Mission Hill (1999–2002) User Reviews (42)

One of the best adult cartoons ever made

[gizmomogwai · 9/10 · 15 April 2009]

I first saw this show in high school and I told other students about it, but no one had seen or heard of it. It was, in fact, cancelled after only 13 episodes were made in 1999-2000. Created by Simpsons producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, Mission Hill isn't as good as The Simpsons but nevertheless is one of the finest adult cartoons created.

The show is set in a city neighbourhood called Mission Hill, where 24-year-old aspiring cartoonist Andy French and his two roommates have to adjust to living with Andy's 17-year-old brother Kevin, who just moves in. Kevin is nerdy and the two brothers constantly fight. But Andy soon tries to show Kevin there's more to life than he thinks, and Kevin adjusts to living in a neighbourhood he finds strange, particularly with a radical liberal couple and an elderly gay couple as neighbours.

One episode makes fun of the MTV reality series The Real World, a show that will probably one day be forgotten, thus making this Mission Hill episode dated. But most episodes of Mission Hill will probably be timeless. They deal with real life struggles regarding social interaction, growing up, liking girls, sibling rivalry and jealousy, masturbation and pornography. Kevin is primarily interested in getting into a good university, but along the way he falls in love with a girl called Weirdie, who is sort of like him, and he begins to notice her shapely body. However, at the end we get classic Kevin jumping into the water to save what he wanted in the first place, a letter of recommendation for his college application from Weirdie's father. This episode and the two-part Unemployment episodes are highlights of the series. Another episode worth mentioning is Stories of Hope and Forgiveness, which depicts America in a pseudo-crisis. The way people react to it is reminiscent of September 11- this episode was made before but aired after 9/11.

There's some missed opportunities with Mission Hill, understandable since it only lasted for a season. One big one is Andy's female roommate Posey, voiced by an actress from NewsRadio- she's featured prominently in the title sequence and on the front cover of the DVD but plays only a small part in the actual show. Her best moment is when she tries to be mean in the Weirdie episode. Generally, though, we get to know the gay couple Wally and Gus better, particularly after the last episode, Plan 9 from Mission Hill. That's where we see their pretty funny movie which was obviously inspired by the works of Ed Wood.

See this show if you haven't already. There are some changes in the DVD, including with the music, and there's some audio problems with one episode, but they're still worth watching.

Criminally underrated "series"

[acw-59934 · 9/10 · 9 September 2017]

I just recently rediscovered this show as a now young adult and wonder why on Earth it survived only thirteen episodes. Most shows aired on Adult Swim now are at least only half the caliber of this one. Mission Hill is witty, relatable and I would recommend it to anyone struggling to adjust to the lifestyle of a young adult (which is nearly all young adults). If Cartoon Network knew what a good series was, they would've given this show the chance it deserved instead of airing things like Squidbillies or Relocated.

don't be quick to dismiss

[grizzlor · 8/10 · 24 March 2002]

producers bill oakley and josh weinstein really had something with this show, its too bad it didn't really go anywhere. while one user wrote that the show is "poorly animated" in order for one to appreciate the show, you must appreciate the style of animation rather than writing it off as poor. the use of unorthodox bright colours somewhat reminds me of the simpsons in its glory days, likewise does the style of facial animations used.

The style of comedy and writing of the show is where Mission Hill really shines however. It is a show that instead of chasing and trying to force you to laugh, it gets you with its charming characters and often subtle humour. Not to mention its unexpectedly bold jokes (not quite of the Oblongs variety, but not too far off)

In the end, Mission Hill is a funny, charming and sadly, short lived show that is worth a second look for animated sitcom fans everywhere.

Underrated, smart, witty animated comedy; an anti-"Friends"

[jedijones · 1 July 2000]

"Mission Hill" is a radically underappreciated animated TV series. It's a sharp, witty satire of modern-day teens and twentysomethings, created by former writers of "The Simpsons." If that show was the anti-"Cosby Show," than this one is the anti-"Friends." It portrays all the quirks of the youth culture for the express purpose of making fun of them. The most recent episode featured an extensive poke at "Star Wars" fans, including a convention Q&A with an Ewok guest speaker, that the fans might revere as the single most classic such reference on TV, if only they had seen it.

The central characters, supergeek Kevin and his hipper older brother Andy, form an ingeniously modernized take on the classic "odd couple" formula. A variety of supporting characters in all shapes, sizes, and colors round out the cast. Like the classic "Simpsons," the show uses emotionally involving, realistic plotlines to keep its absurdity from derailing into wackiness. The deceptively simple animation shows the subtle character expression pioneered on "The Simpsons," and the humor does more than just parody pop culture, it covers new territory with its jabs at real life youth culture.

