Animation Round-Up

• Star Wars: Clone Wars, which debuted in theatres hasn't gotten the greatest reviews nor is it doing much box office, but, it still sets the stage for the upcoming animated series of the same name, scheduled to debut on Cartoon Network Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. ET with a special one-hour presentation.



• Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a new animated series geared towards a younger audience will debut on Cartoon Network in November 2008. The series, with an animation style reminiscent of Golden Age Batman artist Dick Sprang (which also looks similar to the main title animation of the Batman 60s TV series), features the Caped Crusader teaming up with a different hero from the DC Universe in each episode, including many heroes never before seen in animated form -- such as the new Blue Beetle, featured prominently in the trailer. You can see a list of the planned guest stars here.
  

The Wonder Woman animated movie, next in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie series, debuts on DVD in February 2009, featuring the voice of Keri Russell. Based on an original story, the script is co-written by Gail Simone, currently writing the character's comic series. It will be released in rated and unrated version and is expected to be pretty violent. See the trailer at the above link.

• More DC Universe Animated Movies are in the works, though what's after Wonder Woman is still unconfirmed. More Batman is definite, and rumors include Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (presumably based on the the Jeph Loeb/Ed McGuiness story arc of the same name) and Green Lantern. Still being discussed is Justice League: Worlds Collide, a Bruce Timm-verse movie that bridges the gap between the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. an online Plastic Man series is also supposedly in development. Nothing has been offically announced.
  



• Marvel Animated Features -- Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, featuring the children of the Avengers, as mentored by Tony (Iron Man) Stark was released on DVD on September 2. Up next is Hulk Vs., two shorts featuring the Green Goliath separately fighting Wolverine and Thor, due January. Upcoming releases include Thor: Tales of Asgard and Planet Hulk.
  



• Wolverine And The X-Men is set for a January 2009 debut, alongside Iron Man: Armored Adventures (which features Tony Stark becoming Iron Man as a teenager), on the Nicktoons Network.
  
  

New trailer for "Star Wars: Clone Wars"

If you thought you'd never get to see new Star Wars on the big screen, may the Force be with you. On August 15, Star Wars: Clone Wars, a computer animatred sequel to the last big screen chapter, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith opens in theatres. Here's the trailer.


The movie release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars leads directly into this fall's premiere of a weekly, animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT.

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" to debut in theatres

Update: here's a new trailer.

Now here is some pretty cool news! The CG-animated series that takes place between Episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, will debut as a feature film in theatres on August 15 before moving to television on the Cartoon Network and TNT in Fall 2008. A behind-the-scenes documentary with plenty of footage from the series can be seen here.

From the announcement:

On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala along with brand-new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains -- led by Darth Sidious, Count Dooku and General Grievous -- are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Thirty 30-minute episodes have already been produced, and production continues on even more.

I've Got a Good Feeling About This

Ever want to ride the Millenium Falcon? See Darth Vader's helmet or Luke's landspeeder up close. Well, if you're in Philadelphia you can. Running from February 9 through May 4, "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" will be exhibited at the Franklin Institute, and man does it sound cool.

Props from the movie will be on display, including not only the life-size landspeeder, but scale models of X-wings, y-wings and TIE fighters -- not to mention an actual Yoda puppet. The coolest part is that you can simulate a ride in the Millenium Falcon:

Experience a full-size cockpit replica of Episode IV's Millennium Falcon! Visitors watch a multimedia presentation featuring imagery from the Hubble space telescope that explores what we know about our own galaxy in a breathtaking journey to the edge of the Universe. Featuring a proprietary sound system from Bose Corporation, the recreated cockpit debuts the technologies of 3Space™ audio systems, providing visitors with a realistic three-dimensional audio experience.

Of course, it's a science museum, so it's not just entertainment. Visitors can see the history of real-life robots (and meet C3PO and R2D2) and transportation, and build a moisture farm and spaceport.

Ticket prices are $20.50 for adults, $15.50 for kids up to 11, and $16.50 for seniors.

I definitely need to see this.

Animated Star Wars: Clone Wars Trailer

Here's the trailer to the announced, yet not scheduled Star Wars: The Clone Wars CGI animated series.

George Lucas Talks Star Wars TV

In a two-part interview with TV Guide, Star Wars creator George Lucas talked about a documentary about San Francisco filmmakers, making the next Indiana Jones without Sean Connery. And in part 2 of the interview, the future of Star Wars on telvision.

Lucas is currently working on two series, 100 episodes each. The first is the animated Clone Wars, which like the previous animated series of the same name, takes place between Episodes II and III of the saga. The second is a live-action series that takes place in an era not yet explored outside of books, comics and games -- between Episodes III and IV. Here's Lucas:

Clone Wars has got all the characters in it — Yoda and Anakin and Obi Wan and the Emperor and all that — so it's basically the movie. The live-action [series] is not the movie. It's the Star Wars universe, but it's characters from the saga who were [previously] minor, and it follows their stories. It's set between [movie episodes] III and IV, when the Empire has taken over. It's like Episode IV in that the Emperor and Darth Vader are heard about — people talk about them — but you never see them because it doesn't take place where they actually are. There are storm troopers and all that, but there are no Jedis.

Neither series has an air date, or a channel to show them yet, for that matter. But Lucas isn't concerned. it's Star Wars. They will find a home.

Toon in this weekend

A reminder. This Saturday morning, the season premeires of The Batman and Legion of Superheroes, starting an hour later at 11 am ET.

And Sunday at 9 pm is Star Wars-themed episode of Family Guy.

Just an excuse to run that cool pic at top.

Family Guy Spoofs Star Wars

First, Robot Chicken did it in a special half-hour episode; now Family Guy is doing its own spoof/tribute of Star Wars in the first episode of the new season, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 23. Called "Blue Harvest" (which was the production title of Return of the Jedi so people wouldn't know what was being filmed), here's how Fox describes the episode:

"When the power goes out in the Griffin home, Peter decides to educate his family and pass along the greatest story ever told...the story of Star Wars! After Princess Leia (Lois) comes under siege by Darth Vader (Stewie) and his evil Storm Troopers, C-3PO (Quagmire) and R2-D2 (Cleveland) escape to find the only person who can help the Rebel Alliance. On their quest thorough the desert planet of Tatooine, C-3PO and R-2D2 find extra help in Obi-Wan Kenobi (Creepy Guy), Luke Skywalker (Chris), Han Solo (Peter) and Chewbacca (Brian) and head back to battle the Death Star in an epic intergalactic fight to the death."

Darth Vader is a bad Dad

Check out this public service announcement.