animation


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If you’re curious about the upcoming animated “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” head on over to Superhero Hype, and take a look at the footage first revealed at Comic-Con.

Voice director Andrea Romano hopes the Batman team-up series appeals to a wide variety of Bat-fans.

“People who are Batman fans and are interested in seeing a version that’s not as “campy” as the Adam West series (which I grew up watching, too), nor as dark as “Batman The Animated” series… but somewhere in between” are the target audience, she told Superhero Hype.

– Matt Price

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SAN DIEGO — Marvel and Lionsgate debuted the “Hulk vs. Wolverine” portion of the upcoming “Hulk Vs.” DVD, which will also feature a “Hulk vs. Thor” episode.  The DVD will go on sale in January.

On hand to discuss the DVD were supervising producer and co-writer Craig Kyle, producer and supervising director Frank Paur, co-writer Christopher Yost and voice actor Fred Tatasciore, who portrayed the Hulk.

“This is the fight we’ve loved since 181,” said Kyle, referring to the first appearance of Wolverine in “Incredible Hulk” 181, where the Canadian mutant and the green Goliath first threw down.

“We’ve brought it together in a way I think you guys are gonna love,” Kyle said. “These are the kinds of films I think we should be making for you guys.”

Kyle focused on the fans during the presentation, saying the Marvel direct-to-DVD features were aimed at pleasing the comic-book fans first.

Co-writer Chris Yost, who also writes the comic-book “X-Force” with Kyle, talked about bringing the comic-book feel to the project.

“Everything that the fans like, the action and the edge, I’ve tried to bring to it,” Yost said.

Paur said the DVD can be more violent and action-oriented than broadcast television; there’s also some things that are more cost-effective on DVD.

“There are some things … that I wouldn’t even think about approaching (for TV) that we did on these features,” Paur said.  “We did some things that would not be cost-conscious on a TV series.”

Kyle talked a bit about “Next Avengers,” a PG-rated animated DVD featuring the children of the original Avengers, and indicated it would be more kid-appropriate than the more violent “Hulk Vs.”  He also mentioned some other kid-friendly properties he’d like to see.

“I think there’s room for ‘Power Pack,’ ‘New Mutants,’ and then there’s stuff where we need five amputations to make it right.”

– Matt Price

MTV New Media is promoting a series based on the comic-book “Invincible.”  In some ways, it seems like the old Marvel cartoons where they made Jack Kirby’s art move around and voiced over it.  It’s adapted directly from the original art.

Me, I think I’d rather read the comics than watch a half-animated, half-comic book thing on the internet, but check out the trailer to see what you think.  Episodes will be available on Xbox Live, MTV.com, iTunes, and MTV Mobile. MTV2 will air an “Invincible” special at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 25.

– Matt Price

According to a report at World’s Finest Online, Bruce Timm confirmed the upcoming animated series “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” will be aimed at preschoolers.

At Wizard World Chicago, Timm indicated the series is slated to premiere 2009 and feature characters including Green Arrow, Green Lantern, The Blue Beetle, Plastic Man, Red Tornado, Aquaman, and more.  The show has been approved for 26 episodes so far.

Mattel is expected to debut a toy line for “The Brave and the Bold” in spring 2009.

– Matt Price

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Courtesy of Marvel Animation Zone, the cover to the first DVD release of “Spectacular Spider-Man.”  The DVD will be released on Sept. 9.

– Matt Price

Batman Gotham Knight - Discussion

Batman Gotham Knight - VILLAINS IN GENERAL

Batman Gotham Knight - VILLAINS REFLECT BATMAN

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Check out the second trailer for the 2009 cartoon “Wolverine and the X-Men.”

Supervising producer Craig Kyle, head writer Greg Johnson and others involved with the new X-Men cartoon will speak about the series at Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 26 at 8:30PM PT in Room 6CDEF, where fans can be the first to see the three-part pilot.  The series will air on Nicktoons in 2009.

Marvel.com has more information:

“When an explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, the beaten heroes walk away from it all.
But then they’re given a rare glimpse into the future, and see a world in utter ruin, ruled by mutant hunting Sentinels. A world that spiraled out of control because the X-Men had given up.
So now the most legendary of all X-Men takes the lead - Wolverine! Reuniting these broken heroes, Wolverine embarks on the ultimate mission - to prevent the world’s destruction.
To rescue us from ourselves. To save the future.”

– Matt Price

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