Animated Atrocities: Operation: C.A.R.A.M.E.L.

Now Loading: 

Kids Next Door Mission:

Operation: C.A.R.A.M.E.L.

Candies Are Really Altering Many Extraordinary Lives

Show:Codename: Kids Next Door
Episode: S6 E12a
Year: 2006

Writing Operative(s): Alison Wilgus, Andy Rheingold, Mr. Warburton


I realize I have a lot to review, but with Netflix getting rid of their Cartoon Cartoons by the end of March, I figure the rest of this month and the next will be Cartoon Network Month. In this, I will be reviewing both the good and the bad from many of Cartoon Network's original series. I figured I'd get the bad out of the way first by tackling one of the most controversial episodes from their most story driven series.


As for the episode in question, this was one of the last episodes to air before “Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.”, the series finale, and as such the episode is a special kind of insulting. Now as for the concept itself, I like it, the idea of making a magical circle to steal someone's most prized attributes and turn them into the sweetest caramels is a great idea; it gives off a vibe similar to Fullmetal Alchemist, which is an anime I greatly respect (I have yet to watch Brotherhood as a whole). Seeing Sector V turned into their opposite selves compared to those attributes gives off a vibe similar to the MLP: Friendship Is Magic episode “The Return of Harmony”, where Discord turned the Mane 6 into the opposite of their elements, and their opposites are kind of funny, if not somewhat stereotypical.


You might be wondering: if I have so much to like about this episode, why is it an animated atrocity? Well, that has to do with the villain, Heinrich Von Marzipan. Now I don't hate Heinrich; I feel he makes an excellent evil counterpart to Numbuh 5 and a great rival. As a matter of fact, this episode puts his hatred of Abigail into context very well, by touching upon the incident in Guatemala, mentioned only once back in Season 3 in his debut episode “Operation: J.E.W.E.L.S.”. However, what makes this episode an atrocity is the ending itself. The Guatemala incident was only ever mentioned once before, so as such we know nothing of Heinrich's history with Abigail to really feel for his loss. To us, he's just been a greedy evil version of Augustus Gloop, only less gross.

I see they were attempting to make the incident a Chekhov's gun, but unfortunately, to do that you have to foreshadow it more than just once and give it an ambient emphasis. To quote Anton Chekhov himself on the trope in question: 


"If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there." 


My point is that the incident itself should've had more buildup and purpose to lead up to this. Then there's Heinrich's reveal, which is the main reason this is an atrocity. As mentioned, it wasn't foreshadowed at all within the show, not even hinted at. Now sometimes a reveal without foreshadowing can work, like the reveal of Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings in the MLP: Friendship Is Magic episode “A Canterlot Wedding”; however, when you're dealing with a subject like THIS, you need to be a goddamn good writer to make it not seem like some weird ass fetish fanfic. Then there’s the moral implication of the reveal itself. You know what? I really don't feel comfortable talking about it… I'm not even going to say what it is, but it's the worst twist I've ever seen hands down... Let's… let's just get to the score, shall we?


Cringe-Inducing Audio: 0
Cringe-Inducing Visuals: 6
Lackluster Writing: 7
Annoyance: 0
Disturbing Content: 4
Unnecessary Cruelty: 0
Rancid Morals: 0
Low Production Values: 0
Unfortunate Implications: 10
Character Derailment: 3

Final Score: 30/100


KND is owned by Cartoon Network and Time Warner.

Animated Atrocities is from

Artisanking101

End Transmission