Code Monkeys is an animated series that airs on the G4 network, a channel mostly known for its gaming coverage. The show is set in the 1980s and is animated as if it were an 8-bit video game (think Nintendo graphics). Since the show is supposed to be a video game, it contains many aspects of one, such as the episode starting with a screen saying "player 1 start!" when it’s time for a commercial a box appears in the middle of the screen that says “pause” and the episode concludes with the screen saying “game over.” Other video game aspects include status bars at the top and bottom of the screen that has a running counter for health, points, etc. when a character does things. There are many references to video games, including Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, Mega Man, Contra, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, and others.
Code Monkeys follows slacker Dave and his high-strung friend Jerry who work as video game programmers at GameaVision which is run by Apple co-creator Steve Wozniak. The company is sold to an insane new owner Mr. Larrity who hails from Texas and changes the dynamic of the company. The show follows the day-to-day goings on at the company where nothing is normal, especially now that Larrity is involved.
Since the show is set in the '80s, Code Monkeys can take advantage of the nostalgia factor and while it could be cheesy, it works. The show has cameos from well-known video game developers as they pitch their idea that will later make them famous and basically have them insulted, rejected, and put in harm's way.
As a child and fan of the '80s, I love all the references to that time period, and they even make references to famous events that haven’t occurred yet. However the show is rude and crude and full of “potty humor” that isn’t for the easily offended or young children.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I caught this the other night for the first time. It's got some funny stuff in it.