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Newts in Tights
Most of the resistance-based cartoons aren’t exactly the most memorable works of this show, but they definitely aren’t without positive qualities. One of the biggest ones is how they make use of past characters that felt like simple one-off slice-of-life obstacles when they first appeared. It shows how much thought and passion went into the creation of the show and gives those characters an extra welcome dose of development. As the resistance continues to search for new members, one older character gets such development.
After recruiting frogs and toads to help stop King Andrias, Anne and Sprig set out to appoint the wealthiest of all amphibians, newts. In their search they find a band of newts ambushing and taking goods from a unit of Andrias’ army, not unlike Robin Hood and his merry men. After the ambush, Anne and Sprig discover that this band of newts is led by a debonair figure who once taught them the art of combat, Tritonio. While his leadership would be very helpful in their cause, it’s not surprising that Anne and Sprig don’t fully trust them since his teachings nearly got them in trouble. The newts that follow Tritonio are very loyal to him, but Anne and Sprig know the truth.
Tritonio himself is aware of this too, revealing to them that he’s willing to ditch his team if the situation called for it. His harsh mindset has a legit background though. He grew up poor and homeless and went along with any band of street kids around. However, their loyalties were false as they’d always leave him to take all the punishment for their robberies while they escaped. This is what was known as the law of the streets which has defined Tritonio ever since, and while he shaped up to be bad because of this, it is good to understand where he comes from.
Still, the sting of Tritonio’s ways makes itself known when it’s time for another ambush, and while he escapes, his team gets captured and he does nothing to help. Anne, representing heart and seeing how wrong the law of the streets is, attempts to get Tritonio to reconsider his customs. One thing that does get to him is that by following the way, he’s letting go of the greatest strength of all, people who genuinely care for and respect him. Tritonio isn’t moved to help at first though, leaving Anne and Sprig to save his team by themselves. Fortunately, just as they’re all about to be put down by a giant judge robot, Tritonio arrives, having been moved by Anne’s words, and saves everyone. Then a band of newts is officially recruited for the resistance and all seems well.
However, all of this isn’t the most interesting development of this cartoon. When Anne and Sprig return, they discover a secret room in the underground lair of the Plantar house. It reveals an old study and a red piece of paper that’s apparently blank. No one thinks much of this, but the fancy L made to look like a P when upside down and the fact that Leif used red paper for secret messages to Andrias brings much to mind. For that, it’s very wise for Sprig to keep the paper for the time being. The thing is, with this bringing more intrigue than the main plot of this cartoon, there’s a feel of how much this portion of the season kind of drags until major game changers come up.
However one may feel about priorities though, the solid character growth and moral values on display still deserve credit.
A-
Fight or Flight
Up until now, the resistance has been all about recruiting amphibians to take part in taking down Andrias. As a way to make this force somewhat more interesting, this cartoon shows how it gets an even bigger reinforcement to help with the cause. In addition, by continuing an instance of heart from a much earlier cartoon, it makes for one of the more memorable works of this arc.
When scouting out for creatures who have been stealing the resistance’s food, Anne and Sprig come across a familiar face not expected to be seen again. It’s Domino 2, a giant moth Anne once adopted due to it reminding her of her cat back home, Domino. However, there was a downside to this moth as it tried to eat the Plantars and turned out to be a menace. It’s clear that Anne’s love for Domino 2 never left as she can still see the resemblance to the cat she treasures so much. It grows even more when she finds out that Domino 2 had babies who she also finds adorable. That’s not even mentioning her major sympathy when Domino 2 is caught by some of Andrias’ robots and is fitted with the mind control mushrooms to make her do his bidding.
This is all the incentive Anne needs to do what she can to rescue Domino 2 despite what happened in the past. Sprig is instantly apprehensive about this, and understandably so given past experiences, and the resistance agrees with him recounting other murderous instances with moths of this kind. Anne has to coax her way into being allowed to rescue Domino 2 and get the resistance to look after the babies, which mostly works by them giving into their cuteness.
All the while there’s a believable conflict over who’s truly in the right. Anne clearly cares a lot for Domino 2 which seems noble, but Sprig and the others are right to hesitate given the legit harm she caused in the past. No answer is clearly the right one, making it debatable if Anne is right to be concerned for Domino 2 or if she’s just being reckless.
