Robot Chicken and Family Guy were both given a special blessing by George Lucas himself to create special episodes of their show that would spoof the classic Star Wars saga of films. So far, everything we’ve seen of these specials (with at least the third spoof from Family Guy expected) has been hilarious, and it’s clear that when done right, Star Wars spoofs can go on for ever and ever and ever.
The folks over at LucasFilm have come to this realization, and according to reports, have entered into a new deal with Robot Chicken creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich to become creative talents involved in a new comedic animated Star Wars series. Brendan Hay, who writes for The Daily Show, is one of the names brought in to work on the series, and Todd Grimes will be a director. Jennifer Hill (The Backyardians) will be a producer.
Robot Chicken: Star Wars Special Animated
Directed by Seth Green
Starring Seth Green, Matthew Senreich
Turner Home Entertainment
Release date: July 22, 2008
By far my favorite televisual feast has to be the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken on Adult Swim. Take away any form of guidance whatsoever and let a couple of graduates from “The Eternally Revolving College of Beer Pong” revel in their own distinctive, twisted, sometimes sick humor with absolutely no compromise. Add to the mix the fact that the characters in this entirely stop-motion animated show come from the graveyard of toys and action figures from the last 20 odd years of television and movie marketing and you have the ingredients for some serious side-splitting laughs.
Enter the newly released DVD Robot Chicken: Star Wars Special. The brainchild of Seth Green and Matthew Senreich under the guise of Stoopid Monkey Productions, in conjunction with Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico’s ShadowMachine. Just under half an hour of action figures and remodeled toys from various Star Wars movies parading around in a collection of skits from deep within the insanity that is Stoopid Monkey Productions. Seriously, Boba Fett’s private moment with the carbonite-encrusted Han Solo? Admiral Ackbar Cereal? This stuff is mad funny and I think I have now watched the DVD 5 times already. Hey, it’s under half an hour and the work these animators put in really deserves closer inspection.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press