Review of Likeaballs, The: Kick Off!

Introduction

Balls that play football! There`s something vaguely cannibalistic about the concept. But nevertheless this is the children`s animation that serves to entertain the young of the nation on Children`s BBC. Apparently, ball shaped aliens have come to Earth to show off their football skills, and play in tournaments against all sorts of weird and wonderful alien teams. Led by their Captain Kickaball, and coached by Manageaball, team members include Invinciball, Adoraball, Stretchaball, Knowledgeaball, and Laughaball.

But the Likeaballs have their archenemies in the Dislikaballs, who constantly try to beat them, ruin their reputations and just generally annoy them a lot. Count Horriball always has a cunning plan to put into effect, but is constantly let down by minions like Combustiball, Diagreeaball, Stealaball, and Destructiball.

There are five episodes on this disc, Slimey, Grannits, Monopods, Bears and Cows.

I got a DVD-R for review that stuttered its way through the first episode, before deigning to play properly. With only fifty minutes of footage, I guess that the image quality is representative of the final product. I doubt the rest of it is though.

Video

Likeaballs gets a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer that shows off cel-shaded 2D computer animation. There are plenty of primary colours, and the action is well portrayed and energetic. This is a solid animation that doesn`t look as if it has been outsourced to the lowest bidder, as is usually the case. I did notice some compression artefacts, but whether it will be so on the retail discs is impossible to guess.

Audio

PCM stereo? That can`t be right. That is the audio on the DVD-R, and the dialogue is clear for what it`s worth. No subtitles, but again the retail disc may be different.

Features

There`s nothing for the lowly reviewer, although the final disc should have something. Also the menus I got to see were static, unimaginative and hopefully not on the final disc. If they are, then kids won`t stick around for the programme.

Conclusion

What is there to say about Likeaballs? It`s likeable enough (groan), and it`s a cartoon that seems perfectly tailored to the primary school market. The animation is robust, and the characters distinct and memorable. It`s also highly routine, with not a lot of imagination in the writing department.

Each episode sees the Likeaballs playing a match against an odd alien of the week, albeit slime creatures, rock creatures, single legged eyeball people, teddy bears or cows. Meanwhile Count Horriball comes up with a plan to nobble his foes, a plan that usually fails ignominiously without the Likeaballs even noticing, while he harangues his minions. All the while there are a couple of character moments and a meaningful message of the week is played out through the problems that the characters face. It raises a smirk in a thirty-something reviewer (although the ball puns are lethal), and it should all be pleasant enough for the target audience.

This is where I raise a lament about political correctness and how it has neutered cartoons. I remember `toons having a more subversive edge when I was growing up, multi-layered affairs that would appeal to more than one age range. There is none of the wit and satire of a Dangermouse. Today, I guess even Yogi Bear would be prevented from trying to steal a picnic basket, instead forced to reiterate to impressionable young minds how stealing picnic baskets is wrong. A politically correct committee has put together Likeaballs, it`s guaranteed to overflow with positive messages, and offend no one. That it manages to somewhat entertain despite that can only be considered a minor miracle, although that may be due to a random character farting once every couple of episodes. However, it`s one cartoon that children will quickly tire of, once they outgrow it.

The only real complaint I have is that for the price tag, the disc is rather light, with only five episodes, fifty minutes worth of animation. Wait for it to hit the bargain buckets.