Seth MacFarlane can't ruin the universe: Fox's "Cosmos" looks good...

Animation helps capture the big picture on Fox's new "Cosmos" reboot

Published March 7, 2014 8:48PM (EST)

If you're excited by Fox and National Geographic's "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey" but still having trouble reconciling yourself with the fact that "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is the man behind this cerebral reboot, you may want to watch a clip or two from Sunday's premiere. There will be no pugilistic fowl or wiseacre mutts, but the revamped version of Carl Sagan's renowned PBS series will feature plenty of cartoon antics.

Animation is the missing link between the literally lofty "Cosmos" and MacFarlane's other, far less educational ventures -- more specifically the creative leadership of MacFarlane's longtime producing partner Kara Vallow who devised and produced the thrilling visual style. As if new "Cosmos" host Neil deGrasse Tyson isn't an animated enough figure, the series boasts fanciful reenactments, starry cosmic models, and other technicolor delights in the service of putting science in prime time and making it palatable for the masses. Kudos to Vallow and animation house 6 Point Harness for providing the proverbial spoonfuls of sugar to make this medicine go down.


By Neil Drumming

Neil Drumming is a staff writer for Salon. Follow him on Twitter @Neil_Salon.

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Cosmos Fox Neil Degrasse Tyson Science