"Mission Hill," whether it becomes a hit on TV right away, will undoubtedly see long life as a cult classic. No viewer who cares anything about television, animation, or comedy should miss it, and any network should be proud to air it.

Underrated and Brilliant

[istvanna · 10/10 · 9 June 2006]

You review above falsely credits Josh Weinstein as working on a program called "Mystery Science Theater 3000". I believe you are mistaking him for J. Elvis Weinstein ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0918441/ ) who also worked on Freaks and Geeks. I only know this because I used to confuse the two writers myself ;)

Mission Hill was an excellent show, by the way. It had humour that easily out beats current episodes of the Simpsons and it frustrates me that crap like Family Guy can remain on air, whilst clever, well animated, well acted, excellently written cartoons like Mission Hill go unnoticed.

I will always be a fan of this show for what it was, an excellent unfinished first season.

In a perfect world, "Mission Hill" would be still on air

[Rectangular_businessman · 10/10 · 4 February 2007]

"Mission Hill" was an excellent (and underrated ) animated show that unlike the other shows that are supposed to be aimed to adults didn't have to use cheap cultural references or gross sex jokes in order to deliver laughs.

Instead of that, "Mission Hill" had a very intelligent and funny style of satire that reminded some underground comics as "Hate" or "Eightball".

The art was pretty well made, with a great use of colors and stylish designs. I particularly like the bright colors used in each one of the sceneries from this animated series, which certainly had much more charm than most of the modern, digitally made cartoons.

The characters were likable and original, without any kind of annoying cliché or silly stereotypes.

The jokes were witty and clever. The voice acting was pretty good and it also had very good, catchy music (I particularly liked the intro song, which was awesome)

"Mission Hill" had all the potential to be the spiritual successor for "The Simpsons". Unfortunately, this series didn't received the appreciation it deserved, being considered just another one more animated sitcom for adults that spawned in the wake of South Park and Family Guy, despite being actually better than those two shows.

And that's just a shame. This show deserved much more fame and recognition, specially considering the low quality of many bad cartoons from the recent years.

10/10 (I would rate it with eleven stars if I could)

beyond me how this show failed

[xxfallinglovexx · 10/10 · 16 July 2008]

i cannot believe this show did not get past 13 episodes, this show was its own kind of funny. if they can bring back family guy i think they should sure as heck bring this one back, because to me this cartoon show stands out more to me than family guy, sure family guy is funny, but they throw in random jokes that can be repetitive and or not understandable to people who did not live in the times of happy days or other old shows they they mock.

mission hill should be brought back or at least finish and air the shows they did not get to complete.

Jim would have to be one of the best characters ever made.

"can you believe somebody left these brownies on the subway!?"

Funny show with appeal to everyone

[smilierosie · 10/10 · 10 July 2006]

I saw this show for the first time on Cartonn Network's Adult Swim rather recently and was immediately sucked in. It's a great show!!! This show has a lot of characters and view points, so there's something for everyone. I was laughing my butt off the entire time. It's definitely a show that I would buy the DVDs for, but not a show I would watch with my family...it's not a kid's show! But it's really very funny and worth watching. Some of the characters are people you can relate to, but most of them are hilarious people that you wouldn't meet in real life. This makes it so much more fun! The jokes in this show are funny things that you won't hear in everyday conversations, but you also won't hear them in other TV shows, because they're totally original. I would love to see this show on TV more often.

Bring it back

[BatsyCharky · 10/10 · 27 July 2018]

I miss this show. It was so good. I wish they would bring it back, it's beyond entertaining

Weirde beans at weirde.... Beans at?

[rottingd · 10/10 · 23 February 2023]

Hilarious show especially for the time. I have not revisited this show, but I can say for sure it was great when I watched it as it aired. I don't know if it holds up, but it left me with an unforgettable line that I is my title review. Back when adult swim was made for young adults who related with aging adults who made the show. A simpler time before smartphones changed everyone's need to know everything all the time and throttled by overlords who only want you to see what they want you to see, a time when you could go to your computer to look up anything and everything. A time when you had to do research that wasn't edited to fit a narrative. A great show before everyone got offended by everything.

Average

[coles_notes · 5/10 · 11 July 2022]

A short lived, 13 episode series created by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein following a young struggling comic artist has he tries to survive in the city. Considered by some a cult classic, the animation style is cool and definitely feels a show a bit beyond its time, but generally the plots are vanilla and don't really go anywhere. Cartoons about a struggling comic I feel like have been done, none of the characters are particularly interesting, so without a strong narrative I just don't really see the point. Its not bad by any means, but wouldn't necessarily recommend.

great show

[crmoore · 5 December 2002]

This is a great show. Anyone who judges the show on only a few clips and it's poor animation isn't giving it a fair chance. The reason it didn't last on the WB is because it was way over the heads of anyone watching the WB. This is a wonderfully dry and witty cartoon, and the "poor" animation quality is part of this. I was so excited to see it on Cartoon Network and I hoppe that it continues tere for a long time. If you like cartoons and have half a brain, check Mission Hill out.

