Watching as an adult, who also studied politics and US history, this show is all the more epic since its basically a civics class in cartoon allegory form. Its glorious.
The banned tech (Nicola Tesla) scene always stuck in mind. Gretchen’s sustainable invention is confiscated by the secret service (corporate interest). She still gets an A!
Recess and Hey Arnold were both incredibly good at speaking to the audience in an intelligent way. They didn't belittle the viewers and it always felt like the creators of both shows actually understood all of the issues we face as kids. I think that all of us could find some sense of relatability in all of the characters and the more grounded plots.
Absolutely and you notice that these TV shows did not have a mandate of selling a bunch of merchandise. These types of shows exist but they’re not gonna get there the love until long after they been canceled. Excellent point though
@@SailorMoonFriends you are right didn't thru stop making episodes or rumors of it ending I feel the earlier SpongeBob episodes were good after a while in my opinion they became more overwhelming and basically since for some reason everyone liked that show so much it overshadowed alot of cartoons that we're short lived
Certain people realized somewhere down the road that it is much easier to sell people a false reality than to embrace reality, hence TV shows like this being far and few between nowadays.
Rest In Peace to Jason Davis aka the voice of Mikey Blumberg. He died earlier this year from an accidental fentanyl overdose. I hope the rest of his cast mates have reached out to his family.
I personally think Paul and Joe's other Disney cartoon "Lloyd in Space" is a LOT more on the underrated scale of things. Don't know if anyone else here remembers it, but it was a darn creative look at early adolescence through the perspective of an alien.
Don’t forget about the movie Recess: School’s Out. A lot of nuance for a plot about stopping James Woods from freezing the world to end recess permanently.
Yes, something very similar to Robin Williams character in Dead Poet's Society. It maybe an Actor? Since he was always find of mimicking Ms. Finster, Principal Prickly, King Bob etc.
Maybe he became a children's physiologist specializing in troubled kids who became part of the juvenile system or the foster system, or like Sean in Good Will Hunting. Because yes while TJ wasn't always a model student. He wasn't a bad kid by any means necessary, like when Finster had the cast and he convinced the whole school to be behaved, he also got Gus to turn himself in for shoplifting
Deep cut here, but I like that the creators are able to poke fun at themselves. In the episode where Spinelli is made into an Ashley, they're all sitting around discussing the issue and saying that, if the Ashley standard is lowered by girl like Spinelli, then REAL Ashley's would end up going to bad colleges "and dating guys named Paul or Joe!"
I used to love this serie, I hate it when people say "oh but children are stupid" no, Children are not stupid, children are intelligent, cunning and sly, they can also be very cruel sometimes. Yes, their brains are character are developing but we shouldn't feel superior just for being adults. I hate condescending adults.
growing up this show was such a inspiration becasue it showed real friendships and how friendships are complicated and most of all how you can be friends with people wildly different from your own persoanlity....i loved loved this group pf friends
I'm 26, going into a Psychology PhD program, and I still watch Recess sometimes. It's a well done show and I find it's themes relevant and worthy of analysis. Great video!
@@Dominickudo Did you mean The Great Escape? The movie Chicken Run is a claymation version of The Great Escape and I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I hadn't seen The Great Escape first
@@swanpride that's good man I'm glad the younger generation don't care if tgey watch cartoons I personally like some cartoons better than normal sitcoms and some movies
The days of "kid power" shows are pretty much gone. Shows like Recess were all about kid power. That kids truly can make a difference in the world as kids and by being kids. Watching recess made me feel like I could do something and take action, even if I didn't have power or resources. The kids in the show were entrepreneurial, creative, and had unbreakable spirits. They knew exactly who they were, and embraced each other's strengths. That's what kids need in their shows.
When I was a kid I thought that the kindergarteners in this show were over the top.. now that I’m an adult and work at a school.... this show got it absolutely perfect.
