Animals (American TV series)

Each episode features a different cast of special guests, along with creators Matarese and Luciano playing various animals. The show features retroscripting and improvised dialogue based on plot outlines. Each season also has a story arc featuring humans in live-action sequences (except the first season which is all animated), such as a corrupt mayor and the events leading to his reelection in season one. In season two, the human story arc concerns a reporter investigating a virus outbreak created by mad scientist Dr. Labcoat, who is forced to release a gas that dissolves all human life in New York. In season three, which takes place three years after the dubbed "Green Day" incident, the animals of New York have formed their own governments while they are being observed by two soldiers who are losing their grip on reality. ==Cast==

Main • Phil Matarese as himself • Humans: Private Matarese • Rats: Phil Jr. Also portrayed Phil Jr.'s biological father in the first episode. • Pigeons • Cats: Emperor Phil, a sociopathic cat who was initially the mayor's cat. Also portrayed Phil, a mafia cat who took over the family business. • Dogs • Flies • Squirrels • Roaches • Worms • Horses • Mike Luciano as himself • Humans: Private Luciano • Rats: Mike, Phil Jr's best friend. Also portrayed Phil Jr.'s grandfather in his youth. • Pigeons • Cats: Emperor Mike, a sociopathic cat who was initially the mayor's cat. Also portrayed Mike, a mafia cat leaving organized crime. • Dogs • Flies • Squirrels • Roaches • Worms • Horses Recurring Humans • RuPaul Charles as Dr. Labcoat, the antagonist of season two's human storyline. A scientist of the unscrupulous conglomerate Pesci Co., Labcoat arranged for an epidemic in New York to sell the 'Green Pill' to enslave the populace. But after being exposed, Labcoat ends up destroying himself when he wiped out the human populace of New York. Posthumously, he established the Labcoat terrorists of season three. • John Early as The Assistant, Dr. Labcoat's aid and accomplice. • Demi Moore as The General, the antagonist of season three's human storyline. • Mel Rodriguez as The Lieutenant Animals • Katie Aselton as Rebecca, Mom • Jon Lovitz as Himself, Old Ben • Scott Aukerman as Drug Dealer • Brett Davis as Lizard Executive • Charlie Duncan as Maddie • Mark Duplass as Ken • Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Wendy • Josh Fadem as FDB Representative • Edie Falco as Psycho • Nathan Fielder as DJ Lab Rat • Tatiana Maslany as Sherman • Danny McBride as Gregory ==Episodes==

The first season has received positive reviews from critics. As of April 2020, it holds a 68% "Fresh" rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 19 reviews, with an average of 6.5/10. On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 54 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or above average reviews". Maureen Ryan of Variety gave the first season a negative review, writing, "The animated HBO show has a lot in common with programs like Girls, Louie, and Baskets, and like Togetherness, it boasts Mark and Jay Duplass as executive producers. But the extraordinarily tedious Animals., unlike those shows, fails to hit any of its chosen targets. It is unfunny, its animation is unexceptional and the studied banality of its dialogue is excruciating." Conversely, David Wiegand in the San Francisco Chronicle gave the season a positive review, writing, "The deadpan approach only enhances the delicious off the wall comedy of Animals. The series is batty and brilliant as it turns the whole notion of anthropomorphic cartoon animals on its fuzzy ear." ==See also==