Enter “Chop Socky Chooks,” a new too-cool-for-kids, too-animated-for-adults cartoon centered around (wait for it...) kung fu chicken.
Created and directed by Sergio Delfino, a graphic artist who worked on previous Aardman productions, “Chop” features three chickens who use their martial arts skills to protect their friends. Well, when they're not working minimum wage jobs at the mall that just happens to be owned by their arch rival, Dr. Wasabi. Or making odd references to video games, Hong Kong cinema clichés, or, cannibalistically, chicken dishes.
We told you it was weird.
Who's that?: Patterson Joseph, who's worked on such British shows as “Hyperdrive” and “Jekyll,” voices KO Joe; Shelley Longworth, who is the voice of BBC one, does Chick P; Paul Kaye, who probably has more prominent, but less cool, credits than being a zombie in the movie “Shaun Of The Dead,” plays the evil Dr. Wasabi; while Rupert Degas, whose done voices for such video games as “Star Wars: Empire At War,” “Heavenly Sword,” and the upcoming “Haze,” is the voice of Wasabi's put-upon assistant Bubba.
Buzzed about: Coming from the people who made “Wallace And Gromit” and “Chicken Run,” this looks to have a similarly offbeat mix of action and comedy.
The “ooh” factor: The writing, especially in its satirical rendering of martial arts clichés, is especially smart, while the action recalls classic Bruce Lee flicks.
The “eh” factor: Some (young) kids might not get the jokes, while some (dull) adults might find it too weird.
The verdict: Like “SpongeBob” before it, this is a cartoon that will entertain both cool kids and their equally hip parents.
"Chop Socky Chooks" premieres March 7 at 9 p.m./8c on Cartoon Network.