A show adult swim needs

[ThunderKing6 · 10/10 · 27 October 2021]

MH was a late night adult animated sitcom. Sometimes when you are up late at night with nothing to do. Mission Hill was there to help you fall asleep. I'm not saying it's bad, for me most times when a show makes me fall asleep that means it's a good show. If the show is horrible, then it would be to keep me up all night.

I had some great times sleeping on the sofa as Mission Hill played.

Overall funny, great show with cool characters. It's a well grounded show and doesn't force its self like family guy. I could never fall asleep to family guy because it is an annoying show.

One of the best animated shows in a long time

[bradleyjamie · 12 September 2002]

I remember when "Mission Hill" debuted on the WB in '99 and I never watched it because I didn't think I'd care. However, recently Cartoon Network has started something called "Adult Swim", where every Saturday and Sunday they show more "adult" cartoons. Not necessarily sex and violence filled, but mostly just cartoons that are actually funny rather than the garbage that is out there now for kids. Anyway, in their Sunday night line-up is "Mission Hill" and it's quite possibly one of my favorite adult-oriented cartoons. It never fails to make me laugh and it's written like a very good sitcom. The voice acting is perfectly normal without sounding too "cartoony", but at the same time it contrasts with the animation so that you never forget you are indeed watching a cartoon and that you shouldn't take it too seriously. The characters are well-developed and it's just overall a very hilarious show.

One of the funniest TV shows

[mike_berger · 3 April 2003]

I really wish that somebody would renew this great show. It was well written and acted and was only getting better.

The show was produced by two of the guys that were responsible for the funniest seasons of the Simpsons, and one of them, Josh Weinstein, was also involved in the early days of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

The greatest cartoon of the new Decade

[Mellow_Biafra · 25 January 2003]

Strangely enough Cartoon Network a network committed to entertaining young kids has dedicated a weekly section of their programming to adult aimed cartoons (adult comedy not graphic sex) on their `Adult Swim', which has produced nothing but untapped creativity and a base of die hard fans. Adult Swim has culminated to the point of a cult sort of status with fan commitment with such gems as Home Movies (my other personal favorite), Baby Blues, Harvey Birdman, The legendary space ghost and a host of other off-beat originals with obscure brilliant underground Japanese anime (Adult Swim turned me on to Cowboy Bebop, one of the most brilliant and beautiful pieces of animation if not cinema I have ever witnessed). Through all this the true shining pinnacle of Adult Swim has to be Mission Hill. Mission Hill is basically one of the funniest Generation X cartoons I have ever seen, eclipsing such sacred pillars of pop culture such as South Park and dare I say Beavis and Butthead. The reason I think it's so good is that because their targeting older youths the show isn't restrained to moral codes that could confuse eight year olds, for instance the line `Let's get cocaine and hookers!'. The show's comedy is absolutely great because it appeals to wayward young adults joking on pop culture with it's obscure references, occasional drug humor, and hilariously simple and realistic story lines. Originally, I think they showed three or four episodes and then cancelled it but then the bulk of the Adult Swim audience requested it come back. In the end, I think there is only ten episodes made and ordered and that may be it but I seriously hope this cartoon finds a home and more episodes are made because it is the perhaps the finest cartoon for slackers and some of the best layered humor since Beavis and Butthead. There's nothing more I can really say in this kind of incoherent slash and burn attempt to explain why I like this show other than to just tell you to watch it. To the people who made it, if for some reason you look at this, please let me thank you for convincing me television was worth watching again.

Funny, undiscovered show

[foxbatkllr · 4 June 2002]

I happened to catch this show on adult swim on cartoon network the other night. I must say I thought it was pretty funny. I look forward to seeing the next episode. The characters are quite enjoyable and I can relate to the guy with the nerdy little brother.

Great Show!

[K-Slicer · 19 October 2002]

"Mission Hill" is a great show! Set in a city that could be New York, Los Angeles or even San Antonio, a twentysomething tries to carve a place for himself in the world only to have it invaded by his younger brother. Throw in a hodgepodge of offbeat characters, much intellectual thought, interesting plot lines, and an animation style that uses mixed-up color schemes, you have a worthwhile show on your hands. Too bad it never made on the WB, but thanks to CN and "Adult Swim", it is has a home of it's own. Grade A+

I'm definitely "Missin'" Mission Hill

[klahd222 · 18 April 2006]

This was a great attempt at trying to create an animated show that WASN'T based around an 'overweight father figure who's beset by life's problems'. Oakley and Weinstein used their experience on 'The Simpsons' to put together a really solid show with great characters. But it didn't find much of an audience when it was on the air and they were never given the chance to finish the first season.

