Rocko’s Modern Lifeis a classic cartoon in its own regard, but without it, the world may never have seen the likes ofPhineas and Ferb,Camp LazloandSpongeBob SquarePants.That’s not just becauseRockopaved the way for artist-driven animated series that entertained kids while also offering plenty of satire, parody, and mature jokes for adults, but because the creative visionaries who cut their teeth on the Nicktoon would go on to create the aforementioned titles. CreatorJoe Murray, a sort of 90s version of today’sDanHarmon, led a ragtag bunch of writers and animators like the lateStephen HillenburgandTim Hill,Jeff “Swampy” MarshandDan Povenmire,Mark O’Hare,Robert Scull, andMartin Olson, just to name a few. That brain trust would go on to create some of the most iconic animated properties of the last 20 years.
And then there’s the plucky upstarts and veteran voice actors who gathered together in the recording booth forRocko. There’s the venerableCharlie Adler, who had already acted in dozens of roles over the better part of a decade before the Nicktoon ever landed on his doorstep. And of course, there’s the first major voice-acting roles forMr. Lawrenceand former stand-up comediansCarlos AlazraquiandTomKenny, three gents who have done very well for themselves in the business since Murray took a chance on them back in the early 90s. If that doesn’t convince you ofRocko’s Modern Life’s powerfully influential place in animation history, maybe the phenomenal DVD set will. It not only contains every episode of the hilarious toon but it also boasts a ton of special features, many of which I’ve highlighted below. This one’s for the fans!
Special Features:
Season 2, Disc 2
“Trash-o-Madness” Original Pilot Version
Behind the Characters with Joe Murray(~15 minutes)
Season 3 Disc 2
Selected Scene Commentary by Creator Joe Murray(~30 minutes)
Season 4, Disc 2
“Wacky Delly” Live 2012(~1 hour)
