TV #72 of 2021:
ReBoot, season 1
I have a lot of fondness for this old cartoon, which premiered in 1994 as the world’s first all-CGI series (before the movie Toy Story helped popularize the technology). Set inside a computer where the digital heroes have to fend off viruses — plus the users playing games on the system, for some reason — it’s an immediate delight in this episodic debut season. The worldbuilding isn’t totally there yet and the larger plot definitely isn’t, but I’m always impressed at how many clever puns and cultural references are packed into a program that otherwise feels aimed at a fairly young audience. Structurally, it’s also neat how Bob, Dot, and Enzo seem to take turns as the focal protagonist, each bringing a slightly different style of approach to the adventures around them. The villains Megabyte and Hexadecimal have distinct energies in the threats they represent, too.
I actually think the graphics here have aged just fine, but I unfortunately can’t say the same for the occasional objectifying line about female characters or the Asian stereotypes behind the wise old sprite Phong, complete with cringeworthy orientalist theme music. I’m aware that the media environment has changed a lot in the past 27 years, but for a title that was notoriously subjected to overbearing network censorship at the time, it’s a shame that these issues were still apparently considered acceptable.
Nevertheless, it’s probably no worse than a typical product of its era, and there are growing signs of complexity over the course of this run. We’re even starting to get arguable personal arcs for the main cast and a few recurring figures outside them, although the ongoing narrative won’t really arrive until halfway through the following year. Overall these initial thirteen installments feel somewhat repetitive, inessential, and goofy, but at under five hours in total, they’re fun to revisit and worthwhile as setup for the much stronger tale ahead.
★★★☆☆
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