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As of March 2020, Lackadaisy‘s successful Kickstarter means a new piece of independent animation is in the works for fans of webcomics and quirky 2D cartoons alike. Lackadaisy, a long-running webcomic, recently launched a Kickstarter that was an immediate success, gaining over triple their initial goal.
The success of this Kickstarter means an animated short of Lackadaisy will be in the makes, not only for fans but as a way to potentially pitch the webcomic to become an animated series. Lackadaisy’s immense fan support and potential is evident in its Kickstarter and popularity, but what does this indicate about the world of animation — particularly for stories like Lackadaisy that are aimed towards an older audience?
What Is Lackadaisy All About?
Lackadaisy is a historical dramedy webcomic created, written, and illustrated by Tracy J. Butler. It began in 2006 and has gained many accolades and fan support over the years. Taking place in the height of the American prohibition era, the comic dives deep into the seedy world of speakeasies, with no shortage of jazz, gunfire, and murder mysteries. The diverse cast encapsulates many different parts of 1920s America, with characters from different social backgrounds shaped by the time and setting. Butler goes into intricate detail on historical depictions of the era, immersing the reader into the early 20th century in what feels like a love letter to the era.
The comic follows many characters, but primarily focusses on the trials and tribulations of Rocky — the chaotically chummy rumrunner of an underground speakeasy called Lackadaisy. The mysterious death of the speakeasy’s previous owner has put his windowed wife, Mitzi May, in charge of the establishment, which is on a down swing from its former heyday. Mitzi struggles to keep the club afloat while deflecting rumors of her hand in her late husband’s murder, both endeavors that involve a good amount of shady deals. The comic follows an ensemble cast of Lackadaisy workers, business associates, and rival establishments navigating the underground of St. Louis. Also, they are cats.
Lackadaisy‘s Animated Artwork
A standout feature about Lackadaisy is the blend of styles that make up the art. The characters are human but represented by expressive feline designs that give Lackadaisy its trademark quirk. Each design tells the reader about the character and makes up a part of the diverse cast of the comic. Butler’s style is extremely expressive and already quite animated. This vintage aesthetic, eye for details, and dynamic characters bring energy to every corner of the page. The cartoonish designs meld with Butler’s exceptional shading and sense of depth to make the art vibrant and lively. Lackadaisy already has a cinematic quality and should set the foundation for some unique animation opportunities.
What Lackadaisy Could Be bringing To Animation
Lackdaisy has a lot to offer to this exciting time in adult animation. The comic is full of action, drama, and comedy, and Butler’s dynamic, oftentimes exaggerated style fully renders the huge range of moods that the comic goes through. This is a comic with artwork and storytelling that strives to fully immerse the reader into the setting. With a cinematic quality already present in the comic, animation will bring to life an already lively and exciting visual world.
Being a period piece, the comic explores the light and dark parts of the Roaring 20s. As much as the comic is a comedy with plenty of slapstick and wise-cracking cats, there are a lot of references to issues at the turn of the century. Juxtaposing the cute cat designs, the characters deal with heavy themes of recuperating from The Great War, struggles of immigration, and the hardships and betrayals that come with crime. The scope and tone of the historical-set story would be something new to explore in 2D animation.
Continuing To Broaden The Horizons Of Adult Animation
Animation is loved by people of all ages, but it is no secret that culturally it is associated with a younger audience, with adult animation having some limitations. Until recently, adult animation in the West was primarily comedy based, with the sitcom being the headlining formula for decades. There have been more adult-targeted series that break out of the mainstream expectations for animation. Animated super hero adaptations, Netflix animations, and the occasional Adult Swim dramedy like Metalocalypse have been paving the way for more creative and dramatic opportunities in adult animation. Butler in her Kickstarter video states that Lackadiasy could potentially continue to open up the kind of animation that is aimed at an older audience.
The success of Bojack Horseman on Netflix shows that creative and dramatic animation aimed for and older audience does have a place in pop culture mainstream. Hazbin Hotel, another independent adult cartoon, found huge success on YouTube while incorporating a surreal and creative world. Lackadaisy depicts mature themes, and doesn’t shy away from the fact that these are adult characters in adult situations. To have adult cartoons that break away from the sitcom formula and shock humor would continue to show the variety in stories that can and should be animated. This is particularly true for a period piece like Lackadaisy, which had incredibly high stakes and lively characters.
The Animated Future Of Butler’s Felines
Whether Lackadaisy animated gets picked up for a series or remains as a one-shot, the desire for these kind of projects in animation is clear. The comic is an unexpected blend of historical drama and cartoony comedy set to bring something new into the world of animation. Lackadaisy could potentially break expectations of how dark a cartoon with talking cats could be, and be part of bringing adult-targeted animation to a new place.
The animated short (and many other extras from the Kickstart’s stretch goals) is set to come out sometime in 2021. From there, Lackadaisy is worth following to see if this eclectic webcomic will go mainstream and continue widening the world of mature-themed animation. Meanwhile, the Lackadaisy comic is active on its homesite, along with Lackadaisy artwork, extras, and mini-comics.