History WesternAnimation / Clerks

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cartoon1.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Dante, Randal, SilentBob and Jay. Huh... thought SilentBob was taller...]]

->''"[[OverlyLongGag Why are we walking like this?]]"''
-->--'''Dante'''

''Clerks: The Animated Series'' is a loose adaptation of the film ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' by Creator/KevinSmith, running from May to June, 2000. Dante Hicks is the much put-upon clerk of a Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey. He is tormented by his friend, video clerk Randal Graves, as well as stoner hangers-out Jay and Silent Bob.

Included more wackiness and fantasy than the film. [[LampshadeHanging This was lampshaded]]. Contained little swearing or sexual references. [[LampshadeHanging This was lampshaded, also]]. Added such things as an arch-nemesis, CorruptCorporateExecutive Mr. Leonardo Leonardo and his Odd Job like [[TheDragon assistant]]. Had a TokenMinority, Lando, who showed up just to be black, saying a few words every now and then. [[LampshadeHanging All of that lampshaded as well]]. It also had a ClipShow, ''[[RefugeInAudacity in the second episode]]''. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded, at least the first part]].

Marked the first time the character designs of [[http://www.silvertoons.com/ Stephen Silver]] were added to the animation direction of Steve Loter and Chris Bailey. This team, with a distinct visual style, would come up again in a [[WesternAnimation/KimPossible much different place]]. Also had an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks_(animated_series)#Overview impressive voice cast]], most notably [[RoleReprisal the four main actors in the original film]] (Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) reprising their roles.

It was very funny, but it only had six episodes made. Episodes four and two made it to air, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in that order]]. Fortunately, a DVD is available and the show aired in full on Creator/ComedyCentral and Creator/AdultSwim.

Kevin Smith had planned a DVD movie called ''Clerks: Sell Out'' about Dante and Randal making a film in the Quick Stop, but when Harvey and Bob Weinstein left [[Creator/MiramaxFilms Miramax]] in the hands of Creator/{{Disney}}, Smith refused to work with the Mouse House without the support of the Weinsteins. Though, since Miramax's current non-Disney owners have partnered with the Weinsteins, there is now a greater likelihood for the series to return in some form or another, preferably [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/clerks-the-animated-series-could-return-in-2013,71415/ as early as 2013]], but so far nothing has happened yet.

Interestingly, Smith has always referred to the show as ''Clerks: The Cartoon'' (which it was also called in a trailer shown at film festivals) or "the ''Clerks'' cartoon", but never ''Clerks: The Animated Series''. Go figure.
----

!This show contains examples of:

* AdaptationDistillation: Clever and witty as an adaptation. Could be considered a show on its own and still be as good, especially since the original movie was extremely well-done.
* AffablyEvil: Leonardo Leonardo.
-->Well played, Clerks.
* AluminumChristmasTrees: From the pilot -- ''Series/TheSecretDiaryOfDesmondPfeiffer'' may sound like a show the writers made up to parallel the show, but it was very real. It aired on Creator/{{UPN}} for four episodes -- two more than Clerks: The Animated Series did.
* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: Subverted/parodied in episodes one through three.
** There was going to be one that talks about prejudice. The DVD commentary say it would be something like this:
-->'''Kid:''' Grandpa, what's prejudice?
-->'''Grandpa:''' Where did you hear that?
-->'''Kid:''' Kenny told me.
-->'''Grandpa:''' Who's Kenny?
-->'''Kid:''' My Jewish friend.
-->'''Grandpa:''' That's prejudice. You think of him as your Jewish friend instead of just your friend.
* AnimatedAdaptation
* AnimatedSeries
* AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering; From the first episode:
-->'''Dante:''' Wait a second. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
-->'''Randal:''' Urinating in the frozen food section and watching it steam up? Oh yeah!
* AnticipatoryBreathSpray: When Jay says that Caitlin Bree is making out with guys whose names start with B, Silent Bob does this before running off.
* ArtShift: Which was... yes, [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] as being due to [[UsefulNotes/SouthKorea Korean]] animators extemporizing after losing the end of the script.
* AsHimself: Judge Reinhold plays himself in episode 4, although he is ''literally'' a judge.
** Creator/CharlesBarkley in most of the episodes.
** Creator/GwynethPaltrow makes a brief cameo as herself in the second episode trying to rent a movie at the video store, but Randal kicks her out even though she has membership.
* BananaInTheTailpipe: Judge Reinhold dreams of this in reference to the [[Film/BeverlyHillsCop trope namer]].
-->[after being woken up by his wife]
-->'''Reinhold:''' Ugh. ''I had that dream again''.
* BetterThanABareBulb
* BigBad: Leonardo Leonardo.
* BodySushi: Randal recounts being married to a Japanese business man, who had him do this.
* {{Bowdlerisation}}: Jay and Silent Bob are never shown or mentioned as drug dealers in this series (though on the 4th episode, when he slips at the Quick Stop, he tells Silent Bob that the "stuff" may have kicked in,) though in the first episode they ''are'' shown selling illegal fireworks and dynamite to children. Both this, and the fact that the show contains very little (if any) cursing were heavily lampshaded during the series.
-->'''Jason Mewes (in the DVD):''' Because it was TV, we couldn't curse. So, on behalf of that... *cue ClusterFBomb*
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Done throughout the series, but the sixth episode strays into NoFourthWall.
* ButtMonkey: Dante.
* CallBack: Episode 5 references the "why are we walking like this?" scene from Episode 1 (fittingly, as it was also the one most referenced in the ClipShow.)
* CatchPhrase: "Well played, clerks, well played...", plus Jay's sayings.
* CatchPhraseSpoutingDuo
* TheChosenOne: Parodied with Randal, who as revealed in episode 5 is the one to spread male worthlessness in order to convince all women to become lesbians.
* ClipShow: ''The second episode aired''.
** Made even better by the fact that the series was shown out of production order and as such there are no clips or references to the fourth episode of the series which was actually the first to air.
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Randal
* ColdOpening
* CollapsingLair
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Rational, responsible Dante wears cool colors (blue and dark green) while carefree, audacious Randal wears warm colors (red and orange.)
* ComplexityAddiction: Leonardo's plans to overthrow the Quick Stop involve a deeper plot, exposed by Dante and Randal: "Phase Thirty-Nine, robot chickens!"
** Part of Leonardo's Quicker Stop [[EvilPlan master plan]] features a MindScrew:
-->'''Leonardo:''' Or perhaps you'd rather visit our international coffee bar complete with its own little book department which has its own super teeny tiny coffee bar inside. And a selection of tiny adult magazines.
* ContentWarnings: (Which become parodies in the third panel)
* CorruptCorporateExecutive
** If you believe the commentary, not just confined to the premise of the show, but to its production, as well.
* CourtroomAntic: Parodied in the courtroom episode.
** The trial is presided over by the honorable [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Reinhold Judge Reinhold]], and he lets Randal get away with his nonsense through open bias.
** Randal calls a series of "surprise witnesses" during Dante's trial. All of the witnesses are directors of movies Randal didn't like, and he demands refunds from each of them. After he's finished, the witnesses leave, without ever saying a single word that has to do with the trial's actual proceedings. He also calls a girl to the witness stand just to get her phone number.
** The prosecuting lawyer has Dante questioned by a pair of giggling girls, and plays the tapes of a completely unrelated prank call made by Jay and Randal.
* CourtroomEpisode: Episode 4 revolved around Jay pursuing a FrivolousLawsuit against Dante for slipping on a puddle of spilled soda.
* DisproportionateRetribution; Leonardo Leonardo vows to do this at the end of episode 1:
