Dexter’s Laboratory by Genndy Tartakovsky is a cute kid’s cartoon that people of any age would love. Genndy Tartakovsky is the Chuck Jones of this generation. He is able to convey wonderful emotions and hilarity with deceptively simple drawings and stories. Writers on the show included Craig McCracken (who went on to create The Powerpuff Girls), Butch Hartman (who went on to create Fairly Oddparents and Danny Phantom) and Seth McFarlane (Family Guy and most of Sunday night on Fox) among others. With top notch writing and a keen visual sense, Dextor’s Laboratory was one of the better cartoons of recent years.

The main character is Dexter, a nine year old genius who has a hidden laboratory (emphasis on the second syllable) in his room and talks with a slight East European accent. Up against Dexter is his cluelessly destructive sister Dee-Dee and his arch enemy Mandark (voiced by the inimitable Eddie Deezen). Dexter tries to create robots or machines that are usually destroyed in some way by Dee-Dee or more often by Dexter himself.  Dexter and Dee-Dee make a fine pairing similar to Pinky and The Brain. Mandark is is scientific opposite who Dexter finds himself competing with, but is in love with Dee-Dee (unreciprocated of course). The prevailing sentiment in the show is barely contained insanity. With visual jokes galore (such as things blowing up, houses and neighborhoods getting destroyed and robots running wild. It’s a delightfully irreverent series that is aimed at younger kids, but with enough insanity to appeal to older viewers as well.

I’ve made my love for Tartakovsky’s work known before, and this was his first series. You can tell by the talent that was on this show, that his visual style and influence have grown across a lot of Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and most of Sunday Night on Fox. Highly recommended.