Watch Pacific Heat

Pacific Heat is an Australian animated comedy series that premiered in 2016 with a total of 13 episodes produced by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, and Rebecca Massey. It revolves around a group of undercover agents from Australia’s covert intelligence agency named Pacific Heat. The show takes place in the fictitious ‘Surfside 6’ precinct, where the agents are tasked with taking down crime bosses, drug traffickers, and corrupt politicians across the Pacific.

The show is not just another animated comedy; it's also an Australian spoof of American cop shows. The characters on Pacific Heat are exaggerated parodies of classic cop show archetypes, such as the corrupt cop, the loner cop, and the rookie cop. The show uses over-the-top violence, humor, and absurdity to make fun of the genre’s tropes and stereotypes.

The characters of Pacific Heat are hilariously flawed, all the while trying to navigate the complexities of life as undercover agents. The lead character is the suave, yet bumbling agent Todd Sommerville (voiced by Rob Sitch), who is tasked with leading the team despite his incompetence. Todd works alongside the sexy and cunning agent Maddie Riggs (voiced by Lucia Mastrullo), the laid-back yet unpredictable agent Zach (voiced by Santo Cilauro), and the tech-savvy, socially awkward agent Trudy (voiced by Rebecca Massey).

What sets Pacific Heat apart from other animated comedies are its unique visual style and its blend of animation and live-action footage. The show’s animation style pays homage to classic 1960s animated TV shows, such as The Flintstones and Jonny Quest. The visuals are colorful, simple, and feature minimalistic backgrounds. Additionally, the show utilizes a blend of live-action footage and animation for its establishing shots, which adds to the show’s comical tone.

The show’s humor is a mixture of slapstick comedy and verbal gags. The writing is witty and clever, and the voice acting is top-notch. The show’s writers also inject pop culture references, parodying everything from Baywatch to Die Hard. The characters' dialogue, including their exchange of witty one-liners and verbal quips, truly sells the show’s absurdity.

Some of the show’s most comical moments come from the team's failed undercover operations, including Todd’s attempt at being a lounge singer, and Maddie's stint as a beauty pageant contestant. The show also pokes fun at real-life situations, such as corrupt police officers and politicians, lampooning them in an exaggerated and ridiculous manner.

Pacific Heat’s plotlines are engaging and entertaining, as the agents face new challenges with each mission. The episodes are self-contained, each with its own storyline and unique set of humor. Whether the plot is about stopping counterfeiters, drug trafficking, or corrupt government officials, the show’s writers never miss an opportunity to make fun of the genre’s tropes.

Some fans have criticized Pacific Heat’s writing as predictable and trite, however the show never takes itself too seriously, and its over-the-top humor and exaggerated characters make it easy to overlook any potential flaws in the writing. The show is not meant to be taken seriously, but rather to be enjoyed as a tongue-in-cheek spoof of the cop-show genre.

In conclusion, Pacific Heat is a highly entertaining animated comedy with its unique style, quirky humor, and amusing parodies of classic cop shows. It's a clever send-up of the genre, featuring absurd situations, witty one-liners, and memorable characters. If you are looking for a show that does not take itself too seriously and just wants to make you laugh, Pacific Heat is the perfect choice.