Mission Hill - The Complete Series

I watch many animated, comedic shows such as King of the Hill (my second favorite), Family Guy, Home Movies, the Simpsons, etc. Although there are not that many episodes of Mission Hill, the character development is unprecedented. In fact, every single character in the show is unforgettable. After the first few minutes of the first episode, I was obsessed. Also, the artwork is simply amazing. I read somewhere that Mission Hill was the last animated show to be done completely in paint (or something like that). All things considered, Mission Hill is without a doubt the best show I have ever seen. If I ever get rich, the first thing on my list of things to do is to pay the writing staff to make more episodes.The show itself thrives off of its brilliant, mundane, situational humor. In fact, the show is so mundane that you almost feel like you are living in Mission Hill and become Andy's roommate. Every time something bad happens you'll either think to yourself "Wow! That's my life," or "Thank God my life isn't as bad as his." Andy is the typical twenty-something year old living on his own and not caring at all about his budget or anything for that matter. He loves drinking, eating Bugels, and watching famous puke scenes from movies. I find that he is the most unforgettable character out of any series that I have ever seen. He basically gets stuck "babysitting" his teenage brother Kevin, who is probably the biggest nerd ever. While Andy isn't the brightest bulb in the crayon box, he knows a lot about the world. He almost never gets a break from life. His roommate Jim is, to say the least, hilarious. I can't even begin to describe him; you will just have to see for yourself if you haven't already. You will love him from the moment you see him. Posey is basically a typical hippie. She is a very slow, absent-minded individual who enjoys meditating and gardening. Andy also has several neighbors in his apartment complex. Gus and Wally are a gay couple that live in the apartments and are friends with Andy. Gus runs a diner, and Wally works at the movie theater. Even if you are homophobic, you are pretty much forced to love them. Carlos, Natalie, and their baby are also neighbors of Andy. They are major hippies and animal rights activists. Carlos is a painter and somewhat of a hypocrite. I don't think the writers ever reveal what Natalie does however. Andy's dog, Stogie, is also a pretty funny addition to the cast of characters. He can't talk like Brian in Family Guy, but put a dog on a whole bunch of drugs and you get Stogie. That's the only way I can describe him.The only real con to the DVD box set is that one of the episodes has messed up audio. It is the episode with the "nerd" convention where George's sister comes to town, and Andy and Kevin are fighting over her. The voices are softer than the sound effects (ex: slamming a door). If you have surround sound hooked up, then this will probably really bother you. I personally was not too bothered by this. It is somewhat bad, but I think it gets a little better as the episode progresses. This is the only episode where this is a problem though. All the other episodes have really good audio. For this one episode, just turn the TV volume up a little more to hear the dialogue and tune out the ambient noises.Overview:Pros-1) Remarkable character development2) The plots of the episodes are really good.3) The series is hilarous.4) Artwork is very enticing.5) You will most likely be able to relate to the characters and feel at home in their environment.6) The theme song is an edited version of "Italian Leather Sofa" by Cake, and Cake is an awesome band.Cons-1) The audio is messed up in one episode.

Bought this DVD because I love Mission Hill. I used to watch it on the "WB" network when it was on, and later on Cartoon Network Adult Swim (back before Adult Swim went downhill). This is such an under-appreciated cartoon series-- great animation, well written characters with interesting and quirky stories that also have some heart. A time capsule of late GenX angst that cover topics I still think are relevant today-- low wage dead end jobs, sibling rivalry, LGBTQ acceptance issues, soul grinding tech industry, and a cute dog that eats a couch. Sure I can watch Mission Hill on Youtube- but I wanted the DVD just in case its online presence disappears.

Welcome to Mission Hill...possibly one of the greatest 'cartoons' ever made. It's quite a tragedy that it only lasted one season. Both discs have been sitting in my dvd player for weeks and I just can't stop watching it. Situational comedies like this are the greatest because you get to watch characters evolve and 'grow-up,' so-to-speak, despite the fact it's an animated show and that it could quite literally never grow any of the characters up at all to retain the demographic the show was aimed at portraying (of which they do brilliantly).Mission Hill chronicles the lives of the French brothers and their wacky roomies and neighbors of their tenant building in Mission Hill (which, according to the creators' commentary, is based on the Wicker Park community in Chicago). Although the show originally aired in 2000 (i think) on the WB (young teen girl's network...bad place for this show, hence the cancellation) it does a great job of poking fun at the pop culture of today. I find myself able to empathize with Andy French, the main character of the show, who is a 24 year-old wannabe cartoonist (like me, only I'm a 3D artist) working at a water bed store that has to take on Kevin, his younger 17 year old brother, as a roomie so that Kevin can continue to go to school in the area in the event of his parents moving to another state . Ensuing are many great comedic moments between the rival siblings and the ensuing adventures of their roommates and neighbors, which are interwoven so well in the show.As other reviewers have noted, there are audio 'problems' throughout some episodes simply because of rights issues with songs. In the episode 'Unemployment Part 1' there is a moment where it even appears that music was used to cover up some dialog, for reasons to me unknown (never saw this episode on TV...put it back on Adult Swim!). All other music missing or replaced is a simple case of not being able to get rights to use it on the DVD because the studio didn't want to pay for the royalties, I'm guessing. Damn those music labels and their greed...anywho, it's a small price to pay to have a fantastic show like this on hand to watch whenever you feel like some quality TV viewing.I can only hope that enough people buy this DVD set to produce enough interest from Paramount to restart production of this show and bring back all the fantastic people involved in making this show what it was. If a crappy show like Family Guy can come back from the dead, surely a genius show like this can...though I fear it will not happen.

For such a short lived show, it's history could fill its own book. It's something ironic that what was the shows finale really speaks on what the show itself was; a labor of love. The comments complaining it is burnt on a DVD-R are true (as those commentors obviously cannot read the listing) but I would like to point out as someone who also has purchased directly from the WB archive - they are sent the EXACT same way. If you just have an average Blu-ray/DVD player you should be fine. Honestly packaging I feel was better than expected. I really hope this show could have some kind of spiritual return somehow, someday (I mean Killmaster Nick Carter came from turn of the century literary serials later in the 60's.). This is too good a show to be forgotten. Definitely watch it with your friends and loved ones; thus show was the missing animated sitcom the 00's in hindsight really, really needed.

Mission Hill exudes charm in every inch. I love the atmosphere of the show, cityscapes have always been a certain aesthetic I've adored and it shines through in this show very well. I found each character quite charming in their own unique ways, often proving my trope expectations wrong in the best of ways.The series may have been short lived but I highly recommend Mission Hill to anyone looking for something a little more overlooked and in need of more love.

Increible serie animada, lastima por warner brothers que no la continuo.... una tragedia.

Revolutionary show. Called the rise of hipster culture and all our modern neuroses well before they became so entrenched. I highly recommend this unique, thought-proving and very funny show.

This is an amazingly funny cartoon created by two former writers of the Simpsons. It was cancelled before the first season was even completed becuase of poor ratings, but now has a big cult fanbase. Fans of the show are encouraged to BUY the dvd as a way to possibly bring the show back, as happened with Family Guy.

I loved this show, it was hilarious. Sad it was cancelled but it was very funny to me. Glad I owned it.