Ultimately, the heart that Anne represents is proven to be a powerful thing and legitimate cause for consideration. She enters the cage where Domino 2 is being held to power machinery for Andrias with other giant moths, and while it doesn’t look like it at first, Domino 2 DOES recognize her. Sealing the deal is how Domino 2 still has the mouse toy that Anne threw to her to get her to leave the last time, a believable way for pets to remember their owner. It’s a very heartfelt bonding experience serving as a highlight for this cartoon and demonstrating Anne’s great care and knowledge of cats.
Because of this strength, something really big and surprising comes for the greater good. After releasing Domino 2 from her mind control, Anne is moved to do the same for the other giant moths. If that’s not enough Domino 2 turns out to be an alpha moth, somehow, which means all the other moths are naturally inclined to follow her. As a result, when Anne and Sprig get Domino 2 back to the resistance, they get an extra reinforcement to help with their cause; air power. With this, the resistance becomes more than just amphibian foot soldiers, now feeling bigger and more powerful with a flying army. Having a heartfelt bond at the center adds to the appeal of this development.
It’s still not the show at the most intriguing, but it does offer solid benefit for the resistance’s sake.
A
Fan Art
Series Ranking
1.
True
Colors
2.
Hopping
Mall
3.
Reunion
4.
Marcy at the Gates
5.
The
Core and the King
6.
Anne-sterminator
7.
Olivia
and Yunan
8.
Toad Tax
9.
The First Temple
10. Froggy Little Christmas
11.
Turning Point
12.
Battle of the Bands
13.
Barrel’s
Warhammer
14.
Escape
to Amphibia
15.
Anne vs Wild
16.
The Domino Effect
17.
The Third Temple
18.
Toadcatcher
19.
Prison Break
20.
The Second Temple
21.
Temple Frogs
22.
A Day at the Aquarium
23.
Mr. X
24.
Anne of the Year
25.
Contagi-Anne
26.
The
Shut-In
27.
Best Fronds
28.
After
the Rain
29.
Family Shrub
30.
Fixing
Frobo
31. If You Give a Frog a Cookie
32. Commander Anne
33.
The New Normal
34.
The Dinner
35.
Hop-Popular
36.
Anne Hunter
37. Fight or Flight
38.
Wally and Anne
39.
Children of the Spore
40.
Fight at the Museum
41.
Friend
or Frobo
42. The Root of Evil
43. Grime’s Pupil
44.
Sprig’s
Birthday
45.
A Night at the Inn
46.
Bessie
and MicroAngelo
47.
Handy Anne
48.
Scavenger Hunt
49.
Lily Pad Thai
50.
Dating Season
51.
Anne or Beast?
52.
Combat Camp
53.
Little Frogtown
54.
Cursed!
55.
Thai
Feud
56. Newts
in Tights
57.
Snow Day
58.
Civil Wart
59.
Maddie and Marcy
60.
Stakeout
61.
Croak and Punishment
62.
Taking Charge
63.
Flood, Sweat, and Tears
64.
Bizarre Bazaar
65.
The Plantars Check In
66.
The Sleepover to End All Sleepovers
67.
Wax Museum
68.
Return
to Wartwood
69.
Sprig Gets Schooled
70.
Swamp and Sensibility
71.
Trip to the Archives
72.
Sasha’s Angels
73.
Toad
to Redemption
74.
Anne Theft Auto
75.
Adventures in Catsitting
76.
Hop Luck
77.
New
Wartwood
78.
Ivy on the Run
79.
Night
Drivers
80.
Quarreler’s
Pass
81.
Hop Pop and Lock
82.
Plantar’s Last Stand
83.
Fort in the Road
84.
A Caravan Named Desire
85.
The Big Bugball Game
86.
Fiddle Me This
87.
Hollywood Hop Pop
88.
Truck Stop Polly
89.
Family Fishing Trip
90.
Mother of Olms
91.
Olm Town Road
92.
Hop ‘Til You Drop
93.
Spider-Sprig
94.
The Ballad of Hoppediah Plantar
95.
Girl Time
96.
Breakout Star
97.
Grubhog Day
98.
Cane Crazy
99.
Sprivy
100. Lost in Newtopia
101. Sprig vs Hop Pop
102. Cracking Mrs. Croaker
The final battle begins at last in the next review starting with an attempt to really bring the three amphibian species together, and everyone setting off to put an end to the reign of King Andrias once and for all.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is an Ed Edd n Eddy review for "They Call Him Mr. Ed," and "For the Ed, By the Ed."
If you would like to check out other Amphibia reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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