Aged like (Super) Milk (Chan)?
(written 10/11/2022)
Over the summer when I was 13-14 (either 2005 or 2006), I would just sit and watch my collection of DVDs (I had all the volumes) on my "private computer" (Windows XP PC that had no internet access, but I was capable of transferring files from the living room computer so I had art programs, emulators, image collections, and I drew and watched DVDs on it often). I would watch it over and over, and take notes about the episodes. I did this for months during the summer break because I didn't have any close friends and even then I was too socially awkward to make online friends (I started going online at 10, but was even more socially awkward and was bullied online and IRL. I lost contact with the friends I had on Neopets/AOL) and didn't understand how to talk to people outside of anonymous imageboards. This was also, very likely (I lost all my diaries from mid-00s to 10s), after I had parental controls put on my browser on the living room computer when I was caught being on said imageboards. So, all I could really do is draw, watch my DVDs (and TV - I hyperfixated on Adult Swim's dub of Crayon Shin-Chan at the time, which is an example of "if you like X, you'll probably like Y too"), and play Neopets sometimes.
What was so special about this anime and why did I rewatch it so often, taking notes, for months straight? I wish I could have an exact answer since it's been over 15 years since I watched. But I think I can say what I liked about it and what was interesting to me then, the art, the obscurity, the brand of humor, and how I believed there were "secrets" about it because it was so unpopular/there wasn't much english information about it.
I was in love with the artwork and designs, and I even tried to actively emulate it, and I drew fanart during class often. I don't remember if this was either something I never saw before, or an art style I already liked (I owned a copy of Puyo Pop Fever on the DS solely for the cover art). I sadly can't remember how exactly I found about it. I know I watched it on Adult Swim, but I can't remember if it was introduced me or not. The reason my memory is so foggy is because I discussed it sometimes with someone who later traumatized me - so like my interest in the art style, I don't know which came first. It doesn't matter to me.
There were technically 2 animes. The first, Super Milk-Chan (labeled "Vintage Milk") were 14 8 minute long shorts and aired in Japan in 1998 (technically not vintage since that's 2 years before the full show). The full anime, OH! Super Milk-Chan, aired in 2000 and had 12 24 minute long full episodes. The art in Vintage Milk isn't radically different, but it's less eye-catching and polished as the full show. Both were licensed by ADV Films in 2004, and aired on Adult Swim from 2004 to 2007.
I dug very deep online to find more information, since I couldn't find any fansites or discussion, and I found what I considered to be "secrets" at the time. First, the IP was not nearly as dead in Japan as it was in US, there was a lot of merchandise. For my birthday that year, my mom actually bought me some imported merchandise figures, which I treasured at the time, but sadly due to my (undiagnosed at the time) comorbid Autism+ADHD, I fell out of the interest when the school year started and they were just stashed away somewhere. I'm pretty sure I ended up mailing them to an Otaku/weeaboo family member, so hopefully the toys are in good hands.
(Not the merch I owned, just official photos)
There was also a completely different opening and ending theme song than the one on TV. ADV Films didn't have the rights for these songs, which was likely why "Disco Milk" existed. Ironically, I found out about the ending theme from when I was relistening to the commentary for the Americanized dub (more on that later), and the song plays at the very end after awhile, even though I thought they couldn't use it. I'm not sure if that was a mistake or intentional (not likely). I don't hate the "Disco Milk" song, but compared to the original OP/EDs, it felt like I was robbed! Maybe western audiences would've liked it more if this aired. (Not to mention there's no epilepsy triggers in them...)
I used to get REALLY mad over how Adult Swim/anime fans seemed to really dislike this show and consider it "the worst" but honestly, I understand that because it's not for everyone.
Reception nowadays is a lot less harsh than "the worst anime ever".
One complaint I used to see was that it was closer to a western cartoon; the episodes tend to be linear. Milk-chan is a bratty 5 year old, not a character everyone will find cute or funny by any means. The humor is very dry. I know this show aired late at night on Adult Swim, and the dub that aired was the one that was closer to the original was very quiet, and almost made me sleepy watching it. I would often go to bed after staying up to watch it. I suspect this may be why there were two dubs, the "straight" sub that's closer to the original, and the "Americanized" dub that was on the DVD release. The straight dub wasn't easy for westerners to understand, so an Americanized dub was made.
My younger teen self loved both versions, I would spent A LOT of time watching the same episodes, taking notes, and comparing the changes in the sub VS straight dub VS Americanized dub. I would also attempt to try to record audio of my favorite scenes and write them down. The Americanized dub is very crass and closer to a lot of adult animation comedy (South Park, Family Guy, etc.). Vintage Milk was rated TV-PG, Super Milk-Chan was TV-14, but the Americanized dub was firmly TV-MA territory. That's probably where ADV's tagline for it came from: "Wholesome? Probably not. Good for you? Definitely." It's peppered with live action comedy skits involving the voice actors in the former ADV Films studio in Houston Texas - why, I have no idea. I'm sure the commentary track on one of the DVD volumes talks about why. But a lot of effort was put into this. It feels like it was trying to be something that would air on Adult Swim, which makes it ironic that Adult Swim aired the straight dub instead. The live action skits in the Americanized dub have their own subplots and humor sprinkled in.
"Cindy Lauper fell off the stage and sprained her ankle, and they were down in this part of the country. The local promoters knew me. They called me, one thing led to another, and I'm on tour, opening for Cher in 40 cities."
"You're a comedian, what do you mean you're opening for Cher? What are you opening, her mail?"
Unfortunantely, I haven't fully revisited Super Milk-Chan, especially not the Americanized dub. Several years ago I saw it was streaming online, so I decided to give it a chance, but the first episode alone quickly drops some slurs and other offensive things pretty early on. I dropped it immediately despite laughing at the Cher joke earlier. This humor aged...like Milk! Which was disappointing, I thought this would be yet another anime I would leave firmly in the past and would not touch again. However, this was 4 years ago, and I might give both versions (sub and Americanized dub) another chance and just roll my eyes at the Americanized version's humor. I'm not against un-PC humor, there's just a time and place for it, and there needs to be some care done with the delivery ("laugh at VS laughing with"). I really would like to know what my opinion on this anime would be as a grown adult one day.
I wouldn't say Super Milk-Chan is a very obscure thing by any means - I've searched to see if there's any "fandom"-like discussion, and didn't really see besides fanart. There are two official Twitter accounts that are reasonably active, so it's not a dead IP by any means. Super Milk-Chan Forever was announced to be in development in February 2021. One thing that reminded me that it existed was when I saw that Peacock from Skullgirls has a palette modeled after Milk-Chan, so it has some small legacy as one of the weirder Adult Swim animes.
Peacock would probably get along great with a teenage Milk-chan.
If I ever rewatch this anime, I will definately make a sequel page to this about my thoughts on it.