-->'''Leonardo:''' I vow that my vengeance won't be swift or entertaining! I will draw it out over a decade in such a subtle fashion, that you will have to wonder if the misery in your life was either manifest or the machinations of Leonardo Leonardo! Or... [[BuffySpeak a third thing]].
* DisSimile: Caitlin's charity kissing booth which costs nothing, and isn't for charity. And has no booth. And it's not just kissing. And you don't have to be a guy. [[DontExplainTheJoke Dude, she's cheating on you]].
* DistantFinale: Played in the second episode, as a spoof of the film ''Film/StandByMe''.
* DontExplainTheJoke: "Dude, she's cheating on you!"
* DutchAngle: Spoofs the Series/{{Batman}} use of this to simulate climbing a building.
* EndOfEpisodeSilliness
* EscalatingPunchline
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: In episode three, Jay and Silent Bob get a monkey solely so they can teach it to smoke.
* {{Flanderization}}:
** Randal is portrayed as more of an idiot than he really is. On the commentaries, Kevin Smith acknowledges that Randal was also a lot more willing to "punch holes in Dante's boat" and essentially sell him out at the first opportunity. He and the other writers, though, feel this worked.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Dante is melancholic, Randal is sanguine, Jay is choleric, and Silent Bob is phlegmatic.
* FourthWallMailSlot: Parodied in one episode.
* GainaxEnding: More or less played straight in the final episode. Justified in episode 4, when the announcer said that the original ending was lost during its trip overseas to be animated by Koreans and the Korean animators created a new ending.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: During one of the parody [[PublicServiceAnnouncement PSA]] segments, a pair of children are bored on a rainy day. The little girl suggests making a movie, and commands the little boy twice to take off his shirt.
* HalfHourComedy
* HappyBirthdayToYou: Averted; they sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" instead.
* HeliumSpeech: "It's only funny if you talk, stupid."
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Jay and Silent Bob.
* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: When Dante and Randal realize they forgot to blow up the Quicker Stop, suddenly it blows up and Jay and Silent Bob emerge from the wreckage.
-->'''Dante:''' How did you know about the plan?
-->'''Jay:''' What plan?
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Except for "The Last Episode Ever," each episode features progressively longer titles that are more suitable as plot descriptions than episode titles. This is episode 5's title, for example (which is also the longest one):
-->'''Dante and Randal and Jay and Silent Bob and a Bunch of New Characters and Lando Take Part in a Whole Bunch of Movie Parodies Including, But Not Exclusive To, Film/TheBadNewsBears, Film/TheLastStarfighter, Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom, Plus a High School Reunion'''
* InkSuitActor: Leonardo Leonardo shows some similarities to [[Film/DieHard Hans Gruber]], and at one point Creator/AlanRickman was considered for the part (he ended up being voiced by Creator/AlecBaldwin instead.)
* InstrumentalThemeTune
* {{Irony}}: The aforementioned ArtShift becomes this when you realize the rest of the show [[Creator/{{Saerom}} was also animated]] in South Korea.
* IWarnedYou: In Episode 6, Randal left the video store closed because vampires will be coming. He warned his and Dante's boss about it, but "he never listens." He was right, but Randal doesn't even bother saying it.
* JerkAss: Randal, on occasion.
* KneelBeforeZod: In episode 5:
--> '''Leonardo Leonardo''': This rabble of mid-level managers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and Nobel laureates will ''bow'' before the might of Leonardo Leonardo Leonardo!... Sorry, Leonardo Leonardo.
* LemonyNarrator: The narrator (Creator/KevinMichaelRichardson, who also voiced Lando) reading the disclaimer before each episode falls into this trope. He would also occasionally narrate certain things within an episode. During the last episode, after reading the disclaimer, he remarks, "I don't care for this show, either."
* LighterAndSofter: Even when this wasn't exactly a show for children, it contains much less sex-related humor and profanity than the two live-action movies.
* TheLittleShopthatWasntThereYesterday: The Quicker Stop and Leonardo Tower were introduced as this.
--> '''Randal''' (About the Quicker Stop) That's new.
--> '''Dante''' (About the tower) I find it hard to believe no one noticed that either.
--> '''Jay''' (Looks at the tower) It looks like a big bong! (Turns to a passing dog) Hey, that looks like a big bong too! (Looks up at the Quicker Stop) Now that's the ugliest damn bong I've ever seen!
* LockedInAFreezer
* MadeOfExplodium: In the first episode a man crashes his car, which catches on fire. After he gets out of the car, he spontaneously combusts while running down the street. Not to mention the fire hydrant he crashes into BURSTS INTO FLAMES.
* ManOnFire
* MessageInABottle: A failed attempt by Randal when he's trapped in the Pyramid.
* MonochromeCasting: A straight example, which is also parodied in the form of TokenMinority Lando.
* MundaneFantastic
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed
* NoRespectGuy: Dante.
* NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity: [[{{In-Universe}} In episode 5]], Leonardo Leonardo orders his publicist to kill Hop Osgood with bad publicity, to with the publicist responds with this phrase.
* NothingExcitingEverHappensHere: Dante invokes this verbatim in the first episode...
* NoYou: Randal's CatchPhrase.
** In episode 2:
-->'''Brit''': Pack of fags?
-->'''Randal''': ''You're'' a fag!
