Long Live the Royals

Long Live the Royals is a delightful and unique miniseries produced by Cartoon Network that first aired in late 2014 and continued into 2015. It stands out from the crowd, offering a captivating glimpse into royal life through humor, charm, and wit, all set in a medieval-like story world. Though it falls into the genre of a children's animated series, it appeals to a broader audience thanks to its witty writing, lively animation, and the relatability of its central characters.

The show is created by Sean Szeles, who was formerly a supervising producer for another beloved animation sensation, "Regular Show." Under the creative guidance of Szeles, the show successfully combines the medieval-era setting with modern-day situations and language, resulting in a brilliantly executed mix of past and present. The animation style is unique and lively, with the characters rendered in an art style reminiscent of a children’s storybook, giving the show its distinctive charm.

Long Live the Royals centers around the life of a fictional British royal family and the everyday shenanigans they get themselves into. At the center of the story are the four main characters: King Rufus, his wife Queen Eleanor, and their three children - Peter, Rosalind, and Alex. Each episode features this royal family dealing with the pressures and oddities of royal life, interspersed with everyday dilemmas and squabbles that are hilariously relatable.

King Rufus is a kind-hearted but easily overwhelmed monarch who often struggles with his royal duties. Queen Eleanor, on the other hand, is seen as the backbone of the family, managing the kingdom and the family with resilience and grace. The royal pair's three children are also central to the storyline. Peter, the eldest son and heir, is an anxious teenager trying hard to fulfill his future kingly duties, often displaying endearing clumsiness. The middle child, Rosalind, is your quintessential angst-ridden teenage princess, filled with rebellious energy and always on the verge of causing a royal scandal. The youngest, Alex, is an adventurous troublemaker who often lands in uncanny situations, providing comic relief.

The show takes us through a variety of fun and adventurous episodes, from dealing with entertaining royal customs to struggling with relatable family dynamics. There’s a unique touch of monarchy-induced absurdity, with events such as royal Yule Hare hunts and knightly intramural sports. Simultaneously, the series manages to maintain an impressively modern twist through engaging dilemmas that echo familiar adolescent crises and household squabbles.

What makes Long Live the Royals stand out is not only its unique setting or its engagingly flawed characters, but also its humor. The show thrives on its unique approach to humour that delightfully juxtaposes the mundane with the regal. The series brilliantly blends royal tradition with contemporary attitudes, balancing slapstick, dry humor, and wit in its narrative. There's a steady undercurrent of comedy throughout that keeps viewers entertained from start to finish.

Everything in the series, from the charmingly peculiar characters to the beautifully designed old-timey kingdom, presents a bubbly, slightly absurd universe that's delightful to watch. There are plenty of iconic moments that leave viewers chuckling and the overall experience is engaging, light-hearted, and endlessly entertaining.

In addition to its intriguing premise and compelling characters, the voice acting in Long Live the Royals stands out. The cast features a mix of familiar and new voices that breathe life into the characters—Jon Daly as King Rufus, Wendi McLendon-Covey as Queen Eleanor, Gillian Jacobs as Rosalind, Kieran Culkin as Peter, and Nicki Rapp as Alex. Each of these actors do a stellar job in their roles, lending authenticity and personality to their characters.

In conclusion, Long Live the Royals is an innovative and amusing slice-of-life miniseries offering a refreshing take on the family sitcom style of storytelling. It balances its medieval aesthetic and mature humor with relatable themes making it a must-watch for every animation enthusiast looking for something a little different. Though it was just a miniseries, its world-building and character development left a lasting impression and the viewers wanting more.