Speaking of the continuity, I remember laughing so hard when Spinelli was able to use the kindergarteners against the ninjas(especially adding their pronunciation of Spinelli) in the movie
When I was recovering from surgery, I had to lie flat on my back and watch TV for several weeks. During the final week, I watched Recess on Disney+ and was shook at how brilliant it is. Really holds up. Love it.
i recently re watched the show after a sudden nostalgic hit and i also was surprised to see jow informative and morally good the tv series was it kind of made me realize how much my childhood was shaped around TJ and his friends
There are still a lot of good adult lessons in this show - one of my favorites is the tattletale episode where everyone breaks the code of honor to save recess - "It appears that the code, like life, isn't all black and white." It's a pretty big message to make its way into a kid's show.
whose else favourite character was Spinelli....i dont know why but i related to her most in the show...for me personally i cant remember much of the show today but two things i still remember and something that taught me and touched me deeply was 2 spinelli episodes....one in which spinelli goes to the beauty paegant and essentially changes herself to fit into this idea of beauty and then by the end thrown it all away and that had such an impact on me and taught me to live life as myself unapologetically....also another one was when everyne found out spinelli name's was ashley and then she had to join other ashleys but the groud didnt leave her and rescued her....it taught me that preconcieved notions of society imposing something on you because of your name and background is wrong and it doesnt matter where you come from,what matters is what you do with it
I remember skipping the last class of school with the help of my parents to watch recess at 3 pm everyday Was a simple life back then. Time sure flies by
Watching this as a child (I was 8 or 9 when I discovered it), I remember I loved the half serious, half humorous situations where the gang found itself in. The school as a "society", with its rules, authority, exchanges, groups and relations was captivating. Plus, the series was clever enough to make fun about some cultural stuff, such as movies, music, litterature, and so on. I also remember the learning we could retrieve from one episode or another. Most of the time, it was very enjoyable, and sometimes, it was quite a gold nugget.
I think Hey Arnold also did this wonderfully, taking seriously its characters’ problems, giving them depth and reflecting on the emotional stakes of day to day situations... also Helga Pataki ❤️
Exactly, Hey Arnold and Recess taught actual life lessons in a very subtle way the story directs it by following the character's struggle but we don't get to see right away until the protagonist he/she goes to work, school or even at home then something random happens like maybe bullying, worrying about the future and not knowing what to do with your life, depression, family struggles, abuse, racism, eating disorders, alcohol, drugs, war, corruption and many other serious topics that every person goes through that could bring that situation and showed such a human/empathy in a way it was real. Then our protagonist, antagonist or side character has to find a way to resolve that problem, maybe they can help a friend who is struggling or learn how to cope with the situation without letting it affect you. Let me tell you I miss this kind of shows that actually reached to the audience
Love every episode.. Maybe becasuse I feel I relate to this innocent generation. No phones. No apps. No monostrus technology...Just pure childhood momens
Another aspect of how the show is mostly about "embracing childhood" is seen in some episodes where it shows how adults like prickley manage to be responsible when finding balance between being in touch with their childhoods but kinda border on "too harsh unfair teacher" when they forget how they used to be kids once.
Rewatching this during lockdown was my best decision, I saw it so much as a kid but didn't realise how truly brilliant it was until rewatching it, smart and funny.
I love that Recess is a really grounded show about children and their perception of the world but it canonically exists in a universe with aliens, dragons, magic, lake monsters, time travel, and child spies.
@@VXMasterson I really don't like the crossover, I pretend it doesn't exist. But I like your idea of aliens, time travel and other syfi stuff existing in the Recess universe though. Especially since it seems like all the things that have happened in Earthbound/Mother could be possible.
Haven’t seen the show in ages, but nodding and remembering most of the points brought up. The movie is worth a watch to; ninjas, lasers, and that tambourine song.
I am 30 and I still remember the episode when TJ found a kind that did not like him regardless of what he did it was a great life lesson for me as a kid that some people just don't like you no matter what you do for them and that is cool. the show was amazing for kids in the 90's
I have only two quotes from Recess that made it one of the funniest shows to watch, growing up. “Who can name the most powerful lizard that ever ruled the earth.” “Randall.” S04. E24 “You hit Spinelli during a timeout? She was right, you are a worm.” S01. E16
Only the third (long running) show where I can say I’ve seen every episode. I enjoy it as much now as I did as a kid. Great video, I enjoyed the review!
I'd like to see a comparison between Recess and Codename: Kids Next Door, two shows from my childhood that really made you proud of being a kid, just in different ways. KND also portrayed problems kids faced, like homework, chores, family relationships and rivalries, albeit in exaggerated ways.
I've always considered Recess to basically be classic era Simpsons for kids- it has the same kind of complexity and nuance and clever writing, while being really funny too- classic Simpsons and Recess feel like they have the exact same sensibility and maturity to their writing and storytelling. Recess is really underrated- it's honestly an all-time classic!