-->'''Brit''': It's a cigarette, mate.
-->'''Randal''': I'm not your mate, fag! ''(Randal pounces on the man)''
** Later:
-->'''Dante''': Boy, it wasn't until years later that we found out what "fag" ''really'' meant. Right, mate?
-->'''Randal''': ''You're'' a fag!
-->'''Dante''': No, a fag's a cigarette, remember?
-->'''Randal''': ''[[ComicallyMissingThePoint You're]]'' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint a cigarette]]!
* ObligatorySwearing: Jay does this in the live-action episode intros for the DVD version.
* OnlySaneMan: Dante again.
* OverlyLongGag
* ParodyEpisode: Episode 3 parodies ''Film/{{Outbreak}}''. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Episode 5]] parodies ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', and ''Film/TheBadNewsBears''.
* PragmaticAdaptation
* RaceFetish: Randal is only interested in Asian chicks. Though, when through some wacky circumstance, he has several Geishas eager to do his bidding, he sends them out for porn magazines featuring Asian women.
* RecapEpisode: The cartoon parodied this in the very second episode made. What compounded this even further was that, due to ExecutiveMeddling, this was actually the very first episode ever aired.
* RoboticReveal: Plug in Episode 3
-->'''Plug''': Sir, you must help him [Leonardo]. If any of my parts or circuits will help, I'll gladly donate them.
-->'''Randal''': "Circuits?" What are you-some kind of a robot?
-->'''Plug''': Of course not. Hahaha. It's just an expression! (Turns around and opens a panel on his person) New program: Kill the human Randal.
* RunningGag:
** "Why are we walking like this?"
** Randal's (day)dreams about Dante being "The biggest idiot ever."
** Charles Barkley getting dissed.
** "Are they/is he talking about us?"
** Randal joking about Dante being gay.
* SelfDeprecation: In eipsode 4:
-->'''Bailiff''': All rise, the honorable Judge Reinhold presiding. (The audience laughs) SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR JUDGE REINHOLD...I'm sorry, Judge.
-->'''Judge Reinhold''': That's okay, it's more laughs than I got in ''Head Office''.
* ShoutOut: The usual View Askew collection of pop culture references.
* SilentBob: Guess who? (Very subverted: He talks during every "Science Says" segment except the last one.)
* SpecialGuest: Lampshaded every episode with Charles Barkley trying to horn in on Jay and Silent Bob's PSA segment. And then, once those ran their course, Kevin Smith ''still'' found ways to shoehorn Barkley into every episode except for the last one.
* SpoofAesop: The "educational" segments at the end tend to provide these.
* StrangeMindsThinkAlike
-->'''Randal''': Look at [that monkey], he's shaking in fear.\\
'''Dante''': No, he's masturbating.\\
'''Randal''': But it's out of fear.
-->''And later...''
-->'''Leonardo Leonardo''': Oh, dear... something scared that monkey.
** And later in episode 5, both Randal and Leonardo go to their High School Reunions with a story of each one suing the government over bad meat.
* StupidQuestionBait: When the chief of police is holding a press conference about a suspected outbreak while wearing an Officer Big Mac costume, the reporters are more interested in asking him questions related to UsefulNotes/McDonalds.
-->'''Steve-Dave:''' Will this administration ever bring the Hamburglar to justice?
-->'''Big Mac:''' No... Yes. Look, does anybody have any questions about the virus that could kill us all?
-->'''Reporter:''' Can the virus kill the Grimace?
-->'''Big Mac:''' ''[[SeriousBusiness Nothing]]'' can kill the Grimace.
* TakeOurWordForIt: The last episode is chock-full of this trope. Randal and Dante are deliberately trying to evoke the original film -- since fans of the movie are complaining the series has strayed so far from it -- by confining themselves to the Quick Stop, despite ''ludicrously'' interesting things happening just outside.
* TakeThat
** The DVD commentary is ''full'' of these, it gets especially bitter once the subject of Creator/SethMacfarlane and WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy comes up. The fact that ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was UnCancelled is a particularly sore spot.
*** Actually, that's probably just Creator/KevinSmith being Creator/KevinSmith. Watch ''Evening Harder'', he apparently does this all the time with Creator/BenAffleck.
* ThickLineAnimation
* ThoseTwoGuys: Jay and Silent Bob, per the norm.
* TitlePlease: No episode title is visible on the screen, though it's probably for the best, given how ridiculously long most of them are.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Randal went from a lazy slacker with average intelligence who in the film gave the big profound TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Dante to an immature moron in the cartoon.
** Ironically, this is what Dante thinks Randal is in the movie.
-->'''Randal:''' What did I do that was so wrong?\\
'''Dante:''' What ''don't'' you do? You know, sometimes I think the only reason you come to work is to make my life miserable.\\\
'''Randal:''' Jesus, there you go again trying to pass the buck. I'm the source of all your misery.
* {{Touche}}
* TheViewAskewniverse
* TheVoiceless
* WackyGuy: Jay, sort of.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Parodied at the end of episode 2 during the ShoutOut to ''Film/StandByMe''.
* YamatoNadeshiko: Spoofed in episode 2 when Randal recalls an incident in which he wedded a Japanese businessman who forced him to become one. He's even seen at one point wearing a kimono and chopsticks in a hairbun. The businessman is pleased with his housework, to which Randal replies in a graceful manner.
----

