Modern comedy is constantly changing and taking on new forms, and in recent years, there’s been a surge in comedies in the form of faux children’s cartoon; but ever since the Simpsons and the “good” era of Cartoon Network ended, there has been a void of quality cartoon material in the comedy world. The Netflix series Big Mouth fills this void.
Big Mouth, created in 2017 by comedy legends Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg, follows the story of three early teenagers as they fight their way way through the woes of puberty. Cameos of the “Hormone Monster”–a seven-foot-something monstrosity with a foul mouth voiced by Nick Kroll himself–make this cartoon dirtier (and, subsequently, more fun) than your average coming of age story.
Regular appearances by comedy veterans Jordan Peele, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and more, also act to make Big Mouth a simply outstanding work of cartoon-comedy for its time. I, for one, was pleased to see one of my favorite comedians, John Mulaney, take the stage as middle schooler Glouberman.
Regardless of one’s age, gender, or level of Simpsons-era nostalgia, this cartoon will bring back fond memories of the universally relatable awkwardness that was puberty for us all. Big Mouth is as sure to make viewers cringe as much as it is to make them laugh at its ridiculousness–just like puberty.