Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Aqua Teen Hunger Force (also known as ATHF) is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block, as well as Teletoon in Canada. It is one of four spin-offs of Adult Swim's Space Ghost Coast to Coast (Cartoon Planet, The Brak Show and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law being the other three), ATHF is one of the four original Williams Street series that premiered on December 30, 2000 before Adult Swim officially debuted (the others were Sealab 2021, The Brak Show, and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law). ATHF is the longest running original series on the network. In 2007, an ATHF movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, was released in 877 selected theaters throughout the United States. Another movie is planned for 2011, to be called Death Fighter.

The show is about the adventures of three anthropomorphic fast food items and their next-door neighbor in suburban New Jersey. The original crime-solving premise of the show was abandoned early. (In the third season a character mentions that the Hunger Force 'hasn't detected anything in three years.') The show features surreal and often morbid humor. An initially structured plot is often abandoned as characters' actions take the story far afield. Little continuity exists between episodes: regularly appearing characters frequently die in an episode, only to appear alive and well in the next. Since its release, it has developed a major cult following.

Facts: Genre Animation Comedy Created by Matt Maiellaro Dave Willis Voices of Dave Willis Dana Snyder Carey Means Matt Maiellaro Andy Merrill Mike Schatz MC Chris Narrated by Schoolly D (early episodes only) Theme music composer Schoolly D Country of origin United States Language(s) English No. of seasons 6 No. of episodes 88 [1] (List of episodes) Production Executive producer(s) Keith Crofford Mike Lazzo Producer(s) Matt Maiellaro Dave Willis Jay Wade Edwards Running time Approx. 11.5 minutes Broadcast Original channel adult swim Picture format 480i (SDTV) 16:9 Original run December 30, 2000 – August 30, 2015

Production

Aqua Teen Hunger Force is directed by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro, and produced by Williams Street. Much of the dialogue is supplemented with ad libs and improvisation by the voice talent. The show is fully scripted but ad libs are included in the final voice recordings and the shows are animated to include this improvisation. Many, if not all, of the crew and cast members formerly worked on Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Rapper Schoolly D performs the theme song, and in early episodes also provided periodic commentary.

The Aqua Teens were originally created for an episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast called "Baffler Meal", where they were the corporate mascots for a fictional fast-food chain called "Burger Trench". The versions of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force were protypes which resembled the future characters, but both Master Shake and Frylock differed in appearance, personality, and voice from their ultimate design. The name "Teen Hunger Force" refers to the squad's mission to conquer hunger in teens.

"Baffler Meal" did not air for several years, and was not even animated or produced until after ATHF became popular. Instead, the Space Ghost episode was rewritten as "Kentucky Nightmare," while the Aqua Teens debuted in "Rabbot," the pilot episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Although originally Adult Swim did not feel that the show would do very well, they allowed the show to be produced due to a need for original programming.A full season consisting of sixteen episodes, including "Rabbot", was put into production shortly thereafter. ATHF is now one of Adult Swim's most popular shows.

In early episodes, the trio were identified by Master Shake as the "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," which solved crimes for money. After a few episodes, this premise and the use of the name by the characters were dropped. The premise had originally been added to appease Cartoon Network executives, who "didn't want to air a show about food just going around and doing random stuff."In the show itself, Frylock mentions that they stopped fighting crime because "that wasn't making us a whole lot of money."

Opening sequences During the first two seasons, which were released on DVD in three volumes, episodes cold-opened with a glimpse into the laboratory of Dr. Weird. He and his assistant Steve use the first several seconds of the show to create monsters, disasters, and random things. In earlier episodes of the first season, the monsters or creations usually formed the basis for the plot, but as the crime-fighting element of the program disappeared, the Dr. Weird segment became a non sequitur opening gag In the third season, Dr. Weird was dropped in favor of segments from the pilot episode of Spacecataz, an unaired spin-off created by Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro. Six episodes were planned for production, but Adult Swim felt that there was little, if anything, that could be made into five more episodes, since all of the characters were destroyed at the end of the pilot. These segments featured the Mooninites (Ignignokt and Err) and the Plutonians (Emory and Oglethorpe) clashing with each other, trading insults, gestures, and practical jokes. The full Spacecataz pilot is available as a special feature on the Volume Four DVD box-set.

