Big fan of both "Bobs Burgers" and "The Great North" so I'm not sure why it took me quite so long to get around to watching "Central Park" - another series from the same creative team, this time on Apple TV.

Owen Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jnr) is the manager of Central Park and lives at Edendale Castle with his family. His wife, Paige (Kathryn Hahn) is a reporter with a small newspaper, looking for a big story. His daughter Molly (Kristen Bell) draws comic books in which she is a superhero and his son, Cole (Titus Burgess) is obsessed with the pet dog of Bitsy Brandenhem (Stanley Tucci) a local wealthy hotel owner. They're lives are upended when Bitsy decides that it's time for Central Park to go and for high rise apartments to be in its place.

As "Bobs Burgers" has run on, the show has become more and more musically minded, with music breaks being a semi-regular idea and the shows credits often being sung by the cast. Perhaps this is the next logical step, with "Central Park" employing a cast of musical theatre performers and increasing each episode's song ratio to two or three. The other key to this is Josh Gad, who plays Birdie, the shows narrator, who speaks (or sings) directly to the audience, as well as the other characters when necessary.

Perhaps none of the characters are as well rounded as the ones in "Bobs" but there are some excellent creations, particularly Bitsy and her reluctant put upon assistant Helen, whom Daveed Diggs portrays. All of the vocal performances are really good though, as there's a wide range of guest appearances from other actors who have been in the Bouchard circle for a while. The animation style is the same as in their other two series, in that it's not particularly spectacular but it's serviceable for the comedic stories they're trying to tell.

As I write this, "Central Park" has been cancelled at the end of it's third run. Disappointing news, based on this first series, but I'll crack on with the rest and see whether this level of comedy is maintained.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)

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Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom Jr., Tituss Burgess, and Daveed Diggs in Central Park (2020)

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