Animals (American TV series)

{{Infobox television

| image = Animals. title card.jpg

| caption =

| genre = Comedy

| creator = {{unbulleted list|Phil Matarese|Mike Luciano}}

| writer = {{unbulleted list|Phil Matarese|Mike Luciano}}

| director = {{unbulleted list|Phil Matarese|Mike Luciano}}

| voices = {{unbulleted list|Phil Matarese|Mike Luciano}}

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = Julian Wass

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 3

| num_episodes = 30

| list_episodes = List of Animals episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Phil Matarese
Mike Luciano
Mark Duplass
Jay Duplass

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

James Fino
Kenny Micka
Jen Roskind
Joe Russo
Josh Polon}}

| location =

| cinematography =

| editor =

| camera =

| runtime = 22–30 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

HBO Entertainment
Karen BBQ
Duplass Brothers Television
Starburns Industries{{cite web|url=http://www.starburnsindustries.com/2016/02/how-phil-matarese-and-mike-luciano-turned-their-ad-agency-side-project-into-hbos-new-animated-series-animals/|title=How Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano Turned Their Ad Agency Side Project Into HBO's New Animated Series, 'Animals'|date=February 12, 2016|access-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629081138/http://www.starburnsindustries.com/2016/02/how-phil-matarese-and-mike-luciano-turned-their-ad-agency-side-project-into-hbos-new-animated-series-animals/|archive-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}

}}

| network = HBO

| first_aired = {{Start date|2016|02|05}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2018|10|05}}

| related =

}}

Animals (stylised Animals.) is an American adult animated{{Cite web|date=2016-02-08|title=Animals - TV Review|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/animals|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.commonsensemedia.org|language=en}} comedy television series created by Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano. The first two episodes were independently produced and presented at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/animals-animated-tv-series-sundance-film-festival-mark-duplass-1201353563/ |title=Animated Series 'Animals' Adds Indie TV Flavor To Sundance Film Festival |publisher=Deadline |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=January 20, 2015 |access-date=February 14, 2016}} In May 2015, HBO picked the series up with a two-season order,{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=HBO Gives 2-Season Order To 'Animals' Animated Comedy From Duplass Brothers|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/animals-hbo-animated-series-2-seasons-duplass-brothers-1201434493/|access-date=January 2, 2016|date=May 29, 2015|publisher=Deadline}} which premiered on February 5, 2016.{{cite web|title=HBO Confirms Debut Date for Animated Adult Comedy Series "Animals"|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2015/11/25/hbo-confirms-debut-date-for-animated-adult-comedy-series-animals-819111/20151125hbo02/|publisher=The Futon Critic|access-date=January 2, 2016|date=November 25, 2015}} The series was renewed for a third season on May 19, 2017.{{cite web|title='Animals' Renewed For Third Season By HBO|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/animals-renewed-third-season-hbo-1202098368/|publisher=Deadline|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=May 19, 2017|access-date=May 31, 2017}} Season 3 premiered on August 3, 2018. In October 2018, it was announced that HBO had canceled the series.{{cite web|title='Animals' Animated Series Canceled By HBO After 3 Seasons|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/animals-canceled-hbo-three-seasons-hbo-adult-animated-comedy-duplass-brothers-1202484751/|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=October 17, 2018}}

Plot

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
Neil Casey as Principal Lief, a rat principal at the high school Phil Jr. and Mike attended in the first two seasons. He also played the human Executive 3, a Pesci Co. employee that became the founding leader of the Labcoats in season 3 after Dr. Labcoat subjected him to a mutative strain of the Green Pill in season 2, and Reporter.
Jay Duplass as Dennis
Lauren Lapkus as Jacob, CO298{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/animals/cast-and-crew/index.html|title=Animals|website=HBO|access-date=April 3, 2016}}
Jon Lovitz as Himself, Old Ben
Claudia O'Doherty as April
Mindy Sterling as Psychic Lady
Kurt Vile as Himself

