'Blues Brothers' Joins Long List of Ill-Advised Cartoon Adaptations
The Blues Brothers are coming back! In cartoon form…? The first-ever feature based on a Saturday Night Live sketch hit theaters in 1980, followed by a sequel we’d all like to forget, and now Jake and Elwood are returning to the small screen in an animated series.
Developed by Bento Box Entertainment, the studio behind Bob’s Burgers, as well as Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi’s widow, and former SNL writer Anne Beatts, the series has no network attached yet. We’re not that surprised, as a cartoon based on an R-Rated movie sounds ill-advised at best. But it woudln’t be the first time networks have taken this kind of gamble. Let’s look back at some of the worst cartoon adaptations of live-action movies…
Beetlejuice
Premiering a year after the Tim Burton movie, the cartoon strangely retconned the hostile ghoul into being best buds with Lydia, Winona Ryder’s non-dead character. Their fun and silly adventures took them through the Neitherworld and regularly resorted to “highbrow” entertainment…
New Kids on the Block*
Why shouldn’t America’s favorite boy band get their own cartoon? Oh, because everything about it was wooden and horrible. Featuring lessons about staying in school from the live-action pop stars themselves, this obvious cash grab lasted for one painful season before it was put down.
*Don’t think this one counts? Well, clearly you’ve forgotten about the string of Home Video releases that the “live-action” band put out to teach the girls all of their incredible moves before they saw the Boys in concert.
Friday: The Animated Series
Twelve years after the movie that launched Ice Cube’s acting career, Friday: The Animated Series dumped eight awful episodes onto MTV2. Featuring voice actors that sounded nothing like their film counterparts…
And bargain-basement animation, the cartoon quickly went up in smoke.
RoboCop and RoboCop: Alpha Commando
No wonder parents were so vigilant about censorship in the ‘80s. The ultra-violent commentary on… ultra-violence, Robocop somehow became a kid’s cartoon… TWICE! Airing about ten years apart, each attempt lasted one awful season.
Rambo: The Force of Freedom
Speaking of death, destruction and vigilante justice, hey, we should totally make Rambo into a cartoon for children! Someone already did? Well, I’m sure it turned out great! Oh… it didn’t? Well, let’s watch some anyway.
In the mood for more ‘toons? Check out Yahoo TV News’ tribute to the 20th Anniversary of Dexter’s Laboratory…
So, what do you think is the worst adaptation? Were there any we forgot? Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