Location: The exact New Jersey location where the show is intended to take place is never explicitly specified, but there have been clues over the series' run. In the episode "Remooned," Carl's license has the postal zip code 089??. In New Jersey, the only towns with a zip code beginning with "089" are Highland Park, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, and Waterford Works, all of which are located in central New Jersey. In the episode "MC Pee Pants," Meatwad and Carl are instructed to go to 612 Wharf Avenue, an actual road in Red Bank, NJ.

In the episode "Shake Like Me," a close-up shot of a health insurance card belong to Master Shake presents his address as 1171 Fairley Street, South Jersey, NJ 08957. Neither the city name nor the zip code describe real places in New Jersey.

Characters: Main characters Character Description Master Shake (Dana Snyder) More commonly referred to as "Shake", is a self-centered, mean-spirited, sharp-tongued milkshake. He appears as a giant white cup with a pink 'bendy straw' and two yellow hands. He gets enjoyment out of tormenting his roommate Meatwad, swimming in Carl's pool, and watching TV. His "Shake Power" shoots an impotent pistachio milkshake from his straw. He can also suck up liquids using his straw. In addition, almost anything he throws to the ground explodes on impact. In Season 5, he claims he's 30 or 40 years old, but in Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am, Frylock states: "He was pushing 40" (i.e. nearly 40 years old). In "Der Inflatable Fuhrer," he is shown to be a Scientologist. Frylock (Carey Means) A floating red box of French fries sporting a "Van Dyke" beard, dental braces, and a mystic blue jewel embedded in his back containing the "power of a thousand suns", giving him the ability to fly and hover. Frylock uses his fries to grip things and occasionally as a "Frydar". He is also able to shoot all of his fries at a target simultaneously. Frylock is quite intelligent, scientifically-minded and conducts experiments in his room, which contains his library, supercomputer, cloner, and various other laboratory equipment. Frylock has the ability to shoot various energies and substances from his contact lenses. In the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, he is revealed to be a transgendered lesbian woman trapped in a man's body and has a VCR behind the jewel on his back. Meatwad (Dave Willis) A simple-minded mass of ground meat, Meatwad has shapeshifting abilities and can morph into a hot dog or an igloo. Later, he learns to become a meat bridge, a large hand (with articulated middle finger), and "Samurai Lincoln" which Meatwad claims is actually hockey star Wayne Gretzky. Meatwad can regenerate quickly from high levels of damage and extreme conditions. He is often the victim of Shake's physical and verbal abuse and the target of his practical jokes. In Season 3, he claims he's 55 and in another episode, that he is Jewish. However, Frylock tells him that he's too young to drink and he refuses to get a job on the grounds that it would be against child labor laws, which Frylock agrees to (also mentioning sanitation issues). Furthermore, Meatwad has stated "my wife," possibly indicating that he is married. In the episode Ezekial, Meatwad claims that he is retarded. Carl Brutananadilewski (Dave Willis) The balding, overweight, hirsute sarcastic next door neighbor of the Aqua Teens. Carl has a strong passion for classic rock (especially "More Than a Feeling" by Boston), sports, and pornography, all of which assist him in his favorite activity, masturbating. Carl owns an Advent Video Beam 1000 projection TV and it is featured prominently during these activities. Carl generally dislikes the Aqua Teens and considers them to be "freaks." What especially makes him angry is when the Aqua Teens make use of his swimming pool. He is visited by misfortune in almost every episode, usually somehow related to the Aqua Teens and their activities. In early episodes this would infuriate him, however in later episodes he becomes more blasé about these happenings. His car or house are frequently destroyed, and he is often disfigured, mutilated or killed. Carl is an ardent New York Giants fan. In season 6, he informs Frylock that he studied "elevator repair." In the movie, he becomes quite muscular, only to have his muscles cut off and used by Dr. Weird to fight Frylock. Despite the cutting, he survives, but has almost no skin left except his head, and his organs are exposed. Carl also starred in his own online series Carl's Pissed on Adult Swim Video.