Recess would be handling much more disturbing topics if it was still running in 2020... we all know about how times have changed from what they were once worried about :(
I think they mean the increased consciousness of school shootings in the minds of kids. I remember sitting in my art class absentmindedly deciding that if a shooter came into the building i'd hide in the big trash can and pile trash on myself to obscure myself. And my elementary school had lockdowns whenever a prisoner escaped bc we were near the county jail. So while school certainly wasn't roses pre 2020 kids these days have some different worries than previous generations (even I had them and I'm 22)
A 2021 version would be dreadful. Just think of what it would be like; constant references to social media, the internet, and political indoctrination targeted at the young audience. It's beautiful as the time capsule it is..
God, the Bonky episode is the main one I remember from being a kid - I remember crying the first time I saw it because of the existential dread of 'getting old' and 'leaving your childhood favourites behind' that it instilled in me, and even now just seeing stills from the episode is enough to send me right back to that childlike frame of mind. I think it speaks to something that not just kids, but adults feel, from time to time.
I grew up with this show and it definitely made me feel understood in how kids view the world. i found a weird comfort in mikey and wished i had a big brother like him since my sister was never quite close to me. they felt like friends, in a way when i didnt have many and it was nice. also that episode about the cursed game "ajimbo" feels like a creepypasta with its musical stings and story pacing and even spooky story about an innocent thing
I love this show because it follows one thing I've always believed in: Kids are smarter than adults think. I'm rewatching the show with my sister, she still remembers the lines. Gosh, she wasn't even 10 when she first watched it
Recess is honestly my second favourite animated show ever! That I grew up with as a kid and still cherish to this day! But Rugrats will always be my number 1 favourite! Nothing from the 90s will ever top that...
Don’t forget in the feature length movie “School’s Out” where they expand on Principal Prickly who wanted to be a principal “Not for promotions, but to make things better for you kids...” someone who is simply bitter and cynical than anything else about the reality of adulthood...
Recess is my childhood favourite cartoon & really under appreciated, I've watched all the episodes many many times. It helped me fantasise & escape reality while I was lost & alone in primary school.
@@SailorMoonFriends Agreed! I'm not sure why Disney Plus has yet to stream all of their great shows. It's not like these shows are lost or banned. (Legend of Tarzan, Aladdin, Filmore, The Weekenders, Pepper Ann, etc.)
Thank you for making this, it is one of the many shows I grew up with and I realize now it may have been the most nostalgic western animation for me, for how much mature it seemed compared to some other cartoons I watched at the time.
This is how diversity in entertainment should be done today, everything about the series from the diverse characters through out the school and the lessons learned all feel natural and not forced or shoved in our face. One of my favorite episodes is when they find the old book of playground rules of a well known and respected king and decide to go forward with following those rules, but as they see what exactly these rules imply they realize it was a mistake to follow them , later they learn the rules were from the great depression era and made sense given those times unique circumstances and realize that as the times change so must the rules(*cough*laws*cough*) to better suite the current times.
Liked this video before I even started it! I love Recess and yes, it absolutely is the perfect kids TV show! I'm excluding anime and adult oriented animated shows, since those deserves lists all their own, but Recess is a special part of my childhood and now my adult life
Omg, I remember rewatching it, and there was a scene where they wanted to get rid of someone, and the snitch-kid (Randall?) said: "We tell Ms Finster he's a communist!" And I'm like?? 😂
I honestly think if I watch this show now (as good as it is, I liked it), all I will think about is "Where are all the adults?! Also, the kids wouldn't all be let out, there's a schedule and the classes would have an adult supervisor. No wonder Finster is like that, she's severely understaffed."
Such a great show, I was watching it in Disney* since I was born in 2001, I missed the opportunity to watch it and wow, it’s even enjoyable for adults because of the topics that the show talk about in kids life, from a crush with your teacher to a more serious topic like absent parents, etc. Really good! ❤
I know it's old-fashioned, but I really wish this had gotten a full DVD boxset release. I know it won't happen now thanks to Disney+, but it's surprising that it never got one back in the day.
what's funny is that, rewatching this as an adult, i feel genuinely anxious and uncomfortable while watching some of these episodes, like i can remember and relate to those struggles. they are children, but their feelings of fear and anxiety towards certain situations are as real and valid as they would be for adults in adult situations
I still watch this at 41 🥰 so reminiscent of my childhood especially "unwritten" rules. I think there’s a character in this show everyone can relate to if not multiple characters. As a parent it’s so easy to guess the type of home life with many of the back characters like hustle kid or cry baby kid 😂 Seriously the best kids show that’s still wholesome and would let my grandkids watch one day.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Recess was one of those shows that spoke to you, not down at you.
