'Megamind': A pop culture reference check list

"Megamind": Blue arbiter of (in)justice. (DreamWorks/Paramount)

"Megamind" is a fun and energetic animated movie that comes along at a time when multiplexes have been suffering from a kid-flick drought.

It's also a fun and energetic animated movie that borrows, liberally and largely intentionally, from numerous past pop cultural phenomena that preceded it.

For those who'd like to keep up with the rapid-fire references throughout this bad-guy-becomes-hero saga, we present the "Megamind" pop culture reference check list, designed to turn your movie-going excursion into a thoroughly geeky, anal-retentive experience.

Note: Some of the items on the list may be considered semi-spoilery, so feel free to clip, save and look at it during or after the big-blue-headed-guy biopic.

Mark the box beside each item when you spot or sense the presence of:

A protagonist who vaguely reminds you of a taller, skinnier, bluer version of The Great Gazoo from "The Flintstones"

A protagonist who simultaneously reminds you of the image of the great and powerful Oz from "The Wizard of Oz." Except, again, a bluer version, and one that actually has a body.

A means of transportation reminiscent of the invisible jet from the '70s Saturday morning cartoon classic "Super Friends."

Some plot elements -- including the use of the name Minion -- that share a lot in common with "Despicable Me."

High-tech equipment and high-voltage AC-DC sounds that make it impossible not to think of "Iron Man."

A secondary pseudo-hero that calls to mind Syndrome from "The Incredibles", and also raises the question: why must misguided animated superheroes always have red hair?

A reference to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Seriously, it's there. Just watch closely.

So many homages to the "Superman" movies that, frankly, they deserve their own check list.

A particularly striking evil-doer ensemble that shares a nickname with a certain character from the "Kill Bill" films.

A gleeful takeover of a municipality that isn't too far away from the Joker's domination of Gotham City in Tim Burton's "Batman" films.

Feel free to write down any additional pop cultural references that didn't make the list.