BlackGeekdom Science-Fiction from a Different Perspective

In a Q and A sessions on CBR  Marvels Editor in Chief Joe Quesada (and new Chief Creative Officer of Animation) gave an update on the Black Panther Animated series.

“Since you’ve been involved in various Marvel animation projects, by chance have you heard any new developments about BET’s Black Panther animated series? There were some casting announcements a few months ago, but nothing since then not even a release date. Can we still expect it by the end of 2009?”

Joe Quesada:  I’m sort of coming into this in the middle and just got a DVD of the first episodewhich I plan on watching on my flight to SDCC. That said, I asked [Executive Producer] Reggie Hudlin what the status of the BET Black Panther animates series. He wrote back: “There’s a lot I can’t say, but we are deep in production, and there’s some great new additional casting that I can’t talk about right now. The series is now covering in more material than was in the original six issues, which has caused some production delays. So it won’t be airing this year. That said, the cast sports some all-star talent, including: Djimon Honsou as T’Challa, the Black Panther; Kerry Washingtonas Shuri, sister of T’Challa; Alfre Woodard as the Queen Mother and Dondi Reese; Carl Lumbly as Uncle S’Yan; and of course, Stan Lee!”

Posted under Animation

Creators Mshindo I and Gregory Walker and producer/voice artist Wesley Snipes will officially launch their animated science-fiction project, Zulu Mech 1, at Book Expo America in New York on May 30.

Walker, also known as Brother G, is the author of the Shades of Memnon trilogy, developed as a swords-and-sorcery series with an African consciousness. Mshindo I, who has also worked as Mshindo Kuumba, is a graphic artist whose work has included children’s books (Food Adventues With Charles the Chef) and graphic novels (The Fringe).

The basic plot of Zulu Mech 1 involves a kind of a reversal of the Planet of the Apes idea, with humanity as the Earth’s far-future successor civilization. Zulu Mech 1 is set in a utopian near future in which world nations are at peace and Africa is a prosperous united state, only to be invaded by strange, highly intelligent creatures called The Elder Race who come not from outer space, but from inside the Earth and who seek to return to world to the way it was before the dawn of humanity and their own self-destruction. The Elder Race seem unstoppable; in a final effort the Mthunzi family from South Africa stand against them and forge the heroic giant robot Zulu Mech 1.

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Posted under Animation

Press Release

The street date for Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies, has shifted to July 21, 2009. A co-production of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation, the illuminated hero’s first-ever full-length animated film will be distributed by Warner Home Video. Green Lantern: First Flight will be available as a special edition 2-disc version on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def for $24.98 (SRP) and $29.99 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). Order due date is June 16, 2009.

Everybody under the age of say 15 whose not a heavy comic reader,  thinks that John Stewart is the Green Lantern because of the Justice League cartoon.   I hope they at least give him a cameo in the film.   So far so good with the straght to DVD films by DC.   The recently released Wonder Woman was a great.  Hopefully this film will be just as good.   The trailer at Yahoo has me hopeful

Posted under Animation

New Mutants is a new ongoing series by writer Zeb Wells that begins in May and features the classic characters from New Mutants, including Cannonball, Magma, Sunspot, Illyana, Xi’an, and Dani Moonstar. The artist will be Diogenes Neves, most recently seen on X-Men Worlds Apart
The entire Ultimate line will be cancelled, sent off with a number of “Requiem” specials, and re-launched as Ultimate Comics.

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Posted under Animation, Comics

Let get this started with the most popular cartoon to debut this year, TMNT to the uninformed that’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.   The cartoon was based on the popular comic book series.    The cartoon was the most popular animated shows of all-time.   It started a pop culture phenomenon that included toys, breakfast cereal, etc.   The  show ran for 10 years, 3 in syndication and 7 years on CBS and aired over 193 episodes.   The show chronicled the adventures of four turtles who fell into the sewers and are befriended by Hamato Yoshi, a Japanese man who fled from New York and had nowhere to live but in the sewers. He was framed by his enemy, Oroku Saki, in a plot to kill the sensei. One day he sees a strange green glow which transforms the four turtles into human-like creatures. Hamato (now Master Splinter) changes into a giant rat from the green glow and teaches the turtles the skills of the ninja as they team up with Channel 6 news reporter April O’Neil to battle against Yoshi’s archenemy Shredder and Krang, an alien warlord from Dimension X. 

TMNT

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Posted under Animation

The first episode of Batman: The Brave & The Bold at 8PM (EST) on Cartoon Network.   I’ll give you a review next week.   Comicbookresources has a great article about the show.  click the image for the article.

Posted under Animation

Source: THR.com

Marvel Animation is developing and self-producing a 26 half-hour episode series based on its long-running comic book, with the series targeted to launch in fall 2010, following Marvel’s live-action feature “Thor,” which bows in 2010.

The animated series will follow Thor, the Norse god of thunder, as he defends his mythical home of Asgard against fantastical villains, fiendish hordes, winged creatures and angry giants. The show will take place in various worlds — from mountainous landscapes to places of icy mists and fiery voids — and will include many of the comic’s supporting cast, including Balder the Brave, the Warriors Three and Thor’s evil adopted brother, Loki.

Marvel president of animation Eric Rollman said the series is part of the company’s plan to follow each live-action movie with an animated series and “offer a continued awareness in the marketplace.” It already is in production on cartoon series “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” which will be available for broadcast in 2011, in time for Marvel Studios’ releases of the live-action “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”

Posted under Animation

It looks good and I will probably get it, but I am concerned about the price. How much do you charge for a 45 minute DVD?

Posted under Animation

Friday night the highly anticipated Star Wars: Clone Wars animated T.V. show aired two episodes on Cartoon Network.  I’ll make this brief.  The movie that was released this summer should have been the aired on the Cartoon Network first.  That movie was much more suited for T.V. and not the big screen.  But that’s beside the point.  I liked it.  There was enough of Lucas’s classic heroes in distress to keep me on the edge of my seat.   The one thing that I am looking forward to is how the writers have given the clones identites and personalities.  I think this is what is going to drive the show.  I also like Yoda, but then again, who doesn’t.  The one thing that bothers me, even though I know its for the kids, is the corny droid humor.  I can do without it.  But overall, it was entertaining.

Posted under Animation, Reviews, Television

Its about time I saw the early attempt at an Avengers cartoon in the 90′s and it was lack luster.   The problem was it was missing the core of the team like Thor, Captain America and Iron Man.   That’s like Thanksgiving with no Turkey.   Hopefully this will be Marvels answer to the Justice League cartoon.   The DC Animated Universe is the gold standard in animated superheros, starting with Batman: TAS to Justice League Unlimited.   Before anybody emails  me,  I loved the the animated X-men series at the time, but I always felt like it was good, but it could have been so much better.   Hopefully this Avengers cartoon will raise the bar on Marvel animation.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Marvel Animation, the cartoon division of Marvel Entertainment, is beginning production on “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” the company’s latest animated series.

Film Roman, the company behind “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill,” has been tapped to produce the 26-episode series, which will be available for broadcast in 2011, in time for Marvel Studios’ releases of the tentpole live-action movies “The First Avenger: Captain America” and “The Avengers.”

“Avengers,” based on the long-running comic, features some of the company’s most popular characters, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Giant Man, and the comely Wasp, who fight forces of evil that no single hero stands a chance against.

Posted under Animation