And did they did it in a way without being preachy about it
One of those that tricks you through subliminal messages lol
true
Yea.. I don’t know why people worship shows like family guy over n above our golden old shows
this, Arthur, Hey Arnold, Rugrats, Samurai Jack, Courage the Cowardly Dog to name a few
Watching as an adult, who also studied politics and US history, this show is all the more epic since its basically a civics class in cartoon allegory form. Its glorious.
Especially how perfect the satire of bureaucracy was in Recess is Canceled.
The banned tech (Nicola Tesla) scene always stuck in mind. Gretchen’s sustainable invention is confiscated by the secret service (corporate interest). She still gets an A!
And did it in a way that doesn't feel so in your face about it
I will also admit that hippie teacher Miss Grotke was kind of gorgeous and lovely 😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰
Exactly. This show taught me more about government systems than high school government class ever did.
Recess and Hey Arnold were both incredibly good at speaking to the audience in an intelligent way. They didn't belittle the viewers and it always felt like the creators of both shows actually understood all of the issues we face as kids. I think that all of us could find some sense of relatability in all of the characters and the more grounded plots.
Absolutely and you notice that these TV shows did not have a mandate of selling a bunch of merchandise. These types of shows exist but they’re not gonna get there the love until long after they been canceled. Excellent point though
@@Mcelly58 yep that's why hey Arnold's my favorite show
After watching Recess on Disney Plus, I actually kind of miss Nickelodeon's older Nicktoons because they won't stop milking Spongebob dry.
@@SailorMoonFriends you are right didn't thru stop making episodes or rumors of it ending I feel the earlier SpongeBob episodes were good after a while in my opinion they became more overwhelming and basically since for some reason everyone liked that show so much it overshadowed alot of cartoons that we're short lived
Certain people realized somewhere down the road that it is much easier to sell people a false reality than to embrace reality, hence TV shows like this being far and few between nowadays.
Rest In Peace to Jason Davis aka the voice of Mikey Blumberg. He died earlier this year from an accidental fentanyl overdose. I hope the rest of his cast mates have reached out to his family.
Wait do you mean his regular voice or his singing voice? Or are they both voiced by the same person
@@yaseenallam_ his speaking voice. His singing voice was named Robert Goulet and he passed away over a decade ago.
Jesus no :(((((
No, not Mikey!
It felt like way less dark, surreal adaptation of Lord of the Flies.
Me to
Either that or M*A*S*H or Hogan's Heroes
In the last episode Gus gets murdered.
Unless you include the film's, where everyone goes into the 5th grade
Yeah Lord of the Flies sucks
Easily one of Disney’s more underrated cartoons alongside Gargoyles.
Now gargoyles was the show!
I personally think Paul and Joe's other Disney cartoon "Lloyd in Space" is a LOT more on the underrated scale of things. Don't know if anyone else here remembers it, but it was a darn creative look at early adolescence through the perspective of an alien.
Shit ~ if you say Gargoyles is as good a Recess then I have to go give it a try xD
Moira Menzelli It is by far one of the darkest, dramatic and most complex Disney cartoons ever. And it’s amazing.
And Pepper Ann.
Don’t forget about the movie Recess: School’s Out. A lot of nuance for a plot about stopping James Woods from freezing the world to end recess permanently.
And summer vacation,
John Jacob jingleheimer Schmidt...
And showing that the teachers were (when the chips were down) all on their side.
The principal's speech to TJ still gets to me, even moreso now I'd dare say
Used to watch that first day of summer every year... Man time flies.
after recess ended I always imagined TJ growing up and becoming a teacher or principal himself
I imagine hed be like that one sub they had. The guy seemed like a hard ass but was actually such a cool teacher and him and tj clicked
@@drewkerpan1451 you mean...Mr. X.
Yes, something very similar to Robin Williams character in Dead Poet's Society.
