There may be a spoiler or two...
When I first glanced at Code Lyoko, I thought it was going to be just another action cartoon. Once I actually started watching it, I realized that it showed real promise. Although there are points that do need improvement, I see this show having a solid run.
Four kids (Jeremie, Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi) find an abandon factory with a secret underground lab that gives them access to a virtual world called Lyoko. There lives Aelita, a virtual lifeform, who spends her time guarding the world from X.A.N.A., a virus-infected computer that wants to destroy the world. In the real world, they have to deal with Sissi, the stuck-up daughter of the principal. This may sound like your average stock show, and to an extent, it is. However, the direction the writers take this is very interesting. The relationships between the characters are refreshingly real, and the romance between Ulrich and Yumi develops nicely over the course of the episodes. Also, Odd's insulting of Sissi is perfectly timed.
There are some points to the show that could use improvement, but there is nothing that is a fatal weakness of the show. The plots are a bit formulaic at times. Sometimes the stock footage used can be distracting, especially when it is inconsistent with the rest of the scene. Also, the dubbing contains a few errors. These problems, however, are to be expected in a show's first season. Once you look past them you see that the main characters are surprisingly three-dimensional.
Code Lyoko has very good ratings, being the second highest rated show in its target demographic, 6-11 year olds, and has attracted a number of older viewers as well.
In my opinion, Code Lyoko could turn out to be one of the better action cartoons to come out, and I look forward to see how it improves once season two comes out.
When I first glanced at Code Lyoko, I thought it was going to be just another action cartoon. Once I actually started watching it, I realized that it showed real promise. Although there are points that do need improvement, I see this show having a solid run.
Four kids (Jeremie, Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi) find an abandon factory with a secret underground lab that gives them access to a virtual world called Lyoko. There lives Aelita, a virtual lifeform, who spends her time guarding the world from X.A.N.A., a virus-infected computer that wants to destroy the world. In the real world, they have to deal with Sissi, the stuck-up daughter of the principal. This may sound like your average stock show, and to an extent, it is. However, the direction the writers take this is very interesting. The relationships between the characters are refreshingly real, and the romance between Ulrich and Yumi develops nicely over the course of the episodes. Also, Odd's insulting of Sissi is perfectly timed.
There are some points to the show that could use improvement, but there is nothing that is a fatal weakness of the show. The plots are a bit formulaic at times. Sometimes the stock footage used can be distracting, especially when it is inconsistent with the rest of the scene. Also, the dubbing contains a few errors. These problems, however, are to be expected in a show's first season. Once you look past them you see that the main characters are surprisingly three-dimensional.
Code Lyoko has very good ratings, being the second highest rated show in its target demographic, 6-11 year olds, and has attracted a number of older viewers as well.
In my opinion, Code Lyoko could turn out to be one of the better action cartoons to come out, and I look forward to see how it improves once season two comes out.