Perhaps never has eclecticism in cinema been more necessary than in these times, when versatile artists must break codes and genre barriers to reinvent themselves. There are many such initiatives, but they remain too isolated within the global art landscape to define a mainstream direction. Kelvin Avon is an excellent example of a creator who has found a more than promising comfort zone while mixing diverse influences into his art to deliver a fresh and catchy product. ‘Buster! The Show‘ is the pilot episode of an animated series that proposes a musical foray through various genres adapted in a disco, pop & funk style. Beyond the typological palette of the characters that sets the scene for the adventures of a band dreaming of popularity, the director puts his own vision into practice, drawing inspiration from established examples such as Hatsune Miku or Daft Punk & Crescendolls.
Basically, this series incorporates, on the one hand, a musical concept that seems to combine the profile of a band like Gorillaz revisited by an artist like Bruno Mars, and, on the other hand, the ambitions of a sitcom, which, of course, does not lack (self-)irony and social critique. Humour is a goal but not a priority, while the stereotypes used by the director to draw character portraits are effective, if not highly original. What truly matters is not so much the dialogic interactions as the music-making laboratory itself.
All that to say, Kelvin Avon delivers a project perfectly adapted to the pop culture milieu, sensing the tastes and expectations of a wide range of audiences, and that’s what makes this short film deliver the desired result. Thus, beyond the dynamism of the action and the puns with a subtext aimed at mature viewers, the inventiveness with which the creative team handles the music is truly impressive. Like any pilot, ‘Buster! The Show’ introduces us to the characters’ world without revealing too much of what’s ahead, while offering just the right hook to keep us wanting more. It certainly won us over.
