Where do I even begin to review the new DVD set of Cartoon Network’s “Sealab 2021: Season 1?” I guess I should start with the assumption that you might have absolutely no idea what “Sealab 2021” is. How about we try that… okay? If you’d like to step into the ‘way back’ machine with me, we’ll travel to the year 1972. It was time when the production company of Hanna-Barbera was running full steam to churn out animated series after animated series. One in particular, “Sealab 2020”, featured an underwater domed city, where scientists studied what life would be like living beneath the sea. Its main inhabitant was Dr. Paul Williams. The man behind the voice of Williams was none other than Ross Martin (of “Wild, Wild West” fame).

After being rescued by Sealab divers, Williams was joined in the series by Captain Mike Murphy, Sally Murphy, Bobby Murphy and a guy who was known simply as “Sparks”.

It was a fairly straightforward series, filled with underwater adventures. The animation was bit rudimentary as was the case with a lot of animated shows at the time. It only lasted for a single thirteen-episode season, and I barely remember watching it as a youngster. Years went by without my ever thinking of the show, so much so that it was all but forgotten… until last year.

Like many of my friends, I had gotten into the habit of watching Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim.’ For those of you unfamiliar with it, basically it’s a block of cartoons that are put on late at night (after the kiddies should be in bed) that are aimed at a distinctly adult audience. Not adult in the pornographic sense, but animated shows that offer a little bit more violence and language than you might want your children to see. Some are Anime, others… well… they’re just odd.

I still remember the first night that I saw “Sealab 2021.” I sat in front of the TV, stunned at what I was watching. It looked exactly like the show I used to watch 22 years ago. The animation style was the same, the characters were immediately recognizable. But there was something… different. The title had been changed to show that 1 year had gone by, the characters had different names, and… and… they were behaving very strangely. The particular episode I saw had Captain Mike Murphy… I mean Captain “Hank” Murphy telling his crew that his HappyCake Oven had been stolen and he wanted everyone to start searching, even at the cost of their very lives. And their radio operator was toying with world domination, to the point of actually having control over a cadre of evil henchmen. It was the most bizarre thing I had ever seen. And I couldn’t get enough.

Every week, my wife and I would turn on Adult Swim just to see “Sealab 2021.” As bizarre as it was, there was no getting away from the fact that those 15 minute episodes were hypnotic. I felt as though we were being sucked into some kind of Sealab cult. As the weeks wore on, we noticed that the creators of the series were getting more and more comfortable with the series and every episode pushed the boundaries of good taste a little further. The sexual innuendos became a little more than innuendos, and some of the plotlines made me question what kind of hallucinogenic medications the writers were on. And yet, we continued to watch.

When I learned that Warner Brothers was actually releasing the 1st season on DVD, I couldn’t wait to get it in. I was curious to see if I had missed seeing any of the episodes (I had), and whether or not the extra features would give some insight into the whacked-out imaginations of the writers (they did). The set itself only has two discs, but as there were only 13 episodes in the 1st season… that was surely enough.

The extra features are few, but very worthwhile for those cult members… I mean… fans of the series. Along with some uncensored or deleted scenes from three of the episodes, they have included the original pitch pilot that was used to sell the series to Cartoon Network. Watching it, I had a sense of Déjà vu by wondering what hallucinogenic medications the Network ‘suits’ were on when they decided to add the series to the roster. There is also some very interesting information about the show’s creators that I won’t divulge here. You gotta learn about it the same way I did.

For what is considered to be a very bizarre series Warner Home Video really turned out a nice product as far as the extras and packaging. After watching this set, I’m already on the prowl for the next one. I hope they release it soon! Oh, and if I haven’t convinced you that you need to get this set… did I mention that Erik Estrada does one of the voices? What are you waiting for?

Episodes:
I, Robot
Happycake
Radio Free Sealab
Chickmate
Lost in Time
Predator
Little Orphan Angry
Waking Quinn
All That Jazz
Murphy Murph and the Feng Shui Bunch
In the Closet
Stimutacs
Swimming in Oblivion

Starring (the voices of): Harry Goz, Brett Butler, Erik Estrada, Bill Lobley, Ellis Henican, Kate Miller
Extras: Pitch Pilot, “I, Robot” Alternate Ending, “Radio Free Sealab” Uncensored, “Little Orphan Angry” Deleted Scenes
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: 7/20/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
Website

We'll give Sealab 2021: Season 1an A.