Double Click (Reboot)

Member Name: 3rd Rock Satan

Product:	Reboot
Date:	10/05/01 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not just for kids

Disadvantages: Not on anymore

Reboot. Anyone remember it? Well I do. It all started in 1994 on CITV, that was before the show was infected by annoyingly loud presenters...not that I watch it now that is, just what I've heard. Since then it has had 3 full Seasons in America (although not in the UK) and there is supposedly more to come.

Reboot was a first of its kind. It was a kids TV programme but it pushed the boundaries to the maximum. It was computer animated and each episode took at least 6 weeks to complete. While the animation may look old now, especially Season 1's, with baron areas with little detail, at its time it was revolutionary, especially the character animation, and some of the SFX are still very nice eye candy, even by today's standards.

So Reboot then...what is it?

It center’s around a place called Mainframe. Mainframe is like a city inside a computer, inhabited by living people, some that resemble humans, but most are 'Binomes', little mechanical '1s' and '0s'. Mainframe, like any other city in the Net has a threat from the User. The User randomly makes 'Games' appear from the sky, anyone in the area are transported into the Game and they must defeat the User or face nullification. Not a Good Thing.

Bob then comes to Mainframe. Bob (the writers must have had a bad day when choosing his name) is a Guardian and his job entails him to 'Mend and defend', so he must go into Games and make sure they win. He must also keep the nasty, icky Virus' in order.



Yes there has to be bad guys. There are two virus' Megabyte and Hexadecimal, who like to cause havoc in Mainframe (and there's also a secret revealed about them - guess what).

Mainframe is inhabited by, not only the aforementioned people, but also these guys...

DOT MATRIX - Dot is a Sprite who runs Dot's Diner. She also keeps Binomes in order and helps Bob out in games


ENZO MATRIX - The only other Sprite aside Bob and Dot because of a nasty experiment gone wrong by his father which wiped the rest out. He is a 'keen' young lad, always going into games after Bob.

AndrAIa - Introduced in Season 2. This young girl is a Game Sprite, which downloaded after a game. She keeps Enzo company.

FRISKIT - Enzo's dog. And has eaten a lot of Pedigree Chum because he is very, very strong and his coat is all nice and shiny.

HACK AND SLASH - Megabytes henchmen. Big but not all that bright.

PHONG - The oldest and wisest inhabitant of Mainframe. He takes charge of the Principle Office that controls Mainframe

In Season 1 it was basically centered around Mainframe and the Games. As it progresses we are introduced to new characters and new threats, this makes Reboot run along nicely, never getting boring and always some new ideas.

However Reboot isn't just for kids. Apart from the stunning animation older people can enjoy it as well. In Season 2 it really stepped up a gear. Adding a few subplots along the way. It also did a brilliant 'X Files' spoof, which has to be seen to be believed with 'Fax Modem' and 'Data Nully' (actually voiced by Gillian Anderson herself!). It also ended on a high note as well, I wont spoil it, but its not the happy ending kids TV shows are so keen on throwing at us.

In Season 3 there were yet more spoofs to keep in the comedic element. The first was a 'Evil Dead' tribute, when Dot and Enzo are trapped in a Zombie style game. There is also a 'James Bond' parody as well. These are excellent for kids, but only older people will be able to pick up everything. And in Season 3 there was a complete overhaul of the show, showing it can be gritty as well as funny.

Apart from the animation the voice acting is of high standard as well, with obvious effort being put into it. Each episode is
also well thought out in terms of plot, indeed, seeing how things are linked together, the whole series has been carefully planned, something not normally seen in a show based for kids. It can, obviously, get cheesy at times but cheese in a kid’s show is unavoidable.

There is one other disadvantage. Its not on anymore and CITV saw fit to end it before Season 3 had finished, leaving a lot of questions unanswered. It seems odd that they did so, the Season had wrapped in America so it will remain a mystery to this day.

There are going to be two TV-Movies that will focus on a story hinted in Season 3. Then a brand new story for the second one. The first is expected in America this September, but it seems unlikely we will get to see it.

Even though I've grown older, Reboot is still fondly remembered, as being a kid’s show that didn’t patronize. It entertained each week and it’s a shame its not repeated it’s better than the dreadful shows they churn out these days.


REBOOT IS

Funny
Serious
Beautiful

REBOOT IS NOT

Patronizing
Like all other kids shows
Not just for the young ones

Summary: