SummaryDetectives Gail Johnson (voiced by Da'Vine Joy Randolph) and David Mills (voiced by Jimmi Simpson) look into the disappearance of Ultra City mayoral candidate Carpenter K. Smith (voiced by Kurtwood Smith) in this stop-motion animated baby doll series from Steve Conrad and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.
Created By:Steve Conrad
Ultra City Smiths
Season 1 Premiere:
Jul 22, 2021
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.4
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 11, 2021
100
Smiths is much more than an eccentric goof. ... What I'm describing sounds high-concept past the stratosphere: Sin City plus Labyrinth starring Serpico directed by Jacques Demy — but with toys. Yet as with all Conrad's work, the spacey oddities are grounded by low-key humane sweetness and genially tossed-off humor.
Jul 22, 2021
83
I don’t even know if it’s meant as commentary on genre and filmmaking as a whole, or the bizarre, incongruous nature of our modern reality. It might be both; it’s almost certainly more. One thing it’s not is anything less than ultra.
Jul 21, 2021
80
“Ultra City Smiths” is all about atmosphere and tone, and about fond associations with a long lineage of down-and-out, end-of-the-line New York stories like “Midnight Cowboy,” “Dog Day Afternoon” and “The Warriors.” And it’s also about imaginative voice casting. ... In “Ultra City Smiths” he is demonstrating his own sleight of hand, keeping our eyes on the screen with shadows, memories and tough-talking dolls.
Jul 21, 2021
70
It’s hard to call a series that resembles Robot Chicken by way of Team America: World Police by way of Charlie Kaufman’s Anomalisa wholly original, nor after three episodes do I know if the insidious hard-boiled narrative is going to come together as anything other than a whimsically warped amusement, but the blending of elements has already resulted in a series that doesn’t feel like anything else on TV.
Jul 21, 2021
70
The technique behind “Ultra City Smiths” is to manipulate the figures, which aren’t actually plastic anyway, to accommodate whatever posture the narrative requires. There’s simply too much motion among the allegedly inanimate objects. It’s ironic, perhaps, but if one ignores the principal gimmick of “Ultra City Smiths,” it might make for a more convincing and even noirish experience.
Jul 22, 2021
67
Ultra City Smiths is different, at least, but it doesn’t yet come together in a way that makes for essential viewing. It asks a lot of its audience, acting more as a challenge than an invitation.
User score
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Aug 10, 2021
10
Amazing. In my life I have gotten the best advice from puppets and stop-motion characters so this series is right up my canal. The music is great. The set design and look of Ultra City are amazing. If I could give this 10 stars I would!
Jul 25, 2021
10
This was so surprisingly excellent. I didn't know what to expect, some weird puppet show I guess, but I check out the first episode, and it's exactly up my alley. Noir, comedy, deadpan musical numbers, this things a hoot and a holler. I'm hooked.





























