Saturday Supercade, Pac-Man, and Pole Position

The hosts wrap up 100 episodes of Pixels in the Animation by discussing video game franchises that never got animated adaptations. They debate what Metal Gear Solid, Metroid, Final Fantasy 6, Space Quest, and other classic games could have been as cartoons, and why certain properties would have made better series than others. The conversation touches on animation styles, storytelling potential, and how different eras would have handled each concept.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil count down their ten worst video game cartoon episodes they've actually watched and never want to see again. From Donkey Kong Country's ugly CGI to Street Fighter's misunderstanding of Akuma, Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins' unfinished animation, and Super Mario World's cringe moments, they break down what makes these episodes terrible and why they stand out as the absolute bottom of the barrel in video game cartoon history.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil count down their ten favorite episodes from the video game cartoons they've covered over seven years. Neil's entire top ten consists of Earthworm Jim episodes, which he argues were consistently excellent across the board. Mike draws from a wider range of shows, including episodes from Mega Man, Captain N, The Legend of Zelda, and Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3. They discuss what made these episodes stand out, from creative premises and voice acting to origin stories and character moments.

Neil and Mike review Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet, the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph. They discuss the film's scattered plot, heavy product placement and internet-focused memes, the strongest Disney princess sequence, and how it compares to the original film. The hosts examine character choices, animation style, and whether the movie holds up as a video game adaptation.

TfG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil explore video games adapted from cartoons and animated shows, from classic Disney and Konami licensed games on the NES to arcade brawlers like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men. They discuss what makes certain properties work well in game form, highlight standout titles like Turtles in Time and Spider-Man and the X-Men, and reflect on licensing challenges that keep beloved games from being re-released.

Mike and Neil look back at Nintendo Power magazine, from its 1988 debut as the successor to the Nintendo Fun Club newsletter through its evolution across the NES and Super Nintendo eras. They discuss memorable issues, how the magazine served as the primary source for game secrets and tips before the internet, its coverage of Nintendo accessories, and how its identity shifted dramatically after the mid-90s with the rise of the N64, Pokemon, and competing magazines like EGM and GamePro.

Mike and Neil dive into three early-80s video game cartoons: Saturday Supercade (featuring Frogger, Donkey Kong, Q*bert, and Donkey Kong Jr.), the notoriously bad Pac-Man cartoon, and Pole Position. They discuss how little these shows had to do with their source material, the voice talent involved (Frank Welker, Barry Gordon, Lorenzo Music), and why these cartoons were largely forgettable—or deliberately forgotten. Pole Position emerges as the least terrible of the three, though still generic.

TFG1Mike and TV's Mr. Neil wrap up their coverage of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with a full series recap. They discuss favorite and least favorite characters—praising Grounder's comedic value and Sonic's supporting cast while finding Scratch tiresome—and highlight standout episodes like Grounder the Genius, Birth of a Salesman, and the Chaos Emeralds arc. The hosts also dive into animation quality, voice acting performances by Long John Baldry and Gary Chalk, trivia about the show's production, and how the series adapted elements from the video games.

The hosts wrap up their coverage of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog with reviews of the final episodes: "Lifestyles of the Sick and Twisted," "Sonic is Running," "Roboninjas," the series finale "Sonically Ever After," and the Christmas special "Sonic Christmas Blast." They discuss dated references, questionable creative choices, and whether any of these episodes deserve a second watch.

Mike and Neil review five episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Robotnik's Rival, The Magic Hassle, Sonic the Matchmaker, Tails Prevails, and Zoobotnik. They discuss inconsistent plotting, poorly executed premises, the disconnect between episode titles and actual content, and the show's reliance on PSA segments. Neil expresses frustration with the series' quality as they approach the final episodes.