Plague of Madness

Last updated
"Plague of Madness"
Primal episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 7
Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky
Written by David Krentz
Original air datesApril 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)(April Fool's) [1]
October 11, 2020 (2020-10-11) [2]
Running time22 minutes
Episode chronology
Primal season 1
List of episodes

"Plague of Madness" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American animated action-drama series Primal . It premiered unannounced on Adult Swim on April 1, 2020, as part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' Day stunt, as a joking reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, after "Rage of the Ape Men", before formerly airing in its chronological place in the series (between "Scent of Prey" and "Coven of the Damned") on October 11, 2020. It was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, and written by David Krentz from a story by Tartakovsky, Krentz, Darrick Bachman, and Bryan Andrews. In the episode, Spear and Fang flee in terror from a zombified Argentinosaurus .

Contents

The episode received critical acclaim, winning both an Annie Award and two Emmy Awards. It was released to home media on June 1, 2021. [3]

Plot

In a tranquil valley, an herd of Argentinosaurus are living their lives when one of their number is bitten by an insane zombified Parasaurolophus which bites one Argentinosaurus before being killed by it. Shortly afterward, the Argentinosaurus becomes a zombie itself, going on a rampage and massacring its herd.

Sometime later, Spear and Fang stumble across the aftermath of the slaughter, disturbed by the many corpses and how they are untouched by scavengers or flies; a curious Fang sniffs one body before recoiling in terror, before the Argentinosaurus rises up behind the duo. Horrified, the two immediately flee through the jungle into a ravine, where the Argentinosaurus knocks itself out, and Spear and Fang rest in a cave. That night, Spear has a nightmare of the Argentinosaurus reviving and infecting him and Fang, and on awakening, decides to convince Fang to leave for night, lest his nightmare come to pass. As they make their way across the ravine, the Argentinosaurus awakens and continues its pursuit of them.

As Spear and Fang escape through a crevasse too narrow for the Argentinosaurus, they begin to make their way across a volcanic plain, doing so carefully until the Argentinosaurus tears its body apart to break free and pursue them again. On being burned by a lava geyser, the Argentinosaurus jumps towards them, breaking through the crust into the lava below, and allowing Spear and Fang to ride a wave to safer ground and resume running, as the Argentinosaurus repeatedly re-emerges and sinks, unable to climb out but still pursing them. As the Argentinosaurus is slowly incinerated to ash, Spear and Fang observe its final agonizing moments in shared grief and dismay. [4]

Reception

Critical reception

"Plague of Madness received a universally positive critical reception. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Accolades

Accolades received by Primal
AwardYearCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Annie Awards 2021 Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Genndy Tartakovsky (for "Plague of Madness")Won [11]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2021 Outstanding Animated Program Genndy Tartakovsky, Brian A. Miller, Jennifer Pelphrey, Keith Crofford, Mike Lazzo, Oussama Bouacheria, Julien Chheng, Ulysse Malassagne, Erika Forzy, Shareena Carlson, Darrick Bachman, David Krentz, and Bryan Andrews (for "Plague of Madness")Won [12]
Outstanding Individual Achievement in AnimationDavid Krentz (storyboard artist; for "Plague of Madness")Won

Related Research Articles

Samurai Jack is an American animated action-adventure dystopian television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. The show is produced by Cartoon Network Studios. Tartakovsky conceived Samurai Jack after finishing his work on his first Cartoon Network original series, Dexter's Laboratory, which premiered in 1996. Samurai Jack took inspiration from Kung Fu, the 1972 televised drama starring David Carradine, as well as Tartakovsky's fascination with samurai culture and the Frank Miller comic series Ronin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genndy Tartakovsky</span> Russian-American animator

Gennady Borisovich "Genndy" Tartakovsky is a Soviet-born American animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known as the creator of various animated television series on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, Primal, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal.

Michael Allen Lazzo is a retired American television producer and the former executive vice president in charge of the Adult Swim programming block of Cartoon Network, and its production arm, Williams Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Crofford</span> American television executive

Keith Crofford is the former executive vice president of production for Adult Swim, the adult-oriented division of Cartoon Network, and general manager of Williams Street. He was executive producer for several Williams Street in-house productions such as Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show and Squidbillies. He also served as the executive producer for Williams Street out-of-house productions such as Sealab 2021, Robot Chicken, Tom Goes to the Mayor, Minoriteam and Moral Orel. Crofford was also the executive in charge of production for Adult Swim's The Venture Bros. More recently, he has worked on the Adult Swim animated production Primal; for his work on the episode "Plague of Madness", he was listed as a recipient of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.

<i>Samurai Jack</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth and final season of Samurai Jack, an American animated series, premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block on March 11, 2017, and concluded its run on May 20, 2017. The announcement of the season came in December 2015, eleven years since the series was originally concluded on Cartoon Network. Genndy Tartakovsky, the series' creator, returned as a director, writer, and storyboarder for this season. The season received universal acclaim from both critics and fans, praising it for its visuals as well as its more dark, intense, mature tone, deeming it a satisfying conclusion to the series.

<i>Hot Streets</i> (TV series) 2018 American TV series or program

Hot Streets is an American adult animated television series that was created by Brian Wysol. The series surrounds the supernatural investigations of FBI agent Mark Branski, who works with his partner Donald French, Branski's niece Jen, and her cowardly talking dog, Chubbie Webbers. It is produced and made by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Williams Street and Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions!. The series premiered on January 14, 2018. It was renewed for a second season on May 7, 2018, which premiered on February 24, 2019.