It maybe an Actor? Since he was always find of mimicking Ms. Finster, Principal Prickly, King Bob etc.
i could see him getting into the military and doing what gus' dad became too..he always reminded me of a commander of an army
Maybe he became a children's physiologist specializing in troubled kids who became part of the juvenile system or the foster system, or like Sean in Good Will Hunting. Because yes while TJ wasn't always a model student. He wasn't a bad kid by any means necessary, like when Finster had the cast and he convinced the whole school to be behaved, he also got Gus to turn himself in for shoplifting
Deep cut here, but I like that the creators are able to poke fun at themselves. In the episode where Spinelli is made into an Ashley, they're all sitting around discussing the issue and saying that, if the Ashley standard is lowered by girl like Spinelli, then REAL Ashley's would end up going to bad colleges "and dating guys named Paul or Joe!"
Recess represented all kids.Telling stories, activity learning, and lighthearted moments. instant liking.
I used to love this serie, I hate it when people say "oh but children are stupid" no, Children are not stupid, children are intelligent, cunning and sly, they can also be very cruel sometimes. Yes, their brains are character are developing but we shouldn't feel superior just for being adults. I hate condescending adults.
@Pat Fry Dude i dont know where or when you grow up but i once lost my pocket and a little girl gave it to me.
I would have returned it as a kid.
hate is a strong word
growing up this show was such a inspiration becasue it showed real friendships and how friendships are complicated and most of all how you can be friends with people wildly different from your own persoanlity....i loved loved this group pf friends
I'm 26, going into a Psychology PhD program, and I still watch Recess sometimes. It's a well done show and I find it's themes relevant and worthy of analysis. Great video!
My Pops told me this cartoon was based on his favorite show from youth, “Hogan’s Heroes”. We watched Recess together and then HH. Great memories!
My dad and I noticed the same thing, his favorite show as a kid was also Hogan.
It’s actually based on the greatest scape the same music from the greatest scape is the intro to recess.
@@Dominickudo Did you mean The Great Escape?
The movie Chicken Run is a claymation version of The Great Escape and I wouldn't have enjoyed it if I hadn't seen The Great Escape first
@@FaithOriginalisme Yes I did 😄.
It really is, from the style of humor, the characters and even the theme song.
Not gonna lie, I still watch this. This show never gets old for me.
My favorite episode is "Economics of Recess"
Same, along with The Substitute and The Box.
The guy who did the voice for Mr. E did just a great job.
@@cxssetteman182 No kidding! Mr. E was so cool when I was kid.
I'm 39 and rewatching it on Disney +
It's still amazing :)
"Why Recess Was The PERFECT Kid's Show" Welp I'm gonna like the video
Honestly, I wasn't even a kid anymore when I watched it. It was simply a good show. I even bought the movie on DVD.
@@swanpride that's good man I'm glad the younger generation don't care if tgey watch cartoons I personally like some cartoons better than normal sitcoms and some movies
@@swanpride I was born in 2004 Disney Channel use to air it here in the UK at 10:30pm but they stop to replace their awful modern sitcoms
The days of "kid power" shows are pretty much gone. Shows like Recess were all about kid power. That kids truly can make a difference in the world as kids and by being kids. Watching recess made me feel like I could do something and take action, even if I didn't have power or resources. The kids in the show were entrepreneurial, creative, and had unbreakable spirits. They knew exactly who they were, and embraced each other's strengths. That's what kids need in their shows.
I LOVED Recess! As most of you have pointed out, this was one of the shows that took kids seriously and made sure their voices were heard! :)
Only recently realised that Spinelli is the same voice actress as Bobby Hill
Vince is Tucker from Danny Phantom. Gretchen is Gwen Tennyson. Gus is Lloyd from Lloyd in Space. Lot of unique roles.
Pamela aldon is awesome! One of the few big voice actors that is just as or even more successful as a live action actor.
Even one of the two skeleton kids in the game Grim Fandango. Many roles indeed, her voice is iconic.
Her mom is Leela!
I think the most mind blowing for me is Dante Bosco as King Bob
When I was a kid I thought that the kindergarteners in this show were over the top.. now that I’m an adult and work at a school.... this show got it absolutely perfect.
Speaking of the continuity, I remember laughing so hard when Spinelli was able to use the kindergarteners against the ninjas(especially adding their pronunciation of Spinelli) in the movie
Recess was definitely one of the only show I watch growing up where the kids actually acted, talk and behaviour like kids
Agree a lot of show make the kids act like adults
When I was recovering from surgery, I had to lie flat on my back and watch TV for several weeks. During the final week, I watched Recess on Disney+ and was shook at how brilliant it is. Really holds up. Love it.
When I was a kid of about 12 I could list every character that had ever been in this show, first and second names. It was quite the party trick.
