17. "Nerd Armada: Just Two Weeks Until Chowder Premiere". Nerd Armada. C.H. Greenblatt. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
18. "Mahjongg Night." Nerd Armada. November 28, 2007. Accessed on September 14, 2008.
19. "Nerd Armada: Ms. Endive". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
20. "Nerd Armada: Gorgonzola". Nerd Armada. C.H Greenblatt. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
21. "Nerd Armada: Nine more!". Nerd Armada. C.H. Greenblatt. 2008-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
22. "Nerd Armada: Chowder News". Nerd Armada. C.H. Greenblatt. 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
23. ^ Barry Garron. "Chowder" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter.
24. ^ Ed Liu (2007-11-02). ""Chowder" is Satisfying Comfort Food". Toon Zone.
25. ^ Aaron H. Bynum (2007-10-24). "New 'Chowder' Animation Ready to Serve". Animation Insider.
26. ^ Mike Hale (2007-11-02). "In the Kitchen With Blobs and a Cloud". The New York Times.
27. ^ Robert Rich (2007-11-05). "'Chowder' debuts on TV". The Daily Texan.
28. "35th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2007)". The Annie Awards. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
29. "The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are..." Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2008.

External links

• Cartoon Network Upfront
• C.H. Greenblatt's blog
• Cartoon Networks' Chowder promotional page
• Official Chowder Website
• Time Warner press releases:
  • November 6, 2007: Cartoon Network's Chowder Premieres as#1 Original New Show Year-to-Date.
  • November 13, 2007: Original New Series Chowder Earns Cartoon Network’s#1 Telecast of the Year Among Kids 6-11, Boys 6-11.

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• Articles needing cleanup from September 2008
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• 2007 television series debuts
• 2000s American animated television series
• Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network Studios series and characters
• Cartoon Network shows