Review: Cyanide and Happiness ”A Day at the Beach”

Cyanide and Happiness has had a Youtube series for over a year, but on average they would feature animated shorts that would clock in at a little over 90 seconds, occasionally a little more. One could say, ‘What’s the big fucking deal about THIS series?’  Well, a lot actually, as the rebooted/longer animated series that debuted yesterday on Explosm is potentially a game-changer for the franchise.

The first episode, entitled “A Day at the Beach”, clocks in at about 11 minutes and is almost built like a Robot Chicken episode, in that you are basically getting a sketch series using one method of animation that features shorts that are both longer and shorter. The difference here is that, unlike Robot Chicken, Cyanide and Happiness doesn’t always have to rely on dialogue. Rather, the series, although definitely geared towards an older crowd, features a very cute influence. The characters’ facial features are probably the leading culprit here, as their innocence lulls you in, and then WHAM! they’re eating birds and rabbits.

This specific episode featured longer shorts consisting of a guy trying to be ‘Ultraman,’ only to fail miserably. However, it’s not the end, it’s the hysterical leaps this guy will take (both literally and figuratively) to get there. Another good one featured two guys on a raft in the middle of the ocean; one of them was a magician tasked with the unenviable job of keeping the other one entertained until help appears. Our shorter clips featuring bugs and people in reverse roles were really connected, and helped deliver a rather outstanding close.

Overall, this franchise is as good as ever. Take the shorts that you’ve been getting from the channel for a while now, smoosh them together, and put more of something in there, and soon this show is going to make TV execs regret not giving the producers a fair shake.