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Star Wars, Batman Headline Cartoon Network Upfront
Batman: The Brave and the Bold courtesy Cartoon Network
With a quartet of Clone Troopers as his escort, George Lucas made a grandiose entrance to the Cartoon Network upfront Thursday morning in Manhattan. Lucas was on hand to plug Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a feature film/animated series combo coming later this year. (As previously announced, the movie premieres August 15, followed by the series on Cartoon, then TNT, in the fall. No date for the TV premiere was made.) It was the key announcement for the network, which is also premiering the Ben 10 relaunch Alien Force, and finally confirmed the rumored series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which teams the Caped Crusader with a variety of DC Comics superheroes.
Calling Star Wars "the greatest brand in entertainment history," Turner Animation COO Stuart Snyder said he personally courted Lucasfilm when he heard about the project (which went into production before a network had signed on), and "after watching five minutes they had me." For his part, Lucas calls the project "Star Wars starring an 11-year-old girl" — that is, feisty Ahsoka, padawan apprentice to Anakin Skywalker. In a short clip, Ahsoka appears to be a central player in the story. Also seen: an acrobatic 'saber-wielding Yoda, Anakin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2, and the evil multi-limbed General Grievous. Lucas calls the show "truly family entertainment" that will appeal to viewers "8 to 80."
Ben 10: Alien Force premieres April 18. Later this year it will be part of a Friday-night action/adventure bloc that includes The Clone Wars. Also on that slate is The Secret Saturdays, about a family of "world-saving adventure scientists," and the new Batman series, whose guest stars include Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, Green Lantern and Aquaman. No clip was shown, but Rob Sorcher, Cartoon Net's chief content officer, says The Brave and the Bold will be "equal doses of comedy and high stakes."
Comedy series Chowder was picked up for more episodes and will be paired with new addition The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, a surreal series about... well, even after watching the clips that was hard to tell. — Rich Sands
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Apr 3, 2008 12:51 PM
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I like the Batman idea... but the accompanying photo? Not so much.
There is only one viable Blue Beetle: Ted Kord!
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Apr 3, 2008 1:04 PM
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Is it just me or does the new BATMAN-show look too much like the 60's and 70's version of Batma
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Apr 3, 2008 1:25 PM
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I'll take 60's throwback style over Manga Moe style any day!
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Apr 3, 2008 2:04 PM
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UGH! I'm all for another Batman series, but that picture? {shudder} He looks too happy-go-lucky and that DEFINITELY is NOT Batman.
After the success of Bruce Timm's Batman animated series, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, the CN comes up with...that?
Of course I'll give it a try. It only took me 3 years to get used to The Batman (WB), when he looked like a Jackie Chan Batman.
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Apr 3, 2008 3:46 PM
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This isn't the 60's, Batman and COMEDY do not belong in the same sentence. And Batman and team-up doesn't work either. Batman is a sullen loner and comedy and team-ups both take away from what the character represents. I hope the kiddies like it but I think I will pass.
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Apr 3, 2008 3:52 PM
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I get a little tired of the constantly dreary, "dark" interpretations of Batman. And Batman has had lots of team-ups that work. This looks like fun (except for nu-Blue Beetle). We'll see!
It's gotta be better than that new Spider-Man cartoon...
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Apr 3, 2008 4:29 PM
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Melbye: It's not just you...in fact, Bats looks positively...CHEERFUL!
AchyFakey:As bad as new Spidey is, the only thing worse than Anime-eyed, pupil-less eyeballed revisions of Spider-Man characters?
That migraine-inducing theme song, which has all the melodic sophistication of 2 18-wheelers smashing together in a head-on collision!!!!
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Apr 3, 2008 4:49 PM
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pinchagrinch: "That migraine-inducing theme song, which has all the melodic sophistication of 2 18-wheelers smashing together in a head-on collision!!!!"
Pinch! where have you BEEN?! So agree with the theme and yes, the pupil-less eyes give me the heebie jeebies.
AchyYes, Bats in the DC comics is dark, dark and sometimes dreary, but Bruce Timm's adaptation was very good. And you had him with Grayson's Robin, Tim Drake's Robin, Batgirl; and in the JL/JLU universe, he worked well with Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, etc.
But that picture--it's hideous. Batman has NEVER been Cheerful, and it's not true to the character. At least, not to this Batman fan.
~Sangeeta
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Apr 3, 2008 4:53 PM
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Why are they putting all the action cartoons on Friday? Why don't they put these shows on Toonami, the Saturday action block that they've had for 10 years? Some of these shows look okay, but I don't like it that they didn't mention any anime in the upfronts, since anime is pretty much the only reason I ever watch Cartoon Network. I can't believe they didn't mention Naruto Shippuden in their upfront. If they don't get Naruto Shippuden then I'm probably going to stop watching Cartoon Network altogether outside of Adult Swim.
Pinchagrinch, I really don't see much anime influence in the Spectacular Spiderman, especially since most anime characters have rather detailed eyes.
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Apr 3, 2008 5:13 PM
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The only thing worse than that Spidey theme song is the latest FF cartoon. I'd rather watch Static Shock!
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Apr 3, 2008 6:42 PM
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I am and always have been a pretty hardcore superhero geek. Heck, my Halloween costume at work when I was years old was the Green Lantern, and I wore the GL Logo shirt signed by his creator, Martin Nodell.
Surprisingly, I actually like the new Spiderman cartoon. They have geared it for kids, but I'd say tweeners. This new Batman looks to be geared for elementary kids from the picture. I'll give it a shot, but as long as my niece and nephew like it, that's good enough for me. I'll always have my Justice League, Batman: Animated Series, and The Batman DVDs to watch.
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Apr 3, 2008 6:53 PM
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There wasn't a premiere date given for Batman: Brave and the Bold. Is it debuting in the fall, then?
I'm not a big fan of the retro look for Green Arrow and the new Blue Beetle. I'd much prefer the bearded Oliver Queen and Ted Kord. But, I guess this is aimed more at a younger audience...
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Apr 4, 2008 1:42 PM
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"There wasn't a premiere date given for Batman: Brave and the Bold."
Actually, I think it's April 18th. "Ben 10: Alien Force premieres April 18."
It's George Lucas' Clone Wars that doesn't have a premiere date yet.
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Apr 7, 2008 12:21 PM
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