DJ Q-Bert’s Wave Twisters: The Movie
Directed by Syd Garon and Eric Henry
Starring DJ Q-Bert, Yoga Frog, D-Styles, DJ Flair
As the nefarious plot of the infamous space pirate Red Worm and evil High Lord Ook-Nod-Zeek-Oot to take possession of the ancient artifact Wave Twister unfolds, it is up to the dental commander and his cohorts to thwart these space menaces and their evil plan. Are you still with me? I hope so, because if you can’t keep up with my words, you definitely wouldn’t be able to sustain the full, 50-minute sensory overload of rapid animation and turntable wizardry that is DJ Q-Bert’s Wave Twisters. From the mind of the scratch master himself comes a seven-part saga of bizarre sci-fi, with the incomparable beat juggling skills of Q-Bert and his Piklz buddies as an audio accompaniment.
From the looks of it, this project must’ve been quite an arduous experiment for both the animators and the turntablists. Each scene blends several characters intricately moving, gyrating, dancing, speaking, and rocketing through space to the tune of each single cut, scratch, and crossfade. Add to that the alien plotline mixed with the legendary four elements of hip-hop, and you have a constantly exhilarating ride in the ultimate mothership. Pop culture references, genetically blessed and disfigured characters mingle, but Wave Twisters isn’t your mother’s Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Q-Bert has been raised on all things animated, and only his devious mind could’ve culled this 2-D and 3-D trek through alternate dimensions and extra-terrestrial landscapes filled with creatures beyond imagination.
From a breakdancing, Adidas-clad Grandpa to a funkadelic dentist, and even Q-Bert and crew themselves, the eccentric cast of characters strut their superpowers in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil. With animation, one can do anything within the infinite bounds of their imagination, and with Wave Twisters: The Movie, they have succeeded in creating a constantly evolving film unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Some characters and most objects appear to be cut n’ pasted, others blend into the background, while modern computer technology allows for everything to mesh into one cell of splendid animotion. It is hard to describe in words what you will witness firsthand, so I will only tease you with what I’ve already written. Wave Twisters is a journey into sound and visuals that is innovative, highly involving and constantly entertaining. Prepare to meet your doom.