Marked the first time the character designs of [[http://www.silvertoons.com/ Stephen Silver]] were added to the animation direction of Steve Loter and Chris Bailey. This team, with a distinct visual style, would come up again in a [[WesternAnimation/KimPossible much different place]]. Also had an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks_(animated_series)#Overview impressive voice cast]], most notably the four main actors in the original film (Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) reprising their roles.

--> '''Jay''' (About the Quicker Stop) That looks like a big bong! (About passing dog) Hey, that looks like a big bong too! (About Quicker Stop) Now that's the ugliest damn bong I've ever seen!

* SelfDeprecation: In the fourth episode, the bailiff said, "All rise for the honorable Judge Reinhold." which caused the courtroom to laugh. She angrily replied, "Show some respect for Judge Reinhold!" When Judge Reinheld (played by himself) sat down, he remarked, "That's okay, it's more laughs than I got in ''Head Office''."

Kevin Smith had planned a DVD movie called "Clerks: Sell Out" about Dante and Randal making a film in the Quick Stop, but when Harvey and Bob Weinstein left [[Creator/MiramaxFilms Miramax]] in the hands of Creator/{{Disney}}, Smith refused to work with the Mouse House without the support of the Weinsteins. Though, since Miramax's current non-Disney owners have partnered with the Weinsteins, there is now a greater likelihood for the series to return in some form or another, preferably [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/clerks-the-animated-series-could-return-in-2013,71415/ as early as 2013]], but so far nothing has happened yet.

Interestingly, Smith has always referred to the show as "Clerks: The Cartoon" (which it was also called in a trailer shown at film festivals) or "The Clerks Cartoon," but never "Clerks: The Animated Series." Go figure.

* LemonyNarrator: The narrator (Creator/KevinMichaelRichardson, who also voiced Lando) reading the disclaimer before each episode falls into this trope. During the last episode, after reading the disclaimer, he remarks, "I don't care for this show, either."

--> '''Jay''' It looks like a big bong! Hey that looks like a big bong too! Now that's the uglist damn bong I've ever seen!

-->'''Randal'': "Circuits?" What are you-some kind of a robot?

--> '''Dante'' (About the tower) I find it hard to believe no one noticed that either.

* IWarnedYou: In Episode 6, Randal left the video store closed because vampires will be coming. He warned his and Dante's boss about it, but "he never listens". He was right, but Randal doesn't even bother saying it.

* LemonyNarrator: The narrator (Kevin Michael Richardson, who also voiced Lando) reading the disclaimer before each episode falls into this trope. During the last episode, after reading the disclaimer, he remarks, "I don't care for this show, either."

