I took a chance on ‘The Amazing Digital Circus,’ a cartoon’ that defied my expectations

Lately, a television show has made a splash in the entertainment sphere: “The Amazing Digital Circus.”

It’s a completely independent production from the small Australia-based studio Glitch Productions, quietly released on YouTube and Netflix in October 2023. 

Since then, the show’s pilot has garnered 442 million views on YouTube. The show’s “Last Act,” a sneak peek of the final two episodes, premiered in theaters on June 4. It has already grossed $23.4 million at the domestic box office, according to IMDb.

My husband and I are two of those viewers, and we contributed about $25 to the box office total. My brother recommended it, and the style is right up his alley. It’s not something I would typically gravitate to, but I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Although animated, it’s definitely not for young children. Common Sense Media says it’s suitable for ages 12 and up.

The show is an animated dark comedy about a digital world created by a software company. Participants put on a headset and are trapped in the server. Thankfully, Caine, the program’s ringleader, has a new adventure for them every day. 

But they don’t like his adventures, and they usually don’t go as planned.

Without a doubt, it’s a very strange show, with characters modeled after a rabbit, a chattering teeth toy, a rag doll, a jester, a red ribbon, and a chess piece. One character is literally a talking bubble, and another is so abstract that it’s hard to tell what inspired it.

The absurdity is really where the show shines. It offers a colorful, whimsical take on the overplayed “trapped and can’t get out” premise.

But it’s not all about vibrant animations. The show switches from silly and high-energy to deep and emotional so quickly that it gave me a bit of whiplash.

A show that had me laughing out loud also helped me confront hard truths about myself. Every episode touches on identity, mental health, and relationships, and once you get past the bright colors and wackiness, you really think and feel for these characters.

My favorite episode has the characters working a shift at a fast-food restaurant. It seems like a boring premise at first, but it spirals into madness. 

As managing editor, I related to Gangle, the shift manager for the fast-food adventure. As the day became more chaotic, she tried her best to keep a happy face and rally the team, but eventually cracked under the pressure. She thought everybody hated her, but her closest friend, Zooble, said they were on her side, no matter what.

It’s refreshing that my team feels the same way about me.

I also relate to Ragatha, with a BuzzFeed quiz result saying I’m most like her to prove it. She has people-pleasing tendencies, and I overextend myself to help my loved ones. It comes from a good place, but slowly wears away at me until I feel the need to retreat.

But space isn’t always a bad thing.

My favorite quote comes from the character Kinger in episode six as he attempts to comfort Ragatha after her friend chose someone else over her for a competition.

“We all go through and deal with things differently and sometimes you just need to let people do things their own way,” he said. “As long as you’re still there when they need, giving someone space should never be the same as giving up on them.”