Nothing is more of a wholesome and self aware product of its time than Recess
i recently re watched the show after a sudden nostalgic hit and i also was surprised to see jow informative and morally good the tv series was it kind of made me realize how much my childhood was shaped around TJ and his friends
There are still a lot of good adult lessons in this show - one of my favorites is the tattletale episode where everyone breaks the code of honor to save recess - "It appears that the code, like life, isn't all black and white." It's a pretty big message to make its way into a kid's show.
whose else favourite character was Spinelli....i dont know why but i related to her most in the show...for me personally i cant remember much of the show today but two things i still remember and something that taught me and touched me deeply was 2 spinelli episodes....one in which spinelli goes to the beauty paegant and essentially changes herself to fit into this idea of beauty and then by the end thrown it all away and that had such an impact on me and taught me to live life as myself unapologetically....also another one was when everyne found out spinelli name's was ashley and then she had to join other ashleys but the groud didnt leave her and rescued her....it taught me that preconcieved notions of society imposing something on you because of your name and background is wrong and it doesnt matter where you come from,what matters is what you do with it
My favorite was Gretchen
Mrs. Finsters last name means sinister or dark in German fits her well.
I thought its a localisation. Kinda funny its the same in english.
@@alexbrown8900 hab ich bis zu diesem Video auch gedacht. 🤔😂
She also looks like Muriel from Courage The Cowardly Dog, and they the exact same name too
@@SailorMoonFriends good to know ✌️
@@SailorMoonFriends
She's like Muriel with bit of Estuce
I remember skipping the last class of school with the help of my parents to watch recess at 3 pm everyday
Was a simple life back then. Time sure flies by
God this was my favorite show ever, it was quite genius
Watching this as a child (I was 8 or 9 when I discovered it), I remember I loved the half serious, half humorous situations where the gang found itself in. The school as a "society", with its rules, authority, exchanges, groups and relations was captivating. Plus, the series was clever enough to make fun about some cultural stuff, such as movies, music, litterature, and so on. I also remember the learning we could retrieve from one episode or another. Most of the time, it was very enjoyable, and sometimes, it was quite a gold nugget.
So happy that you covered this. This show is so underrated and one of my favorites from my childhood
I think Hey Arnold also did this wonderfully, taking seriously its characters’ problems, giving them depth and reflecting on the emotional stakes of day to day situations... also Helga Pataki ❤️
Helga is a BRILLIANT character.
Exactly, Hey Arnold and Recess taught actual life lessons in a very subtle way the story directs it by following the character's struggle but we don't get to see right away until the protagonist he/she goes to work, school or even at home then something random happens like maybe bullying, worrying about the future and not knowing what to do with your life, depression, family struggles, abuse, racism, eating disorders, alcohol, drugs, war, corruption and many other serious topics that every person goes through that could bring that situation and showed such a human/empathy in a way it was real. Then our protagonist, antagonist or side character has to find a way to resolve that problem, maybe they can help a friend who is struggling or learn how to cope with the situation without letting it affect you. Let me tell you I miss this kind of shows that actually reached to the audience
@@ash2694 Ed, Edd n Eddy would sort of join their genre but it's a slapstick cartoon instead
Love every episode.. Maybe becasuse I feel I relate to this innocent generation. No phones. No apps. No monostrus technology...Just pure childhood momens
Another aspect of how the show is mostly about "embracing childhood" is seen in some episodes where it shows how adults like prickley manage to be responsible when finding balance between being in touch with their childhoods but kinda border on "too harsh unfair teacher" when they forget how they used to be kids once.
Recess holds up so well as an adult. I could re-watch it anytime.
I remember watching the movie in theaters.
I know I aged myself...lol
Ayeee blackscape!!!
Me too. Took my cousins to make it seem like it was about them. 😊
Rewatching this during lockdown was my best decision, I saw it so much as a kid but didn't realise how truly brilliant it was until rewatching it, smart and funny.
I've wanted to see someone cover this show on YT for a long time, such a great series!
I still remember when Recess crossed over with Lilo and Stitch
Haha so odd episode, but good one.
I love that Recess is a really grounded show about children and their perception of the world but it canonically exists in a universe with aliens, dragons, magic, lake monsters, time travel, and child spies.
@@VXMasterson I really don't like the crossover, I pretend it doesn't exist. But I like your idea of aliens, time travel and other syfi stuff existing in the Recess universe though. Especially since it seems like all the things that have happened in Earthbound/Mother could be possible.
