Best and Bester is a Canadian-British-Finnish animated series by Anttu Harlin and Joonas Utti (who also developed 101 Dalmatian Street and created The Unstoppable Yellow Yeti). The series is a co-production between Canada's famous Nelvana studio, Utti and Harlin's own studio Gigglebug Entertainment, and British studio Eye Present.
The series is set in the town of Bettervale, which is populated by a large number of living objects with arms and legs. The titular duo are Best the pink crown, and Bester the green heart. Unlike most everyone else in Bettervale, these two have a unique ability: While most residents of Bettervale are set in their forms, Best And Bester have the ability to choose a new form whenever they want. Thus, the show follows their lives as they assist their friends in town with their ability.
The series debuted on June 27th, 2022, appearing on YTV in Canada and Yle TV 2 in Finland. It has also been picked up for international broadcasting by Nickelodeon.
Best and Bester contains examples of:
- Absurd Phobia: In "Get the Hump", it's revealed that Bester has a fear of camels.
- Alliterative Title: Best and Bester
- Animate Inanimate Object: Bettervale's population consists of a large number of living objects with stick-figure arms and legs.
- Brother–Sister Team: Best and his sister, Bester, do everything together.
- Cyclops: Grafifi, the living spray paint can, only has one eye, which is placed on where the nozzle is. The same for Mr. Putt Putt, him being a bunch of living golf balls.
- The Heckler: Mr. Putt Putt and Grumpy Pants serve this role in "Stage Struck", making snarky disparaging comments about the performance from up in the balcony like Statler and Waldorf.
- Meaningful Name: Many residents of Bettervale have names that represent what they are. For example, Grafifi is a living can of spray paint, Sandy is a sandal, and Diamondo is a Diamond.
- Morphic Resonance: No matter what forms they take, Best and Bester always retain their face and color scheme.
- Mystery Episode: "Ball Count", which has Best and Bester investigating the disappearance of all but two of Mr. Putt Putt's golf balls.
- Name and Name: Best and Bester.
- Objectshifting: The titular duo have the ability to transform into practically any object they can think of.
- Pink Girl, Blue Boy: Inverted. Best is pink while Bester is green.
- Street Performer: Best becomes one in "Sing for Your Supper".
- Quarter Hour Short: Was produced this way like with the previous animated shows from Harlin and Utti, with the most obvious indicator of this being the "part 1" and "part 2" title cards on the finale. However, some territories air it as a Two Shorts program.
- Voluntary Shapeshifter: Best and Bester have the ability to take on any form they want, with the abilities their new forms provide.
