PopSyndicate.com

The antics of foul-mouthed Shin and his hilarious ancillary cast continue on their gutter-humored roller coaster ride.

In Shin-Chan: Season 1 Part 2 the Noharas (title character Shin, his sister Hima, and parents Hiro and Mitzi) move out of the Falling Apartments and back into their house which was being re-built after Shin had blown it up in part 1 of the first season.  The normal stresses of their life settle back in as they leave their bizarre neighbors and odd landlady.  The stories start centering more around the family as well as Shin’s school chums and teachers.

Highlights in this grouping of episodes include Shin and friends imagining things (like the sex lives of their teachers), the many costumes of the actress neighbor (including a Ring-style ghost), parodies (anime legend Lupin the 3rd portrayed as Pupin the Turd), and fantastic one-liners (“I wouldn’t wish it on a syphilitic crack whore.”).  Through all this, the poop jokes and sexual innuendo retain their rapid fire one-two punches.  Each blow leaving the viewer stunned to the point of rewinding to verify what was said.

Issues of social and personal nature are treated with the same level of verbal and visual abuse.  The two undercover police “partners” that move into the apartment and Shin’s friend Maso take the brunt of the gay humor.  Cell phone addiction, schoolyard politics, the inner aggression of women caught in loveless relationships…  Everything is mocked and commented on by characters with jaded (and hilarious) points of view.

Some of my favorite moments include: Shin doing a rump-shaking dance and singing a song asking for help from his favorite super hero (“Action Bastard I need you!  Action Bastard I need you!”); self-referential gags about the difficulty American companies translating Japanese kanji; the American housewife called “incompetent even by teen-mother standards”; the phrase “burglar-slash-rapist” confused as “burgers-slash-grape juice”; Shin’s personal motto (“Seize the day like it’s your noodle.”); and the episode title “Between a Rock and a Tard Place”.

My least favorite moment is the same as with every other FUNimation DVD product.  The FUNimation logo music is too loud.  You hear that, FUNimation?  I love your product, but your logo music Is Too LOUD!!!!  Seriously.  It’s almost like your afraid I’ll forget who brought me the wonder that is Shin-Chan.  The logo itself is enough.  You guys are giants in the industry.  All I ask is that you stop assaulting my ears before I get to watch you shake your stuff, y’know?

Fewer bonuses this time around.  Trailers for Claymore, Ouran High School Host Club, School Rumble, and Full Metal Alchemist: The Movie as well as a few others are a nice “mature” distraction to the rest of the discs’ content.  Another edition of From the Bowls of the Booth provides alternate takes on lines, enhanced background dialogue and some great bloopers. 

Continuing the juvenile absurdity, we move on to the art of the discs.  Similar to Season 1, Part 1, the first disc is pee-centric (showing Shin pulling the front of his pants down) and the second disc is poo-rrific (depicting Shin pulling the back of his pants down).  I know just how elementary-school-dumb that sounds, but I still laughed out loud when I saw it. 

As stupid, childish humor goes Shin-Chan raises the bar.  Or lowers the bar of good taste.  Maybe it just defecates on the bar and doesn’t move it at all.  Hmm….  Well, any which way, I eagerly anticipate Season 2 and encourage the rest of you who’s humor never matured past fourth grade to go pick up the second part of Season1.

4