Haven’t seen the show in ages, but nodding and remembering most of the points brought up. The movie is worth a watch to; ninjas, lasers, and that tambourine song.
It's kind of amazing how even after all these years I can still watch episodes of this show and enjoy it.
This show doesn't get the respect it deserves.
I am 30 and I still remember the episode when TJ found a kind that did not like him regardless of what he did it was a great life lesson for me as a kid that some people just don't like you no matter what you do for them and that is cool. the show was amazing for kids in the 90's
I have only two quotes from Recess that made it one of the funniest shows to watch, growing up.
“Who can name the most powerful lizard that ever ruled the earth.”
“Randall.”
S04. E24
“You hit Spinelli during a timeout? She was right, you are a worm.”
S01. E16
Scandals!!!
Only the third (long running) show where I can say I’ve seen every episode. I enjoy it as much now as I did as a kid.
Great video, I enjoyed the review!
Recess is one of the few shows from my childhood that I can enjoy as much today as I did as a kid. It’s so funny and clever.
I'd like to see a comparison between Recess and Codename: Kids Next Door, two shows from my childhood that really made you proud of being a kid, just in different ways. KND also portrayed problems kids faced, like homework, chores, family relationships and rivalries, albeit in exaggerated ways.
I've always considered Recess to basically be classic era Simpsons for kids- it has the same kind of complexity and nuance and clever writing, while being really funny too- classic Simpsons and Recess feel like they have the exact same sensibility and maturity to their writing and storytelling. Recess is really underrated- it's honestly an all-time classic!
its kinda wholesome and the characters love eachother unlike modern shows where the characters all seem to hate eachother
Recess would be handling much more disturbing topics if it was still running in 2020... we all know about how times have changed from what they were once worried about :(
How do you mean? I mean it's not like the world used to be all roses before 2020.
I think they mean the increased consciousness of school shootings in the minds of kids. I remember sitting in my art class absentmindedly deciding that if a shooter came into the building i'd hide in the big trash can and pile trash on myself to obscure myself. And my elementary school had lockdowns whenever a prisoner escaped bc we were near the county jail. So while school certainly wasn't roses pre 2020 kids these days have some different worries than previous generations (even I had them and I'm 22)
@@SupahTrunks7 I see now. That's true, sadly. Things sure changed from 99 onwards...
Yeah, cultural shifts always creepin'
A 2021 version would be dreadful. Just think of what it would be like; constant references to social media, the internet, and political indoctrination targeted at the young audience. It's beautiful as the time capsule it is..
Oh god i loved this growing up, it played a massive part in my childhood and shaping myself as a kid.
Masterpiece indeed there aren’t too many animated kids shows like this anymore.
This is why Safety-Man is my gamertag
God, the Bonky episode is the main one I remember from being a kid - I remember crying the first time I saw it because of the existential dread of 'getting old' and 'leaving your childhood favourites behind' that it instilled in me, and even now just seeing stills from the episode is enough to send me right back to that childlike frame of mind. I think it speaks to something that not just kids, but adults feel, from time to time.
I am 28, i still watch this. It somehow feels good.
I grew up with this show and it definitely made me feel understood in how kids view the world. i found a weird comfort in mikey and wished i had a big brother like him since my sister was never quite close to me. they felt like friends, in a way when i didnt have many and it was nice.
also that episode about the cursed game "ajimbo" feels like a creepypasta with its musical stings and story pacing and even spooky story about an innocent thing
I love this show because it follows one thing I've always believed in: Kids are smarter than adults think.
I'm rewatching the show with my sister, she still remembers the lines. Gosh, she wasn't even 10 when she first watched it
I'm so glad some people still remember this show!
This show and Edd Edd n Eddy were some of my favorite shows from my childhood
Almost every frame in this video had me like OMG I REMEMBER THIS
Recess was my absolute favourite TV series while I grew up for exactly the reasons you've put in this video...
Recess is honestly my second favourite animated show ever! That I grew up with as a kid and still cherish to this day! But Rugrats will always be my number 1 favourite! Nothing from the 90s will ever top that...
Don’t forget in the feature length movie “School’s Out” where they expand on Principal Prickly who wanted to be a principal “Not for promotions, but to make things better for you kids...” someone who is simply bitter and cynical than anything else about the reality of adulthood...
Recess is my childhood favourite cartoon & really under appreciated, I've watched all the episodes many many times. It helped me fantasise & escape reality while I was lost & alone in primary school.
