Tender Touches

A refreshing departure from the typical Adult Swim fare, Tender Touches is a unique blend of surreal storytelling, avant-garde aesthetics, poignant humor, and spontaneous musical scores, teetering precariously on the edges of the absurd. First aired in 2017, the show is a bold experiment of episodic storytelling wrapped in the guise of a daytime soap opera, with a plot that is simultaneously mundane and fantastical, a truly intriguing show in the Adult Swim repertoire.

The show is the brainchild of animators David Bonawits, Lauren Payne, and Maxime Simonet, who both wrote and directed the series. The visual aesthetic of Tender Touches is immediately striking, displaying a collage-like sequence of surreal imagery with an earthy color palette, combining 3D animations with hand-drawn images. This helps heighten not just the audience's sense of the surreal, but also the emotional resonance of the series as a whole.

Unlike most Cartoon Network shows that rely heavily on rampant absurdity and slapstick humor, Tender Touches seeks to derive its humor from the banalities of day-to-day life, in what could be described as comedic mundanity. It often features long, lingering conversations about the most ordinary of topics, yet the show's creators skilfully manage to weave comedy into these instances, turning the concept of 'nothing really happening' into an art form in itself.

The format of the series is reminiscent of a soap opera, yet it is far from one, shattering the conventions of the genre it supposedly fits into. Tender Touches not only breaks away from typical narratives but also refuses to follow a linear plot. The story meanders like a dream, the past often blending with the present and fantasy merging with reality.

The characters are at the heart of this show, each with their distinct personalities, quirks and thoroughly elaborated backstories, which add depth and richness to the narrative. From the narrative's center, Frank - an emotionally complex character and classical guitarist caught in a love triangle, to Howard - the square yet lovable roommate, to Brenda - an alluring seductress with a flair for fishing, each character contributes to the quirky humor and distinct flavor that the show delivers.

Contrast is also a key feature of this series. Characters balance between being regular individuals exploring their passions, loves, and conflicts and surreal entities with absurd identities, adding an unexpected twist to the story. This balance between the real and the surreal, the mundane and the bizarre, the dramatic and the comic, is one of the hallmarks of the series, lending it a unique, other-worldly charm.

Another feature of the show that distinguishes it from other Adult Swim offerings is its musical score. The music woven into Tender Touches is as much a character in the story as Frank or Brenda - deeply integral and narratively informing. Each episode features unexpected, spontaneous musical pieces, ranging from classical guitar pieces to surreal signature tunes, adding a poignant layer of emotional depth to the story being told.

The exploration of relationships is another crucial aspect of the show. Whether it's the complex dynamics of friendships challenged by romantic interests or the pain of unrequited love, Tender Touches touches upon a multitude of emotions that any viewer can relate to on a personal level.

Despite its quirky aesthetics and left-field humor, Tender Touches is, at its heart, a study of human relationships and human emotions, perhaps more so than other animated series. It doesn't tell a convoluted story or aim at cheap laughs; it delves deep into the nuances of everyday life, making it appear both incredibly normal and strangely surreal.

Tender Touches is a treasure trove of visual and narrative creativity. It's a testament to the magic of animation and the innovative voices that propel Adult Swim's pioneering content. Whether you're a long-time fan of this late-night programming block, or a newcomer looking for a show that pushes the bounds of conventional storytelling - Tender Touches is a show that deserves your time. So sit back, and let yourself be taken on a surprisingly tender journey through the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the spaces in-between.