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Reality has finally made its way into the realm of animation.

Reality shows have invaded our televisions over the last ten years or so.  Sure there were some before then, but in the past decade things have really gotten out of hand.  Every channel has it’s own brand of reality programming - whether it’s the “real lives” of people with an obscene amount of kids, celebrities showcasing their lame daily routines or the extravagant competition shows.  It was only a matter of time before the reality genre invaded animation.  A few years ago Comedy Central gave this idea a spin with Drawn Together, a Big Brother style show about a houseful of cartoon stereotypes.  While it was very funny, it was definitely not for kids.  That’s where the Canadians came in to take the reins.  They created Total Drama Island which aired in Canada in 2007, on Cartoon Network here in the States last year and now finally makes its way to DVD. 

The show is an animated take on the standard elimination reality contest.  Twenty-two teenage contestants are transported to an island campgrounds where they will spend a few weeks competing in various challenges to see who will win the $100,000 grand prize.  The matches between the teens range to follow most every reality game show on television.  Many are Survivor related, for obvious reasons, others include Fear Factor style gross stunts and even an Iron Chef-like cooking competition.  At the end of the contest there is a campfire ceremony where everyone is given a marshmallow for the fire.  Whoever does not receive the treat is sent down the Dock of Shame to the Boat of Losers which takes them away from the island to never, never, never, ever, ever, ever return… ever!

Each of the characters run the gamut of practically every type of teenager.  The looks obsessed guy and girl, hippie chick, sports guy, scary weightlifting girl, goth girl, overweight, a nerd, rich girl and even a juvenile delinquent all compete together.  These kids, along with the others, must get along with each other when they are on the same teams and also work to keep themselves in the number one position overall.

I know I am not the target demographic for most things on Cartoon Network, at least during the day before Adult Swim.  This does make it a bit difficult to give an honest review of a kid’s show, you have to put yourself in the mind of the modern kid.  What I loved as a kid might not appeal to the youth of today, and I may think I was crazy for liking it if I revisit the shows of my childhood today.  However, Total Drama Island made this task fairly easy.  Not every joke works on an adult, and much of the humor is a tad juvenile, but overall there are some laughs to be had.  The way the normal reality conventions are taken, animated and mocked is something that any age group can appreciate.  You might even find yourself silently rooting for one of these fictional characters.  My favorite even made it to the final two. 

Still, this is a show for kids.  While I found it mildly entertaining it is not hard to see that someone fifteen to twenty years younger would love the show. 

On this DVD release there are all 27 episodes of the competition and the reunion special.  The fact that they go so far as to do a reunion like most reality shows at the end of the season shows the level of commitment the creators have to creating an animated reality world.  The sad lone bonus feature is a set of interviews lasting less than ten minutes, which is a bit light for a kid’s disc.  Usually DVDs marketed for kids have a lot of bonus games and things, but no such luck here. 

If you have kids this seems like the kind of show your kids would enjoy.  Unlike many cartoons on the air today this is one that is not too bad on the adult watching alongside the child.  If you get through the set and find yourself wanting more don’t worry.  The second season, known as Total Drama Action, is on the air right now on Cartoon Network and the third is on the way - Total Drama The Musical.  No, I’m not kidding.

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