Since its launch nearly a quarter of a century ago, Adult Swim has given audiences some of the best cartoon series of all time including all kinds of random, nonsensical and hilarious short shows like small. This anthology series has long provided a platform for creators and animators to create some of the most original cartoons on television such as Ha ha, you clownsone of my favorite shows right now, so when I heard that the series was being renewed for a full season, I wasn’t too surprised for one main reason.
When I first read June 2024 diversity report this Ha ha, you clowns was one of the new Adult Swim series on the way, I jumped out of my seat in excitement knowing that we would soon see more of a show that could best be described as DIY supplies if Jill Taylor had died and Tim had to raise the three strong boys alone. But more importantly, I was excited because we would soon learn more about the show’s secret weapon: creator and animator Joe Cappa.
Who is Joe Cappa and why is he the show’s secret weapon?
On the surface, Ha ha, you clowns looks and feels like a strange fever dream or an acid trip that takes one of the best TV sitcoms of all timebut like Joe Cappa’s other creations, this cartoon is so much more than that. It’s funny, yes, but it’s also deeply emotional, endearing and serious at times.
Every Ha ha, you clowns Segment presented on small is no longer than a few minutes, but manages to incorporate offbeat comedy, themes of brotherhood, family and grief, and some cheesy sitcom music that masterfully finds the balance between homage and parody. This is true when Dad surprises Preston, Tristan and Duncan with a cruise, when they have a movie night or even when he is on The Three Amigos in a Costco-like store.
I have long been a fan of Cappa’s work outside Ha ha, you clownsincluding spot-on parodies of the Scooby-Doo Gang, shorts about Jesus helping a boy overcome his anger at subtitles when he wants to impress a girl, and a high school romance that blossoms from dinosaur fanfiction. While admittedly silly, these shorts all showcase Cappa’s mastery of human emotions and how small moments can become profound events.
This also applies to Cappa’s 2021 Sundance horror short film, Ghost dogswhich follows a newly adopted dog who is confronted with the ghosts of his new family’s previous puppies in a comical, frightening and poignant way. And now with Ha ha, you clowns getting a series order and giving Cappa more time to shine, I can’t wait to see him explore these concepts further on Adult Swim.
Honestly, I am so excited to see what the future holds Ha ha, you clowns and Joe Cappa in general, as I consider him to be one of the greatest yet underrated animators of our time. And although I am not quite sure when Ha ha, you clowns will make its debut in the full series, or will it be on the TV schedule 2024I plan to go back to where it all started small and other Adult Swim shows with my Max subscription in the meantime.
