Blaze and the Monster Machines

Blaze and the Monster Machines "Let's blaze!" Genre: Adventure Science fiction Musical Action Running Time: 22 minutes Country: United States Release Date: October 13, 2014 – present Network(s): Nickelodeon Created by: Jeff Borkin Ellen Martin Starring: Nolan North Dusan Brown Caleel Harris Ramone Hamilton Angelina Wahler Seasons: 5 Episodes: 94

Blaze and the Monster Machines is a Canadian CGI interactive educational animated television series with a focus of learning about STEM, as well as teaching facts about Animals (in the "Wild Wheels" episodes). The series premiered on Nickelodeon on October 13, 2014. It was renewed for a fourth season in June 2016.

Plot

AJ is an 8-year-old techie who drives monster-truck Blaze, the top racer in Axle City. The two go on adventures that have them taking on problems involving science and math.

Why It Rocks

1. Awesome theme song.
2. Very educational, as it focuses on teaching children about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)
3. Decent CGI animation.
4. The background design is considerably realistic, especially in later seasons where foliage improves.
5. Very likable group of characters, such as Blaze, AJ, Gabby and Zeg.
6. Blaze and AJ are an adorable pair.
7. Blaze talks to the audience in a charming way that isn't pandering.
8. Crusher is an adorable and hilarious antagonist.
9. Awesome episode plots.
10. The songs are extremely catchy, such as the Freezing Song.
11. Entertaining "couple comedy" provided by Crusher and his sidekick Pickle.
12. The scenes where the monster machines are racing are unbelievably entertaining.
13. Most of the sound effects are hilarious, and really add a very "cartoon-y" feel to the show.
14. AJ's voice actress, Caleel Harris, also voices Clyde McBride from The Loud House.
15. The animation improves in later seasons.

Bad Qualities

1. The plot is a little strange. Usually a little child driving a monster truck wouldn't end well.
2. Much like Dora the Explorer, anyone above the target audience for this show would probably find Blaze's 4th wall breaking annoying.
3. Crusher is often too dumb to live, believing that cheating is the only way to win, and never learning his lesson. Even Pickle, who is often a simpleton, has been shown silently snarking when Crusher decides to cheat.
4. Also infuriating is that Crusher never gets caught by race officials for cheating, meaning that, even if he doesn't win (which he never does), he always gets off scot-free.