Edgy animated satanic sitcom boasts a soft centre
IT’S not for the faint-hearted or easily offended, but there are definitely laughs to be had from Disney+’s latest adult animated comedy.
Having the anarchic, acerbic Little Demon sitting alongside the princess musicals and the best of Pixar is likely to unnerve some parents, but really this doesn’t feel that much out of place alongside Fox animation staples like Family Guy or Bob’s Burgers. And with Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon as an executive producer you should at least have some idea of what to expect.
Thirteen-year-old Christina (Lucy DeVito) always wondered why she and her mother Laura (Aubrey Plaza) were always moving towns.
With near immaculate timing, Christina’s first day at a new school in Delaware coincides with her first period. As she rushes to the bathroom, she encounters classmate Bennigan (Eugene Cordero) being bullied. The bullies then turn their attentions – and cellphone – towards her.
Christina suddenly finds herself possessing incredible strength and psychic abilities, which literally cause her tormentors’ heads to explode. ‘‘I’m not a proponent of violence, but that was irrefutably cathartic,’’ Bennigan marvels.
As they emerge outside, a maelstrom has opened up – sucking everything towards it – and her mother arrives with incredible news. ‘‘Your dad is the devil and you are his moral conduit to Earth. That hole in the sky is so he can find you now that your vagina has become a homing device.’’
‘‘You said my dad was dead,’’ an aghast Christina cries.
‘‘I said he was not alive,’’ comes the deadpan reply.
Despite her mother’s dire warnings, Christina isn’t unkeen to meet her Satanic papa. Unfortunately, others keen to catch up with him includes a man fighting off the forces of evil for the Pope and his mini-van full of mercenaries. So, even as Satan (played be Danny DeVito, yes Lucy’s real life dad) tries to woo Christina with promises of an anarchist, socialist utopia they can rule together, he’s also facing a very real threat to his continued existence. And then there’s the angry woman he gaslit – and abandoned – around 14 years ago.
Scatological gags, visceral violence and what could be best described as ‘‘off-colour’’ jokes abound in this series created by Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner and Kieran Valla.
But beneath all provocative imagery and edgy humour is a surprisingly sweet tale about a father and his estranged teenage daughter getting to know one another.
That they are voiced by a father-daughter combo just gives it extra pathos – and humour. Fast-paced and pottymouthed, it offers perfect latenight escapism.
Also listen out for a cadre of celebrity cameos during the season, with everyone from Mel Brooks to Rhea Perlman, Dave Bautista, Patrick Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger scheduled to make an appearance.
Little Demon debuts on Disney+ on Wednesday.