Pacific Heat

Pacific Heat is an animated comedy television series produced by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on The Comedy Channel (AU) in 2016 and continued through to 2017. Painted with vibrant colors and set against exotic locales, the show is an effervescent blend of action, humor, and satire.

At the heart of the narrative are the invincible, yet totally absurd, members of an undercover and underqualified special law enforcement team known as "Pacific Heat." This eclectic group of misfit crime fighters operates on the Gold Coast of Australia, a hotbed for international criminals. These not-so-typical law enforcement officers grapple with an array of perilous situations, their dynamic interactions providing plenty of opportunities for hilarity and some outrageous comedy.

Every episode in Pacific Heat's run introduces a new petrifying villain or dangerous situation, allowing the narrative to remain fresh and unpredictable. Oftentimes, these instances lead to the "Pacific Heat" team embarking on wild and risky missions, which usually result in comedic chaos more so than actual crime-solving. From hazardous bio-weapons to dangerous drug cartels and bizarre cyber-criminals, the team encounters it all.

The protagonist and leader of the squad is Special Agent Todd Sommerville, whose bravado, ambitious plans, and generally misguided course of action often create more problems than they solve. His partner is Special Agent Maddie Riggs, who is the much-needed voice of reason in the group. She is the most competent and efficient member of the squad, but is often overridden by the team's misguided enthusiasm.

The expert of the team is Zac, who provides intelligence and unconventional methods for solving cases, despite his lack of field experience and often nerdy personality. Rounding off the team is Lance, a seasoned policeman, whose string-bean physique and aged wisdom provide a comically ironic contrast to his younger, more robust colleagues.

More than often, their mission briefings are met with long-winded and redundant explanations, non-sequiturs, unnecessary sidebars, and hilarious banter among the team members. The office of the Pacific Heat is itself a hot bed of comic characters, with their voice of command - The Chief, who invariably throws the team at dangerous assignments with a casual air of indifference, and the forensics expert, who appears to take a strange delight in the gore of his job. The quirkiness of the characters is a matching complement to the show’s quick-fire jokes, leaving no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments for the audience.

Stylistically, Pacific Heat is reminiscent of classic spy and cop shows, with its tongue firmly in cheek. It uses these familiar tropes and flips them on their head in a comedic fashion, flaunting stereotypical characters, exaggerated action sequences, and over-the-top plots. This not only satirizes typical crime dramas but also provides an endearing level of absurdity inherent in the show. The animation itself is bold and colorful, adding to the overall farcical tone of the series.

One of the notable aspects of Pacific Heat is its voice talent, which includes some of the brightest stars in Australian comedy. The roles are effortlessly performed, lending additional depth and humor to the brilliantly written characters. Throughout the series, the humor remains engaging and self-aware, a pastiche of the common clichés associated with crime dramas and cop shows.

The beauty of Pacific Heat is in its ability to take the ridiculous and portray it as the norm – with hilarious results. Whether it’s the most ludicrous of plans that somehow succeeds or the overwhelming incompetence that leads to golden comedy moments, this animated show is a refreshing take on crime comedy. Every episode is filled with plot twists, crazy action, and side-splitting humor that never fails to entertain.

Pacific Heat is an extraordinarily funny, fast-paced, and satirical show. It offers a distinctively unique brand of humor that is truly refreshing. Whether you're a fan of animated shows or simply enjoy good comedy, Pacific Heat is sure to bring the laughs. With its vibrant and offbeat humor and engaging storyline, Pacific Heat makes its mark on the Australian television landscape and beyond.