The Comic Critic Reviews A Town Called Panic

A Town Called Panic was a fan recommendation and request. It’s a stop-motion animation using as its characters a variety of generic plastic molded toys of various sizes. And while you might think that the stereotypes involved would be offensive, the lack of distinct facial features combined with the lively voices dismiss any derogatory implications. The artists also take the toys and remold them into various positions for the occasional placement when their static, yet highly animated bodies don’t fit the scene. The randomness of events, locals, and interactions with each other are always playful, as if conducted by a child. This fantastic world mirrors all the activities of the real world, with squabbles, annoyances, and friendships—but it’s filled with creative, delightful and absurd settings and tools. Watching A Town Called Panic sent me all the way back to my childhood, when play consisted of no-boundary, guilt-free associations with simple objects full of personality and adventure. I penciled and inked this cartoon while watching Superbowl XLVII.