* LockedInAFreezer

* {{Mundane Fantastic}}

* NoYou: Randal's CatchPhrase

* OnlySaneMan: Dante again

* ParodyEpisode: Episode 3 parodies ''{{Outbreak}}''. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Episode 5]] parodies ''TheLastStarfighter'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', and ''TheBadNewsBears''.

* SelfDeprecation: In the fourth episode, the bailiff said, "All rise for the honorable Judge Reinhold.", which caused the courtroom to laugh. She angrily replied, "Show some respect for Judge Reinhold!" When Judge Reinheld (played by himself) sat down, he remarked, "That's okay, it's more laughs than I got in ''Head Office''."

* SilentBob: Guess who? (Very subverted: he talks during every "Science Says" segment except the last one.)

* StrangeMindsThinkAlike

--->''And later...''
-->'''Leonardo Leonardo''': Oh, dear...something scared that monkey.

* StupidQuestionBait: When the chief of police is holding a press conference about a suspected outbreak while wearing an Officer Big Mac costume, the reporters are more interested in asking him questions related to [=McDonalds=].
-->'''Steve-Dave:''' Will this administration ever bring the Hamburglar to justice?
-->'''Big Mac:''' No... Yes. Look, does anybody have any questions about the virus that could kill us all?

* TakeOurWordForIt: The last episode is chock-full of this trope. Randal and Dante are deliberately trying to evoke the original film - since fans of the movie are complaining the series has strayed so far from it - by confining themselves to the Quik Stop, despite ''ludicrously'' interesting things happening just outside.

** The DVD commentary is ''full'' of these, it gets especially bitter once the subject of Seth Macfarlane and FamilyGuy comes up. The fact that ''FamilyGuy'' was UnCancelled is a particularly sore spot.

[[caption-width-right:350:Dante, Randal, SilentBob and Jay. Huh...thought SilentBob was taller...]]

-->-- '''Dante'''

Marked the first time the character designs of [[http://www.silvertoons.com/silvertoons/ Stephen Silver]] were added to the animation direction of Steve Loter and Chris Bailey. This team, with a distinct visual style, would come up again in a [[KimPossible much different place]]. Also had an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks_(animated_series)#Overview impressive voice cast]], most notably the four main actors in the original film (Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) reprising their roles.

It was very funny, but it only had six episodes made. Episodes four and two made it to air, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in that order]]. Fortunately, a DVD is available and the show aired in full on Comedy Central and Adult Swim.

Kevin Smith had planned a DVD movie called "Clerks: Sell Out" about Dante and Randal making a film in the Quick Stop, but when Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax in the hands of Disney, Smith refused to work with the Mouse House without the support of the Weinsteins. Though, since Miramax's current non-Disney owners have partnered with the Weinsteins, there is now a greater likelihood for the series to return in some form or another, preferably [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/clerks-the-animated-series-could-return-in-2013,71415/ as early as 2013]], but so far nothing has happened yet.

Interestingly, Smith has always referred to the show as "Clerks: The Cartoon" (which it was also called in a trailer shown at film festivals) or "The Clerks Cartoon", but never "Clerks: The Animated Series". Go figure.

-----

* AluminumChristmasTrees: From the pilot- ''TheSecretDiaryOfDesmondPfeiffer'' may sound like a show the writers made up to parallel the show, but it was very real. It aired on {{UPN}} for four episodes- two more than Clerks: The Animated Series did.

--->'''Kid:''' Grandpa, what's prejudice?
--->'''Grandpa:''' Where did you hear that?
--->'''Kid:''' Kenny told me.
--->'''Grandpa:''' Who's Kenny?
--->'''Kid:''' My Jewish friend.
--->'''Grandpa:''' That's prejudice. You think of him as your Jewish friend instead of just your friend.

* AnimatedSeries
* [[AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?]]: From the first episode:

* ArtShift: Which was...yes, [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] as being due to Korean animators extemporizing after losing the end of the script.

** Charles Barkley in most of the episodes.

* BananaInTheTailpipe: Judge Reinhold dreams of this in reference to the [[BeverlyHillsCop trope namer]].

