This review was made possible due to an advance copy of Koala Man provided by Hulu for review. Koala Man streams on Hulu on January 9th.
Koala Man is not your ordinary show, and that’s what makes it special. Let me elaborate.
Imagine if you took one-half of the creative mind of Rick and Morty, slapped an EP on them, then brought one-half of the critically underrated Smiling Friends, and made them the creator, with a cast with people like Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook, Jermaine Clement, and Hugo Weaving. What do you think you would get?
Apparently, an Australian superhero who embraces the koala moniker a little too much.
A Worthy Superhero Story
Coming into this show, my expectations were minimal, minimal in the sense of I expected a show similar to Smiling Friends or Rick and Morty or even Solar Opposites. But what I received was much, much more than that.
Within the first 20 minutes or so I knew one thing was clear, this show is a great 50/50 blend for fans of Justin Roiland and Michael Cusack. Through the animation I saw bits of Justin and the style he brings, alongside a lot of eerily defined characters, a staple in shows like Smiling Friends. But just as the animation bleeds through the creators’ vision, so does the comedy.
But what caught me off-guard the most was the superhero storytelling involved with the narrative of this season. It sticks to formula pretty well, but something about it clicked more for me in this format of a television show more than normal. I can’t pinpoint if it’s the animation, the voice acting, the comedy, or just the writing itself, it could be an amalgamation of all of it for all I know. What I do know, is that it completely works.
A small-town superhero, who doesn’t deal with major supervillains as many others would, ends up having to face one eventually. Great formula, but with the added touches of Cusack and Roiland visual and written comedy, a stellar cast, and a semi-serialized storyline, you are in for quite a treat.
Heartwarming Touches
For me personally, the center of a solid superhero story is solidified by the supporting cast around the central hero. For example, Spider-Man wouldn’t be who he is if it wasn’t for Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, Harry and Norman Osborn, etc. Look at any superhero you like out there, and I would bet that the main motives and feelings that they carry with them were imbued by friends, family, or villains.
Koala Man is no different. The choice to have the family be featured in most episodes, either commenting or helping him with his episodic conflicts, helps humanize and immerse you in a world that is already quite fantastical with the way people act (Or is that just how it is in Australia?).
Jokes aside, it warmed my heart quite a bit with some of the moments shared with the family in this show. Whether you view him as a try-hard or not, families will fight no matter what. And how you proceed with those feelings is what matters, and the writers of this show did not hold back when it comes to the family dynamic.
‘Koala Man’ – Final Thoughts
Koala Man is a great entry into the legacy of adult animation. Very good foundations, with a lot of fun moments sprinkled in with some emotional family touches. It’s a wild ride, no doubt, but an enjoyable experience overall.
Would I want a season 2?
Absolutely.
Check out the trailer for Koala Man below:
