If you, like me, were a product of the 90s, there is a fair chance you have a deep affection for the shows of Nickelodeon. Sure, Disney had marquee titles with characters like Goofy and Donald Duck, but Nickelodeon just had an edge about them that made them seem…cool. Well, as much edge as you could expect from children’s programming. Even setting aside the unhinged lunacy of Ren & Stimpy, shows such as Rocko’s Modern Life, CatDog and The Angry Beavers had a universal comedic voice that could appeal to the adults in the room along with kids. As we made the move into the new millennium, many may think their best days were behind them, but those who paid attention know they have continued to churn out some real gems over the years.
John A. Davis first had the rough idea for the character who would become Jimmy Neutron way back in the 80s, but it was not until the late 90s that he set to work developing the material into a computer animated feature film. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius was released in theaters in late 2001 to immense critical and box office success before garnering a nomination for the first year of the Best Animated Feature category at the Academy Awards. The idea had always been to have the property be a movie and TV show, but Davis made the strategic decision to make the movie first so they would have theatrical quality assets ready to go and able to be recycled for the series. The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius launched in July of 2002 before running for three fun-filled seasons. As with the film, the show followed the titular 11-year-old genius from Retroville who often found himself on the wrong end of an invention gone awry from trying to make his life a little easier one way or another. Just because you are a “genius” does not mean you always make smart decisions.
Jimmy Neutron worked as well as it did because you could always relate to the character even if you did not believe yourself to have superior intellect. Jimmy faces the same social pressures we all have to face at some point in our lives, only he tries to find a way to skirt around his embarrassment. For example, in one early first season episode we have Jimmy trying to participate in a relay race only to find himself repeatedly beaten by Cindy in increasingly embarrassing ways. Rather than endure the humiliation, Jimmy invents some “super shoes” that ensures that he will be fast enough to win for once… but even that might not be enough. Or perhaps potential young love is more your speed? In a late season three episode, Jimmy is invited over to watch a new television show by his crush, except the show is turning everyone who watches it into mindless zombies. Poor Jimmy, having to save the town once again. His intellect is not always good or always bad; it is just a facet of him that interacts with each situation he faces in a different way.
Of course, just because he is the titular figure does not mean that Jimmy is the only character worth celebrating. Arguably the most enjoyable character is Carl Wheezer, Jimmy’s best friend who often finds himself to be the collateral damage to certain experiments. More so than even Jimmy, Carl may be the character who is most relatable. He just wants a chill existence and not to be maimed. Sheen and the previously-mentioned Cindy are likewise crucial additions to Jimmy’s social circle, providing a hyperactive presence and playful antagonism respectively. As with all shows such as this, it follows a bit of a formula, but it always provides steady laughs and does not suffer severe lulls throughout its relatively brief run. The vocal cast is very strong throughout the ensemble with the legendary Rob Paulsen standing out especially. The computer animation suffers from limitations of age, but modern audiences should not find it distracting enough to lose any enjoyment. The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius remains a really fun show even after nearly 20 years from its premiere.
Video Quality
The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius: The Complete Series comes to DVD in a 10-Disc set with a 480p transfer that looks solid despite the lack of an HD option. These discs lack the definition that a Blu-Ray would provide, but it does avoid an abundance of digital anomalies such as artifacting and digital noise. This is a show bursting with lively colors throughout most of the run, but it lacks a visual pop off the screen due to format limitations. The disc provides fairly deep black levels for a clean viewing experience free of crush. The computer animation style is a bit dated, but these discs represent the original look well with only occasional instances of blurring along edges of characters and objects. The animation gets a bit stronger as the show goes along, but never reaches anywhere near the capabilities we have today. The DVD presentation is a very enjoyable experience, but I would be thrilled if this one ever made its way to Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This release boasts a Dolby Digital 2.0 track that gets the job done well but feels a bit restrained during some of the more active moments. Dialogue is rendered pretty clear with no issues of clipping during more kinetic moments. There is a fair amount of weight in the mix during the chaos of certain inventions going awry, but it does not provide the impact you wish it would. The music in the series is provided with pleasing fidelity and clarity. Shout! Factory has done a decent job with this audio track considering the limitations of the format. There are optional subtitles including English SDH provided for those who desire them.
Special Features
- The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour: The three crossover episodes between Jimmy Neutron and The Fairly Odd Parents are provided here which finds these characters moving in and out of their respective 3-D and 2-D worlds. The Fairly Odd Parents is another series that holds a special place in my heart, and it is nice to have these fun episodes included.
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- The Fairly Odd Parents (49:33)
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- When Nerds Collide (50:49)
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- The Jerkinators! (48:28)
- Jimmy Neutron Pilot Episode: The original 14-minute pilot from 1998 is provided here which features our Boy Genius running away after an experiment goes awry and the craziness that leads him to saving the world. Some of the character designs are a touch different and the animation style is even rougher than the actual series, but it’s a fun episode to check out.
- Behind The Scenes:
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- How Hugh Moves: A minute-long look at how the animation supervisor acts out some of the scenes to provide a reference to the animation team.
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- Hugh’s Virtual Makeover: A minute-long look at how the animators come up with a basic character design that they can easily change the appearance of at short notice.
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- The Storyboard Artist: A minute-long look at the storyboarding process.
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- Drawing Goddard: A minute-long look at an animator drawing the robot pooch.
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- Original Character Sketches: A minute-long look at how the characters changed from their original concept look to what we have in the show.
- Storyboards: Early concept looks at select episodes are provided here if you want to take a look at how the finished product evolved from these early visions.
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- Raise The Oozy Scab (10:32)
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- I Dream Of Jimmy (11:23)
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- Maximum Hugh (11:44)
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- Sleepless In Retroville (11:34)
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- Crime Sheen Investigation (11:33)
Final Thoughts
The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius is one of the standout Nickelodeon shows of the early 2000s. The computer animation may be dated and stilted by today’s standards, but the storytelling remains strong with lovable characters and outlandish situations abound to keep you immensely entertained. The quality never dipped throughout the three-season run which means you can jump to almost any episode in the series and have fun. Shout! Factory has released the complete series on DVD with a good A/V presentation for the format and a selection of special features that completes the necessary Jimmy Neutron content. If you are a fan of the show, you will agree it is nice to finally be able to own this on a physical format. Recommended
The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius: The Complete Series is currently available to purchase on DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.
Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