Andy French is a wannabe cartoonist who lives with his two roommates in a New York-like hipster enclave called "Mission Hill", when his parents decide to move, they send his nerdy little brother, Kevin to live with him until he graduates.

The show is undertoned with youth culture commentary:Andy is unaware that his beloved 80's slacker peers have moved on into early yuppiedom, the show pre-dates the major gentrification of most major U.S. cities, it was designed to look similar to alternative press comic books and Kevin is obsessed with online role playing games and nerd-centric activities. Even though this is probably the shows greatest contribution, it tends to dates it a little.

It comes as no surprise that the show has become a cult favorite.

Funny Show with a Heart

[brodobrodeco · 4 August 2002]

From some of the creative minds behind the Simpsons comes Mission Hill. It's a great show that reminds me of real life as a young schmuck in the city. The subtle, but gut-busting situations make for great viewing. I guess the show used to be on the WB, I guess, but it's found its niche as part of Cartoon Network's Sunday night "Adult Swim" block. I wish them many years of success.

Very good show

[acmadude · 29 July 2002]

When I first saw "Mission Hill" on Cartoon Network, I was very impressed. At first it had seemed like it'd be one of those generic animated comedies that have about 2-3 funny moments each show (Unfortunately, "South Park" seems to be headed down this path), but "Mission Hill" is one of the few recent cartoon comedies that is consistently funny. And it's not as if it's only funny when it has to be funny. There is a lot of humor that is more subtle, and there's also a lot of humor in the background of the show that one would only notice by paying full attention. The only problem with this show is that it's currently only on latenight on Sunday.

Great show

[cpher · 21 August 2002]

You can see Mission Hill as a part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on Sunday nights. I have seen several of these episodes and I find them hilarious. The animation is not poor, it's pop-art. I think the coloring is really cool. It does a great job of animating the 20-something slacker in the big city. Plus, the theme song is by the best band in the world, CAKE.

This was a fantastic show

[zetes · 3 April 2006]

There have been tons of animated shows that have appeared in primetime and on network TV since the dawn of The Simpsons, and pretty much all of them were quickly scrapped. It's unfortunate, really, as there have been several which were exceptional. The two best would have to be Clerks, based on the Kevin Smith movie, and Mission Hill, from two writers/directors from the Simpsons' stable, Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein. Mission Hill is based a little more in reality and, while a comedy, the humor arrives more from real life situations rather than broad satire, pop culture references or jokey dialogue. Not that the show doesn't contain any of those types of comedy, mind you. The story involves two brothers, one a slacker/hipster who is living in the city, Mission Hill, doing menial work and the other a geeky high school student. When their parents move to Wyoming, the younger brother moves in with the older one and his two roommates. According to the nice extras on the DVD set, Oakley and Weinstein were very ambitious with the series. They were planning ten years into the future before the plug was pulled. The show aired on the WB network, which hadn't yet defined itself. They only aired five episodes, I think. I like this show a lot particularly because I see myself and my friends in the characters. The writing on the show is top-notch, and the plotting is exceptional for a show where each episode only lasts 22 minutes. My favorite episodes include the one where the older brother, Andy, infiltrates MTV's The Real World. Anyone who watched the first three seasons of that show will find this one hilarious. There's one episode which eerily predicted 9/11 (not the actual terrorist attack, but rather the mood that permeated the country immediately afterward). Perhaps the one that most people around here would hook onto is (unfortunately) the show's final episode, where the younger brother, Kevin, discovers the world of cinema. There are copious references to Bergman, Preston Sturges and Plan 9 from Outer Space. The show also contains perhaps the most three dimensional gay male couple that has ever been seen on television. This is a show that I really wish would have gotten more of a chance. Unfortunately, I can't recommend buying the DVDs, as there is at least one episode where the sound is entirely screwed up. They also weren't able to attain all the rights for songs they originally used. This particularly harms the Real World episode; the way it ends now, with the changed soundtrack, doesn't even make sense. Still, if you're interested, it's worth putting on your Netflix queue or something.

Animated Slacker Sitcom

[gaingber · 30 June 2002]

This is a stylishly animated, fairly well written animated sitcom that first aired on the WB, and is currently part of the Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" block of animation for "mature audiences."

The animation on the show is stylishly done... the character animation is pretty expressive... The writing is sometimes a bit heavy handed.

awesome

[DaMirrorLink · 14 July 2002]

I have seen a lot of episodes of mission hill and this is a great cartoon and if you watch it a lot you will get into it, it's a great animation job. Thank you the people who invented adult swim. And thank you Cartoon Network.