[edit] Recurring "villains" Character Description Dr. Weird (C. Martin Croker) A mad scientist who lives in an abandoned mental asylum on the perpetually rainy Jersey Shore. The Aqua Teen movie reveals several possible connections between Dr. Weird and Frylock. While Dr. Weird is an original character, the outside shot of his psychiatric hospital is actually a reused animation clip of a Nepalese palace from the television show Jonny Quest. Steve (C. Martin Croker) Dr. Weird's assistant. Red haired, wearing a lab coat, and is normally pictured holding and staring at a test tube, Steve becomes the victim of mishaps with Weird's experiments, many resulting in his death. In Aqua Teen movie, he was killed by a poisonous time punch. Mooninites (Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro) First appearance in Mayhem of The Mooninites, The Mooninites, Ignignokt and Err are two-dimensional aliens from Earth's moon. Ignignokt is green and bigger with upturned eyebrows, while Err is pink and smaller with down-turned eyebrows. Both resemble blocky, Atari 2600-style pixel graphics. They feud with the Plutonians in the failed pilot spin off of ATHF, Spacecataz. The Mooninites concoct various plans that annoy the Aqua Teens and Carl. They are known for their square-projectile firing weapon, the slow and easily avoided Quad Laser, and for their ability to "disappear" by turning their bodies into the third dimension. Plutonians (Andy Merrill and Mike Schatz) First appearance in Space Conflict from Beyond Pluto, The Plutonians, Oglethorpe and Emory are two spiked aliens from Pluto. Oglethorpe is orange and fatter, while Emory is green and taller. They are named after two Atlanta-based universities, though the characters both attended "Pluto State University." They feud with the Mooninites in the failed pilot spin off of ATHF, Spacecataz. Oglethorpe sports a heavy German accent and is quick to anger. He claims to be a genius, but he is described in the show as a buffoon with access to "advanced technology". Emory appears to be far more intelligent and logical than Oglethorpe, but is a soft-spoken sort, and still goes along with his hare-brained schemes. The Plutonians also appear in the ATHF Movie. MC Pee Pants (mc chris) MC Pee Pants is a mentally insane, giant spider who wears a shower cap and a diaper. His various schemes begin with the release of a Rap CD, which is played to death by Meatwad, who is often the MC's biggest fan. Inevitably, Frylock gets involved at some point, and he typically engineers the wannabee rap star's demise and return to Hell. MC Pee Pants is later reincarnated as Sir Loin (a cow), a worm, Little Brittle (an old man trying to become a vampire), and finally a fly in the film (in addition to his original spider form). In all of his forms, he is recognizable due to his voice, shower cap, diapers, and large yellow and red eyes. Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future (Matt Maiellaro) The Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future is a psychotic robot who claims that he is the Ghost of Christmas Past, characterized by starting superfluous stories with the line Thousands of years ago in the future.... He appeared in Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters, where it was revealed he was built by Dr. Weird.

