Spicy City

In a neo-noir future, nightclub hostess and classy femme fatale Raven presents various stories that either involve some of her guests or even herself. Some are sleazy, some violent, some about love, and some about loneliness, some darkly humorous, and some bittersweet and tragic, some are gritty cyberpunk thrillers and some are more fantastical and lighthearted, but they are all spicy and original.

Spicy City (1997) is an American adult animated neo-noir anthology series created by Ralph Bakshi for HBO and Teletoon. Its six episodes of roughly twenty-five minutes each are framed by Raven (voiced by Michelle Phillips), a classy femme fatale and nightclub hostess who introduces stories that involve her guests and sometimes herself. Supporting voices include Alex Fernandez as Mano, Michael Yama as Otaku, Carlos Ferro as Paco, and Matthew Flint as Stern, with Bakshi himself voicing Stevie. Each tale is self-contained, so the engine of the show is the mood and the hook of each night's story rather than a single continuing plot. The stories range across sleazy and sensual encounters, violent crime, and cyberspace thrillers, and some turn lighthearted and fantastical while others are bittersweet and tragic. The future setting is a glossy, rain-slicked city of nightclubs, back alleys, and clones. The overall tone is seedy, witty, and melancholic, with a raw adult edge. Fans of Heavy Metal, Black Mirror and Cowboy Bebop will find resonance in its mix of cyberpunk style, moral darkness, and sly humor, though the show was canceled after one season and never returned for more.

• Heavy Metaladult animated neo-noir with sexual content and violence, cyberpunk setting
• Black Mirroranthology-style neo-noir stories with cyberpunk thrillers and dark humor
• Cowboy Bebopadult animated crime and sci-fi with noir tone and mature themes

Created by

Ralph Bakshi

Release Date

1997-07-11

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (24)

What is Spicy City about?

Nightclub hostess Raven presents a set of sleazy, violent, and bittersweet neo-noir tales set in a future city.

What is Spicy City like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Spicy City as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Spicy City violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Spicy City as moderate.

Which shows are like Spicy City?

Shows with a similar feel include Heavy Metal, Black Mirror, and Cowboy Bebop.

How long is Spicy City?

Spicy City: 1 season, 6 episodes.

Is Spicy City still running?

No, Spicy City was canceled.