Cartoon creators Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis, who have cranked out hits such as 6teen and Total Drama Island, have continued with their niche and developed a new teen cartoon, Stoked. While Stoked has its own story, own characters, and distinct animation style (as compared to 6teen and Total Drama Island), it really seems to be a summer version of 6teen, just with different characters.
For those who are old enough to remember, it's a little reminiscent of that summer season of Saved by the Bell, when the gang worked at a beach resort for the summer.
Who Wouldn't be Stoked to Work at a Surf Resort?
Stoked introduces Fin, Reef, and Emma to their first summer working at Surfer's Paradise Resort, on Sunset Island, B.C., where they will work all morning and surf all afternoon. However, all of their bubbles are quickly burst when they arrive at the hotel and find it to be a cheesy tourist trap. If that wasn't bad enough, their staff lodgings leave little to be desired. Things just get worse for Fin, as she finds out that she was passed up on the surfing instructor job for Reef.
As Cheesy as the Surfer's Paradise Resort
The cartoon falls a bit flat because it's not really that new of an idea. The plot is overly predictable for anyone who has seen a teen-beach show or cartoon in the past. The future love interests are especially predictable, which is unfortunate, because in Pertsch and McGillis' other shows, this hasn't been the case.
Also just as unfortunate, Stoked doesn't pack much of the humor found in Total Drama Island or even 6teen. In fact, not much of the dialogue or actions will even crack a smile, especially those of the main characters. The only characters that are funny at all are the fish in the resort aquarium and the hotel's shark mascot.
Speaking of their other shows, 6teen appears to heavily influence Stoked. Even though it's obviously not 6teen, it's still difficult to not see it as 6teen on the beach, just with different characters and a more updated art style. Two of the characters, Fin and Reef, even look like Nikki and Jonesy, two characters from 6teen.
Strictly for the Fan of Teen Cartoons
Fans expecting Stoked to be another Total Drama Island or Total Drama Action will most likely be greatly disappointed due to the typical teen/high school plot and lack of over-the-top humor. 6teen fans will love it as well of fans of any other teenager cartoon.
However, the cartoon will definitely do one thing for all viewers: make them wish they were at the beach.
Stoked airs on TELETOON on Sundays at 7 p.m. EST and on Cartoon Network on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. EST.
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