=Guest stars=

Jhené Aiko as Mary
Jason Alexander as Algae
Stephanie Allynne as TO89W
Eric André as Alex
Aziz Ansari as Charles{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/animals-hbo-jay-mark-duplass-things-to-know/|title=Animals': 14 Things to Know About HBO's Bewildering Animated Series|publisher=Collider.com|first=Christina|last=Radish|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}}
Scott Aukerman as Drug Dealer
Awkwafina as Annie
Bob Balaban as Himself
Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Giraffe
Amir Blumenfeld as Caterer 1
Big Boi as Fox 2
Alex Borstein as Lois Griffin
Jessica Chastain as Sarah
Emilia Clarke as Lumpy{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301123724/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/animals-trailer-season-2-hbo-1201788692/ |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/animals-trailer-season-2-hbo-1201788692/ |title='Animals' Trailer: Season 2 Throws Down With Emilia Clarke, Judy Greer, Rupaul and Dan Harmon |first=Hanh |last=Nguyen |publisher=IndieWire |date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=March 1, 2017|url-status=live}}
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
Whoopi Goldberg as Dorothy
Kim Gordon as Tulip
Judy Greer as Ali
David Harbour as Hawk
Dan Harmon as Ad Man 1
Jonah Hill as Pesicorp President
Mary Holland as Ashley, 69-69-420x
Jake Hurwitz as Caterer 2
Mitchell Hurwitz as Larry
Brandon Johnson as Ad Man 3
Jay Johnston as Ad Man 4
January Jones as Diana
Dinosaur Jr. as Themselves as Beavers
Mindy Kaling as Sandy
Ellie Kemper as Princess
Harmony Korine as Corey
Nick Kroll as Jerry
James Kyson
Jennifer Lafleur as Wife
Donna Lewis as Donna Lewis Rat
Lucy Liu as Yumi
Melanie Lynskey as Linda
Anthony Mackie as Receipt
Jason Mantzoukas as Fink
Demetri Martin as Graham
Marc Maron as Marc Maron Rat{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5324476/fullcredits|title="Animals." Rats (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb|website=IMDb }}
Tatiana Maslany as Sherman
Danny McBride as Gregory
Killer Mike as Fox 1
Moby as Moby Pig
Robert Morse as Old Phil
Kumail Nanjiani as Rusty
Meghan O'Neill as Meghan, Natalie, Angels
Gil Ozeri as Chuck
Adam Pally as Max
Chelsea Peretti as Angela
Michael Rapaport as Erik
Andy Richter as Prisoner
Justin Roiland as H&M
Paul Rust as Mason
Horatio Sanz as Julio
Ben Schwartz as Antonio, Geoff
Adam Scott as Shane
Rory Scovel as Ronnie
Ty Segall as Himself
Molly Shannon as Olivia
Alia Shawkat as Sharon
Pauly Shore as Pat
Jenny Slate as Snake
Cobie Smulders as Anni
Jessica St. Clair as Kaitlin
Dino Stamatopoulos as Ad Man 2
Wanda Sykes as Chance
Raven Symone as Nurse
Jacob Tremblay as Nuke
Usher as Miles
Marlon Wayans as Ry-Ry
Shawn Wayans as Tommy
Joe Wengert as Priest, Baker, Boyfriend
Erin Whitehead as 49C74
Casey Wilson as Queen Ant
John Witherspoon as Jimmy
Zach Woods as Brian
Steve Zissis as Husband
A$AP Ferg as Bodega Cat 1
A$AP Rocky as Bodega Cat 2
Nick Hexum as Himself
SA Martinez as Himself
Jet Eveleth as Scarf Rat {{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5225762/fullcredits|title="Animals." Rats (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb|website=IMDb }}

Episodes

Critical reception

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/animals/s01/|title=Animals : Season 1 (2016)|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 21, 2020}} On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 54 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or above average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/animals|title=Animals: Season 1|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=February 18, 2016}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/animals-hbo-1201691105/|title=TV Review: 'Animals' |newspaper=Variety |first=Maureen|last=Ryan|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=February 18, 2016}} 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."{{cite news|last1=Wiegand|first1=David|title='Animals' cuts the cute, but remains wildly kooky|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/tv/article/Off-beat-HBO-show-has-Animals-magnetism-6799346.php|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=10 April 2016|date=February 1, 2016}}