* BodySushi: Randall recounts being married to a Japanese business man, who had him do this.
* {{Bowdlerisation}}: Jay and Silent Bob are never shown or mentioned as drug dealers in this series (though on the 4th episode, when he slips at the Quick Stop, he tells Silent Bob that the "stuff" may have kicked in), though in the first episode they ''are'' shown selling illegal fireworks and dynamite to children. Both this, and the fact that the show contains very little (if any) cursing were heavily lampshaded during the series.

* ButtMonkey: Dante
* CallBack: Episode 5 references the "why are we walking like this?" scene from Episode 1 (fittingly, as it was also the one most referenced in the ClipShow)

** Made even better by the fact that the series was shown out of production order and as such there are no clips or references to the fourth episode of the series which was actually the first to air.

* CollapsingLair
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Rational, responsible Dante wears cool colors (blue and dark green) while carefree, audacious Randal wears warm colors (red and orange).
* ComplexityAddiction: Leonardo's plans to overthrow the Quick Stop involve a deeper plot, exposed by Dante and Randall: "Phase Thirty-Nine, robot chickens!"
** Part of Leonardo's Quicker Stop [[{{EvilPlan}} master plan]] features a MindScrew:
--> '''Leonardo:''' Or perhaps you'd rather visit our international coffee bar complete with its own little book department which has its own super teeny tiny coffee bar inside. And a selection of tiny adult magazines.
* ContentWarnings: (which become parodies in the third panel)

** If you believe the commentary, not just confined to the premise of the show, but to its production, as well.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Leonardo Leonardo vows to do this at the end of episode 1:
-->'''Leonardo:''' I vow that my vengence won't be swift or entertaining! I will draw it out over a decade in such a subtle fashion, that you will have to wonder if the misery in your life was either manifest or the machinations of Leonardo Leonardo! Or... [[BuffySpeak a third thing]].
* DisSimile: Caitlin's charity kissing booth which costs nothing, and isn't for charity. And has no booth. And it's not just kissing. And you don't have to be a guy. [[DontExplainTheJoke Dude, she's cheating on you.]]
* DistantFinale: Played in the second episode, as a spoof of the film "Stand by Me".

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: During one of the parody PSA segments, a pair of children are bored on a rainy day. The little girl suggests making a movie, and commands the little boy twice to take off his shirt.

--> '''Dante And Randal And Jay And Silent Bob And A Bunch Of New Characters And Lando Take Part In A Whole Bunch Of Movie Parodies Including, But Not Exclusive To, TheBadNewsBears, TheLastStarfighter, Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom, Plus A High School Reunion'''
* InkSuitActor: Leonardo Leonardo shows some similarities to [[Film/DieHard Hans Gruber]], and at one point AlanRickman was considered for the part (he ended up being voiced by Creator/AlecBaldwin instead).

* NoYou: Randall's CatchPhrase

* RaceFetish: Randall is only interested in Asian chicks. Though, when through some wacky circumstance, he has several Geishas eager to do his bidding, he sends them out for porn magazines featuring Asian women.

-->'''Randall''': Look at [that monkey], he's shaking in fear.\\

'''Randall''': But it's out of fear.

** And later in episode 5, both Randall and Leonardo go to their High School Reunions with a story of each one suing the government over bad meat.

* TookALevelInDumbass: Randall went from a lazy slacker with average intelligence who in the film gave the big profound TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Dante to an immature moron in the cartoon.

* {{Irony}}: The aforementioned ArtShift becomes this when you realize the rest of the show [[{{Saerom}} was also animated]] in South Korea.

** Creator/GwynethPaltrow makes a brief cameo as herself in the second episode trying to rent a movie at the video store, but Randall kicks her out even though she has membership.

--->'''Grandpa:''' That's prejudice. You think of him as your Jewish friend instead of your best friend.

** Since Jay is no longer SirSwearsALot and there are rarely any marijuana jokes, more emphasis is put on his wacky side and use of catchphrases, such as, "snooch to the nooch", and he and Silent Bob's comically odd antics are used for comic relief instead.

[[caption-width-right:350:Dante, Randall, SilentBob and Jay. Huh...thought SilentBob was taller...]]