<i>The Jellies!</i> American adult animated sitcom

The Jellies! is an American adult animated sitcom created by Tyler, the Creator and Lionel Boyce for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block Adult Swim. The show was revamped from a series of the same name which was previously featured exclusively on Tyler's Golf Media app. It premiered on Adult Swim on October 22, 2017. The animation is produced by Augenblick Studios, and was renewed for a second season in October 2018. The second season premiered on May 12, 2019.

Tender Touches is an American adult animated series created by David Bonawits, Lauren Payne, and Maxime Simonet, that premiered on December 18, 2017, on Adult Swim. Season 2 premiered on November 26, 2018, with season 3 airing a sneak peek on March 31, 2020, followed by the actual premiere on June 15, 2020.

David Krentz is a Canadian-American paleoartist, character designer, animator, storyboard artist, writer and director specializing in dinosaurs. Krentz was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1969. As an animator for Walt Disney Pictures, Krentz has worked on Disney animated feature titles such as Fantasia 2000, Disney's Dinosaur, Treasure Planet, and John Carter, as well as productions for other studios such as Escape from Planet Earth. He has also contributed character designs and computer-generated models for films such as the 2013 BBC reboot of Walking with Dinosaurs, including close to 20 ZBrush models.

Tigtone is an American adult animated television series that premiered on Adult Swim on January 14, 2019. It is based on the original characters of an independent short, The Begun of Tigtone, created by Andrew Koehler, Benjamin Martian, and Zack Wallenfang. They produced it through their own company Babyhemyth Productions.

<i>Lazor Wulf</i> American adult animated television series

Lazor Wulf is an American adult animated television series created by Henry Bonsu for Adult Swim that premiered on April 8, 2019. Originating as a webcomic on Tumblr in 2013, it is directed by creator Henry Bonsu, with Daniel Weidenfeld who serves as co-developer. The first season was animated by Bento Box Entertainment and the second season was animated by 6 Point Harness.

<i>Primal</i> (TV series) American animated television series

Primal is an American adult animated action television series created and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network's night-time programming block, Adult Swim. It is the first combined action/sci-fi/horror animated series from Cartoon Network Studios and Williams Street.

<i>Unicorn: Warriors Eternal</i> American animated fantasy TV series

Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is an American adult animated fantasy television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky and aired on Cartoon Network's night-time programming block Adult Swim. The series stars the voices of Hazel Doupe, Demari Hunte, and Tom Milligan. The visuals of the series are heavily influenced by the works of Osamu Tezuka and Max Fleischer.

"The Dad-Feelings Limited" is the 11th episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 695th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 3, 2021. The episode was directed by Chris Clements and written by Ryan Koh.

"Clan of the Cave Mom" is the thirteenth episode of the thirty-fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 763rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on March 24, 2024. The episode was directed by Rob Oliver and written by Brian Kelley.

"The Primal Theory" is the fifth episode of second season the American adult animated action-drama Primal, which aired on Adult Swim on August 12, 2022. Written by Darrick Bachman and Genndy Tartakovsky}} and directed by the latter, in a "detour" from the story of Spear and Fang, the episode pivots to follow Charles Darwin and C. D. Darlington as their discussion of evolution is interrupted by an escaped inmate. Aaron LaPlante, who voices Spear in the rest of the series, cameos as a police constable.

"Spear and Fang" is the series premiere of the first season of the American adult animated action-drama Primal. It premiered unannounced on Adult Swim's YouTube channel and website on October 4, 2019, before premiering on Adult Swim itself four days later on October 8, 2019. It was written and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. In the episode, Spear and Fang independently lose their families to the same predator before uniting to kill it and roam the world together. The episode received critical acclaim, winning two Emmy Awards. It was released to home media on June 1, 2021, and was later re-edited as the television film Primal: Tales of Savagery with the following episodes "River of Snakes", "A Cold Death", and "Terror Under the Blood Moon".

"Rage of the Ape Men" is the fifth episode of the American adult animated action-drama Primal, which aired on Adult Swim on October 12, 2019 as the mid-season finale of the series' first season. Directed by Bryan Andrews and Genndy Tartakovsky and co-written by the two with Darrick Bachman, the episode follows Spear and Fang as they are captured by a vicious tribe of ape men who hold a brutal tournament to the death, which they are made to partake in.

References

  1. ↑ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.31.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-02.
  2. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (October 13, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.11.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  3. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (30 March 2021). "'Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal' Brings Prehistoric Action Home in June". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Stewart, Brenton (October 29, 2020). "Primal's Latest Episodes Are the Best Halloween Viewing of the Season". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ Eschberger, Tyler (July 19, 2022). "Genndy Tartakovsky's "Primal": Why Horror Fans Should Be Watching This Animated Series". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ Schwarz, John (April 1, 2020). "Review: Primal – "Plague of Madness" – Bubbleblabber". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  7. ↑ Baron, Reuben (April 1, 2020). "A Surprise April Fools Primal Is Scarily Relevant". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  8. ↑ Motamayor, Rafael (October 15, 2020). "'Primal' Is the 'Mad Max: Fury Road' of Cartoons". The Observer . Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ Munday, Justin (November 1, 2022). "Bite-Size Horror Gem: Primal – "Plague of Madness"". Monkeys Fighting Robots. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ Markey, Sean (April 20, 2020). "Review: Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal – "Plague of Madness"". Geek Ireland. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (March 3, 2021). "Annie Awards Nominations: 'Soul' & 'Wolfwalkers' Lead Field For Animation Prizes". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn; Chuba, Kirsten; Beresford, Trilby; Drury, Sharareh (September 12, 2021). "Creative Arts Emmys: Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.