Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin made a pilot for an animated television adaptation of McGruder's comic strip, The Boondocks, for FOX in 2004.
It wouldn't be until 2016 when a clip
was posted online by Carl Jones. The pilot had an art style closer to that of the comic strips. It wouldn’t be until it February 2024 that the pilot would surface online.
It shows the Freeman family in their daily lives in the town of Woodcrest. At night, Riley Freeman, watches Moqueesha on TV, but his older brother, Huey Freeman, can't stand the show for how its lowbrow and stereotypical portrayal of African-Americans. The next morning, Huey and Riley get into a fight after Huey accidentally scuffs Riley's Air Force 1s only to be stopped by their Granddad, Robert Freeman. Huey and Riley's classmate and neighbor Jazmine DuBois is upset that the kids at school make fun of her. Her father, Tom DuBois, tries to cheer her up by telling her about how he was made fun of when he was her age, until he's stopped by his wife when he goes too far. Back at the Freeman house, Robert plays a VHS tape of a Tae Bo infomercial and exercises to it…naked. Later that day, Jazmine visits Huey and Riley while they are in detention (again) and she gives Huey half of her turkey sandwich from lunch. They have a nice moment talking, but when she leaves, Riley chides Huey for getting a sandwich from her and they start fighting (again). Later, Robert visits Uncle Ruckus to talk about his grandsons, while a boy named Timmy throws a baseball at Ruckus' windows. The pilot ends with Huey and Robert playing a soccer video game while Riley watches. Robert beats Huey at the game before sending both of his grandsons off to bed.
Tropes:
- Art Evolution: The art style for the pilot is more close to the original comic strip than the Animesque art style the [adult swim] cartoon would go on to have.
- Fan Disservice: Robert strips nude while exercising to a Tae Bo infomercial he taped.
- Moment Killer: Huey and Jazmine share a nice moment, until it gets cut off by Riley who scolds Huey for getting a sandwich from Jazmine.
- Noodle Incident: Jazmine mentions a fight that Huey(and apparently Riley) got into before being sent to detention.
- Pilot: Was produced by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin for FOX before the deal fell through.
- Ship Tease: Riley and Robert tease Huey for being "scurred" around Jazmine.
- Jazmine visits Huey while he's in detention and gives him half of her sandwich. Huey initially declines, but after hearing his stomach growling, he asks Jazmine if the sandwich has pork in it. She assures him it's turkey and he accepts. Jazmine says she tried to tell them (likely referring to the teachers) that Huey didn't start the fight, but they wouldn't listen. Huey tells it's okay and that no good deed goes unpunished. Jazmine thanks Huey and smiles at him before leaving.