[edit] Other characters Markula: The Aqua Teen's Blacula landlord. He appears to be a very eccentric and elderly (shown to be 4040) vampire. He seems to hold contempt for his tenants, as he refers to them as "the food". He even held them captive for not paying the rent (though they said they would pay after he fixed a gas leak (which he refused to fix for them or anyone else)). He also appears to be a good friend of Carl(shown when Carl calls him Markus in the first episode he appears in, not Markula. Meatwad's dolls: Various objects which Meatwad treats as his friends, usually consisting of Dewey (a paper tube), Vanessa (a green apple), Boxy Brown (a blaxploitation-esque cardboard box), and sometimes Squirrely (a dead stiffened squirrel). Dewey and Vanessa are killed by Master Shake in "Dumber Dolls" and Squirrely was killed by Meatwad in "Balloonstein" and became a zombie in "Redickyoulous". Of these, only Boxy Brown (voiced by Dave Willis) is shown to be alive, although usually understandable to Meatwad only. Master Shake and Frylock were able to communicate with him in the episode "Shake Like Me". Terry: At first an off-screen character, Terry is Carl's cousin, a black market "surgeon", and an enforcer of the local mafia. Rabbot: Dr. Weird's first creation in the show. It promptly escapes the lab after Dr. Weird sprays it in the eyes with perfume. The Rabbot then begins to terrorize New Jersey and returns in "The Last One". Dr. Wongburger: (voiced by Tommy Blacha) A mad scientist who was originally a penis-shaped alien seeking to return to "Dick Planet". He is later revealed to have undergone surgery and become an anthropomorphic tooth in "The Creature from Plaque Lagoon". Mothmonsterman: (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) First appeared in Bus of The Undead, he is a giant creature with wings, an upper body consisting of several pairs of arms with claws instead of hands and a moth's head, and human legs complete with khaki pants and shoes. Part of his DNA, along with a tray of brownies, created the Brownie Monsters from Frylock's cloner. Like moths, he is extremely attracted to light, and he chewed up Master Shake's ATHF flag. He rides in the "Dracula Bus: the Bus of the Undead". When the Aqua Teens went to Memphis to visit Dracula's grave, he cocooned Carl and laid eggs in his esophagus, despite the fact that he was being "a real baby about it." He returns in "The Last One". Happy Time Harry: (voiced by David Cross (credited as "Sir Willups Brightslymoore")), Happy Time Harry is a manically depressed, suicidal, manipulative, drug-addicted, alcoholic, perpetually angry doll. He is balding, gaunt, and naked (with the exception of a pair of boxer shorts and pink dancing shoes). He can drink an entire keg of beer by himself. He vomits often, and likes to manipulate Meatwad into getting him prescription drugs and alcohol. He talks Jiggle Billy into shooting himself in the head. When Master Shake threatens to burn him in front of Meatwad, Happy Time Harry reacts by pouring gasoline over himself, effectively "[doing] all the prep work" for him. Master Shake then throws him from a cliff, but he returns in "The Last One". Major Shake: (voiced by Matt Harrigan) A "perfect clone" of Master Shake (per Oglethorpe... in reality, he is a disgusting caricature of Master Shake with a hand extending from his straw and a jambox protruding from his side, and his cup looks as though it's been partially melted. In order to compensate for the height difference, the Plutonians dress him in women's high heels). He is sent to Earth to "deterraform" it, but was not told of this. He treats Frylock and Meatwad better than the actual Master Shake. In the end, he uses a lead pipe to break into Carl's car and steal it, flipping it into a trussel and fleeing the scene before the police arrive, but he returns in "The Last One". Ol' Drippy: (voiced by Todd Field) A monster created out of mold from Master Shake's mess. He was named "Ol' Drippy" by Meatwad because he dripped over Meatwad's dolls. He is a nice and caring person who helps clean up and do things for the Aqua Teens and Carl. Master Shake becomes jealous of him when everyone starts like Ol' Drippy over him. He was eaten by Master Shake when Master Shake became sick and then was hit by a truck after saving Master Shake's life. He was seen again in "The Last One". The Frat Aliens: (both are voiced by Patton Oswalt) Two perpetually-partying fraternity brothers from some alien university or other. One is an actual student, while the other (who constantly references his Father's "dealership") is currently on hiatus, but still an active member of their frat. Pawn Shop Clerk: (voiced by Scott Fry) He owns the pawn shop that Master Shake goes to in "Hoppy Bunny". He usually buys expensive things for very low prices. He obtains the jewel on the back of Frylock at the end of the episode but in the next episode Frylock has it back (showing the low amount of continuity in the show). He is seen again in "2-And-A-Half Star Wars Out of Five" and stated he does anything for attention.

Source: Wikipedia.org