Napoleon Dynamite (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series premiered on Adult Swim Canada in September 2015.
• Napoleon Dynamite: The Complete Animated Series was released on DVD in Region 1 on November 4, 2014, by Olive Films.
• The miniseries was also released on DVD on October 1, 2015, in Canada.

History

Jared and Jerusha Hess, co-writers of the 2004 film, had expressed interest in an animated version since the film's release, believing animation was the best way to continue the world as the original actors had aged. Fox Searchlight Pictures wanted a sequel, but the Hesses delayed due to other commitments and fear of audience fatigue. Development began in 2009 when the Hesses met writer-producer Mike Scully, a fan of the film, to propose an animated series. They presented a nine-minute pilot to Fox in 2010. That May, Fox confirmed an animated miniseries with the original cast was in development. Fox ordered six episodes as a trial run and seven additional scripts in July 2011 for a possible second season. The Hesses and Scully served as showrunners. The miniseries premiered on January 15, 2012, as a mid-season replacement for Allen Gregory. During its run, the series had no consistent schedule, shifted for football and award shows. Fox cancelled the series on May 15, 2012.

Premise

The series takes place towards the end of the Napoleon Dynamite film; Scully said they transferred the characters and premise, but not the events, of the film. In the film, set in Preston, Idaho, Napoleon is an awkward 16-year-old who practices ninja moves, dances, and draws ligers. He invents stories about hunting wolverines, an Oklahoman girlfriend, and a gang wanting him for his bo staff skill. His brother Kip, an unemployed 26-year-old, is flimsy and gawky, often bragging about wrestling and coolness, and spends his days in an internet chat room talking to Lafawnduh. They live with their grandmother Carlinda, who enjoys riding all-terrain vehicles. Uncle Rico, a middle-aged former high-school athlete, lives in a camper van obsessed with his failed football career and schemes for riches. Rex Kwon Do is a self-declared martial-arts master. Napoleon befriends Pedro Sánchez, a Mexican exchange student who rarely conveys emotion. Pedro runs for class president; Napoleon's dance routine saves the campaign, winning Pedro the election. Two months later, Kip and Lafawnduh marry. Jared Hess stated the series takes place after Pedro's election but before the marriage, and several new characters are introduced.

Reception

Fox touted in a press release that the series averaged a 2.8/7 Nielsen share and 5.8 million viewers over six episodes, ranking sixth in teenage viewership. It ranked #56 in adults 18–49 ratings and #103 in total viewership for the 2011–12 season. Reviews for the premiere were mixed. Linda Stasi of the New York Post praised its humor as almost as funny as the film, and Nancy Smith of The Wall Street Journal called it a dream come true for fans. Ed Bark of UncleBarky.com enjoyed the series, calling it far funnier than Bob's Burgers and Allen Gregory. Simon Moore of Flickering Myth compared its left-field laughs favorably to The Simpsons and Futurama. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an aggregate score of 32% based on 9 positive and 19 negative reviews, with the consensus calling it unfunny and hackneyed. David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle found the writing not funny. The Staten Island Advance said the change to animation freed Napoleon from real-world limitations but lessened the character's appeal. Lori Rackl of the Chicago Sun-Times disliked the movie and liked the series even less. Brian Lowry of Variety gave a neutral review, noting amusement in Heder's monotonic voice and fast-paced gags. Robert Bianco of USA Today called the first episode a vulgarized premiere but the second a sweeter, funnier improvement. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film's satirical silence was sacrificed for the faster pace of network TV. Simon Moore disagreed, calling the film's snail-like pace its biggest flaw.