Before the beloved Bob's Burgers, Loren Bouchard created another animated series infused with many of the same idiosyncrasies in the short-lived, Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil. Now considered a cult classic, the criminally underrated series was substantially darker in tone, experimenting with animation techniques and drawing extensively from the horror genre. Yet ever present throughout the series is Bouchard's trademark humor, music, and casting, which later become essential components in Bob's Burgers. Following the success of Bob's Burger's the Movie, here's a look at Bouchard's freaky forgotten family.
Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil, is an animated comedy-horror series originally released on Adult Swim in 2007. The series follows the 21-year-old art school graduate and reluctant Antichrist, Lucy. Lucy must balance dating the Second Coming (a DJ named Jesus), the pressure from her father to realize her infernal purpose and destroy humanity, and her career working in the Devil's new chain of Mexican-themed restaurants. The Devil is assisted by his "advocate," Becky, in his attempts to infiltrate politics, destroy the Messiah, and visit Burning Man. All the while, a troupe of Catholic assassins - The Special Clergy - hunt for the Antichrist. The series was unfortunately canceled after one season, yet perfectly showcases much of Bouchard's talent and style, which infused Bob's Burgers so effectively that there is potential for Bob's Burgers the Movie 2.
Bouchard would employ many of the techniques and styles honed in Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil in his later work. The most striking example is Bouchard's use of music. Bouchard writes and composes a new theme song for each episode of the series, sometimes based upon a well-known pop song, but always based around the ukulele. The first episode, "He's Not the Messiah, He's a DJ," for example, opens with a childish yet unsettling rendition of Hall and Oates' "Maneater." Bob's Burgers audiences will recognize this practice of episode-unique theme songs. It was implemented part-way through the first season of Bob's Burgers, and then with each subsequent episode, becoming an essential factor in Bob's Burgers' popularity. So much a trademark has it been for the show that the musical scenes in Bob's Burgers may even outdo The Simpsons.
Loren Bouchard's First Animated Family Explained
One standout feature that connects Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil with Bouchard's later work is his casting. Bouchard would retain many of the same talented actors, maintaining a family of colleagues as he transitioned to a new animated household. Patriarch of the satanic family, The Devil, is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin, who would later voice the father in Bob's Burgers, Bob Belcher. Bob's son, Gene Belcher, is portrayed by the brilliant Eugene Mirman, who voices Special Sister Mary, a violent and highly trained nun-assassin on a mission to destroy Lucy. Lucy and Becky's voice actor, Melissa Bardin Galsky, would appear as various character's throughout Bob's Burgers, most notably in season 1, episode 7, "Bed and Breakfast." Sam Seder, who voices Senator Robert Whitehead, currently voices several characters of Bouchard's, including the fastidious and jealous health inspector Hugo, who appeared in the Bob's Burgers movie, though not as its villain. The remaining main cast member, Jon Glaser, the voice of Jesus throughout Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil, would return to collaborate with Bouchard on several characters in Bob's Burgers.
Loren Bouchard's characteristic style is clearly present in his work prior to Bob's Burgers. Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil, clearly demonstrates this through music and casting alone. Bouchard's series was as innovative as it was disturbing, perfectly balancing humor and horror in a satanic musical romp. Even beyond Bouchard, a new animated series with a strikingly similar plot, Little Devil, has been announced starring Danny DeVito suggesting that Lucy, The Daughter of the Devil's influence still haunts television today.