Animation
Dead Sea Squirrels
Some 2,000-year-old squirrels offer some great lessons about both the Bible and life in this clever new Minno series.
The executives at Crayola don’t understand Julio’s request.
He wants them to make a “clear” crayon—one that can color the shade of air, for instance. And, if they proceed with its creation, he hopes that perhaps they’d call it “fantasmas,” meaning “ghosts.”
In truth, Julio’s thought is indicative of how he views himself—undefinable. While one person might describe who they are or what they do by responding “I’m a teacher,” Julio is…well, Julio, floating around and doing whatever it is that a Julio might do.
Perhaps that’s why Julio keeps putting off obtaining his mandated “proof of existence” card by spending his time focused on his birthmark or searching for a lost earring. Maybe it’s why he keeps having that dream where the only way he can escape a shrinking room is by removing his unique outfit to fit through the door—which would take him out into the cold, where everyone wears the same black coat.
“Some things aren’t one of the normal colors or play by the rules of the rainbow,” Julio tries to explain to the Crayola executives.
And so it is with Julio—unless societal pressures or the logic of the world itself force him to comply.
Fantasmas might be how you’d describe Julio—and it’s the perfect name for the show, too.
The sketch show, by nature, isn’t too concerned about plot. Instead it bounces from one idea, and one story, to another. Sure, we follow Julio as he tries to avoid obtaining his proof of existence card and as he searches for an earring, but we just as quickly explore each and every tangential story in a way you might expect from a 6-year-old narrator overstimulated on caffeine.
That is to say, expect a bit of confusing whiplash as Fantasmas floats, like a ghost, from one absurd idea to another, never truly taking on any corporeal shape: Julio uses a ride-sharing app to leave Crayola. Then we watch “Melf” (a parody of the old 1980s sitcom ALF, involving a puppet/alien lives with a normal suburban family) the spoof’s titular character has an affair with the family patriarch. Then we jump into a Steve Buscemi-led sketch about how Julio imagines the letter “Q” as an artist of the weird, underused and unappreciated in his time.
And just as Fantasmas floats around, so too do its content issues. Sketches incorporate sex and LGBT elements—and one man appears while wearing women’s lingerie. In addition, foul language raises content to the TV-MA rating.
Fantasmas may not be a ghost haunting your television. But its desire to not “play by the rules of the rainbow” only succeeds in making it as difficult to enjoy as the color clear.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Julio loses an earring and attempts to avoid obtaining his “proof of existence” card.
A man is seen shirtless, and a woman wears a top made of beads that accentuate her breasts. In “Melf,” the parody show depicts a family’s father falling in love with the purple alien. The two passionately kiss and engage in an affair. When caught, they run away together. Another character in the fictional show identifies by a new name and explains her desire to marry another woman. A couple men wear traditionally feminine attire or makeup. A man is referred to by “they/them” pronouns.
A teacher analyzes the various drawings of male genitalia in a bathroom stall (which we also see), and the way one is drawn fascinates her. She wonders if the boy who drew it is struggling with something and briefly wonders if said boy might be gay. When she confronts the boy, he reveals that he’s insecure about wanting to do traditionally feminine things but feeling like he can’t. He takes his insecurities out on other people, and when others see him speaking with the teacher, he insinuates that she’s propositioning the underaged child for a sexual act.
A child is kicked in the crotch. We’re told that Julio’s earring was a part of a “cursed antique.” A husband attempts to victimize himself by shaming his wife when she calls out his bad behavior. A man attempts to jump out his window.
An artist is upset that he was put on stage too early before the audience was “all liquored up.”
The f-word is used 10 times, and the s-word is heard a handful of times. Crude words for male genitalia are used. Other words, such as “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n” and “h—” are used. God’s name is used in vain four times, and Jesus’ name is likewise misused twice.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
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