When I first heard of Grojband, I was interested due to it being from Fresh TV, but thought it was meh when I saw an episode. Didn't help that people were all over the place with the show, as some adore it and some despise it. But when I rewatched Grojband some time later, I started to like the series, and it became one of my personal favorite Canadian cartoons. Now I'm rewatching the show again and still really enjoy it, so I'm going to explain why I believe Grojband is a good show.
Grojband is clearly one of those Flash-animated, modest-budget, simply-designed Canadian cartoons that many loathe. However, the show makes the most of what it has, with solid, colorful, and easy-on-the-eyes visuals and animation, with the best often being saved for the songs (I've noticed that when Grojband plays their instruments, it matches the music very accurately; I think it's why they have 5 fingers instead of 4 - a detail I love for its uniqueness). There's also tons of great visual gags, like the transitions, onomatopeias, and Surreal Humor.
Speaking of Surreal Humor, I think this was what first turned me (and many others) off Grojband in hindsight, as the series is, um, quirky. Grojband's humor, writing, and tone are very offbeat, which is good and bad. While the crazy direction make its admittedly unappealing-sounding Strictly Formula premise very fun to watch for how unpredictable, self-aware, and creative it can be, the show can be a little too wacky and out-there, which may confuse or annoy some. However, I personally found that the series got better later on, with more ambitious writing like its two-part episodes and some minor Character Development.
I really like the main characters (even Trina; some say she's so awful she makes the show worse, but for me, she's a hilariously over-the-top Love to Hate villain whose constant torment is fun to watch). However, my favorite is Laney Penn, the Badass AdorableDeadpan Snarker with a super-cute crush on Corey; she is pure awesome. I also felt her crush on Corey was handled very well; she didn't devolve into being solely defined by her love for him (something other Canadian cartoons I like failed at with their romances). No Romantic Plot Tumor here!
Last but not least is the heart and soul of Grojband - the music, which is easily one of its best qualities. Nearly every song hits the mark; there are no truly bad songs in the show (although there are a few weak ones and the occasional weak verse), and many of them are fun and catchy. There's also a lot of experimentation, with many genres being explored and executed well.
Overall, Grojband is a fun and enjoyable show. While it is a bit hard to get into, but I feel it's kinda overhated (I think people just have trouble knowing what to expect from the show) and when it hits the mark (which is more often than not), it's fantastic. This is a very underappreciated show to me, for how unorthodox but well-made it is, and it honestly deserved a second season.
A Very Underrated Series
When I first heard of Grojband, I was interested due to it being from Fresh TV, but thought it was meh when I saw an episode. Didn't help that people were all over the place with the show, as some adore it and some despise it. But when I rewatched Grojband some time later, I started to like the series, and it became one of my personal favorite Canadian cartoons. Now I'm rewatching the show again and still really enjoy it, so I'm going to explain why I believe Grojband is a good show.
Grojband is clearly one of those Flash-animated, modest-budget, simply-designed Canadian cartoons that many loathe. However, the show makes the most of what it has, with solid, colorful, and easy-on-the-eyes visuals and animation, with the best often being saved for the songs (I've noticed that when Grojband plays their instruments, it matches the music very accurately; I think it's why they have 5 fingers instead of 4 - a detail I love for its uniqueness). There's also tons of great visual gags, like the transitions, onomatopeias, and Surreal Humor.
Speaking of Surreal Humor, I think this was what first turned me (and many others) off Grojband in hindsight, as the series is, um, quirky. Grojband's humor, writing, and tone are very offbeat, which is good and bad. While the crazy direction make its admittedly unappealing-sounding Strictly Formula premise very fun to watch for how unpredictable, self-aware, and creative it can be, the show can be a little too wacky and out-there, which may confuse or annoy some. However, I personally found that the series got better later on, with more ambitious writing like its two-part episodes and some minor Character Development.
I really like the main characters (even Trina; some say she's so awful she makes the show worse, but for me, she's a hilariously over-the-top Love to Hate villain whose constant torment is fun to watch). However, my favorite is Laney Penn, the Badass Adorable Deadpan Snarker with a super-cute crush on Corey; she is pure awesome. I also felt her crush on Corey was handled very well; she didn't devolve into being solely defined by her love for him (something other Canadian cartoons I like failed at with their romances). No Romantic Plot Tumor here!
Last but not least is the heart and soul of Grojband - the music, which is easily one of its best qualities. Nearly every song hits the mark; there are no truly bad songs in the show (although there are a few weak ones and the occasional weak verse), and many of them are fun and catchy. There's also a lot of experimentation, with many genres being explored and executed well.
Overall, Grojband is a fun and enjoyable show. While it is a bit hard to get into, but I feel it's kinda overhated (I think people just have trouble knowing what to expect from the show) and when it hits the mark (which is more often than not), it's fantastic. This is a very underappreciated show to me, for how unorthodox but well-made it is, and it honestly deserved a second season.