I never liked Recess when I was a kid but I rewatched it recently and loved it
It definitely doesn't whomp.
It's a great show for adults too! I love it!!
This and Filmore were the best school themed series of my childhood.
Filmore was crazy underrated, shame it was cancelled!
I wish Filmore would come to Disney Plus, along with Lloyd In Space
@@SailorMoonFriends
Agreed!
I'm not sure why Disney Plus has yet to stream all of their great shows. It's not like these shows are lost or banned.
(Legend of Tarzan, Aladdin, Filmore, The Weekenders, Pepper Ann, etc.)
This show was for the smart kids, only the kids that were smart would get the deeper meaning. Not me tho, I only got the deeper meaning at 21 😂
😂😂😂
Thank you for making this, it is one of the many shows I grew up with and I realize now it may have been the most nostalgic western animation for me, for how much mature it seemed compared to some other cartoons I watched at the time.
I clicked out of pure nostalgia
This is how diversity in entertainment should be done today, everything about the series from the diverse characters through out the school and the lessons learned all feel natural and not forced or shoved in our face. One of my favorite episodes is when they find the old book of playground rules of a well known and respected king and decide to go forward with following those rules, but as they see what exactly these rules imply they realize it was a mistake to follow them , later they learn the rules were from the great depression era and made sense given those times unique circumstances and realize that as the times change so must the rules(*cough*laws*cough*) to better suite the current times.
I completely agree, just from the title. I loved this show!
Liked this video before I even started it! I love Recess and yes, it absolutely is the perfect kids TV show! I'm excluding anime and adult oriented animated shows, since those deserves lists all their own, but Recess is a special part of my childhood and now my adult life
Recess, Hey Arnold, Doug and The Weekenders are all must watch "growing up" cartoons.
Omg, I remember rewatching it, and there was a scene where they wanted to get rid of someone, and the snitch-kid (Randall?) said: "We tell Ms Finster he's a communist!" And I'm like?? 😂
Damn, this video took me WAY back! The nostalgia is strong with this one.
Best kids show of all time I've seen every episode atleast 10 times
I remembered this show out of nowhere i remember seeing recess schools out in 4rth grade. one of the best movies ive watched
Recess is the pure taste of our childhood. I love it, so as you!
the music is so serious i feel like i'm watching csi but the video, incredible. thanks for this because it was really needed.
I love Recess. I love this video. Well done Mr. Full Fat, sir!
Been binging this show lately. It was so ahead of it’s time!!!
Hey, just saying this show has the same amazing reputation and fame here in Spain!
I used to watch it while learning English. It was much more fun than going to school lessons 🤣
Recess is childhood, every kid should have to watch it
If I remember correctly, the Recess TV movie was also really good
I honestly think if I watch this show now (as good as it is, I liked it), all I will think about is "Where are all the adults?! Also, the kids wouldn't all be let out, there's a schedule and the classes would have an adult supervisor. No wonder Finster is like that, she's severely understaffed."
It took me forever to realize Menlo is an anagram of Lemon. I see what you did there Joe and Paul
such a great show. we'll never get gold like this again sadly.
Such a great show, I was watching it in Disney* since I was born in 2001, I missed the opportunity to watch it and wow, it’s even enjoyable for adults because of the topics that the show talk about in kids life, from a crush with your teacher to a more serious topic like absent parents, etc. Really good! ❤
this show has given me and my siblings so many memories. we love it to this day.
I know it's old-fashioned, but I really wish this had gotten a full DVD boxset release. I know it won't happen now thanks to Disney+, but it's surprising that it never got one back in the day.
I am sooooooo sooo glad people are still talking about this
what's funny is that, rewatching this as an adult, i feel genuinely anxious and uncomfortable while watching some of these episodes, like i can remember and relate to those struggles. they are children, but their feelings of fear and anxiety towards certain situations are as real and valid as they would be for adults in adult situations
Just hearing to TJ talk, he sounds EXACTLY like Gumball
Was just thinking of this show. It was a gem.
I still watch this at 41 🥰 so reminiscent of my childhood especially "unwritten" rules. I think there’s a character in this show everyone can relate to if not multiple characters. As a parent it’s so easy to guess the type of home life with many of the back characters like hustle kid or cry baby kid 😂 Seriously the best kids show that’s still wholesome and would let my grandkids watch one day.
This show was great. I wonder where they got such great writers