Since we discussed the new He-Man/ThunderCats covention in last week’s podcast, this is good timing. I’ve wanted to get ThunderCats on DVD for ages, but it’s always been fairly pricey, considering there were a massive 65 episodes in its first season. Now we have a cheaper alternative. Official info below.
ThunderCats, Ho!
ThunderCats: The Original Series Season 1, Part 1
The Legendary 80’s Cartoon Comes to DVD on July 12, 2011
This summer, the Code of Thundera will live on when Warner Home Video releases ThunderCats: The Original Series Season 1 Part 1 July 12, 2011 on DVD – just ahead of the
all-new series premiere of ThunderCats on Cartoon Network. The 2-disc collection set, priced to own at $19.97, includes the first 12 action-packed episodes, as well as a special featurette entitled “Feel the Magic, Hear the Roar,” where fans speak out about their incredible
passion for the classic animated series.
One of the 1980s’ most popular animated series, ThunderCats spawned fan-driven conventions and a wide array of highly sought-after consumer products – from action figures and video games to lunch boxes and comic books. ThunderCats: The Original Series Season 1 Part 1 introduces the first animated adventures of the feline-inspired fantasy! A noble band of survivors from the peaceful world of Thundera bravely faces off against vicious mutants intent on destroying them.
Make way for exotic creatures, mystical powers and action-packed battles of good versus evil in the exciting saga of the ThunderCats! ThunderCats: The Original Series Season 1 Part 1 follows the heroic groups’ early adventures as they adopt Third Earth as their new home
and encounter alien beings galore – some friendly, some looking for a fight! And while they brave their strange surroundings, their young leader Lion-O struggles with his new responsibilities as head of their foundling civilization. The result is more than four hours of classic cartoon thrills.
“This release is perfectly timed to engage devoted fans eagerly awaiting the new ThunderCats series debut on Cartoon Network this summer,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WHV Executive Director, Family & Animation Marketing. “We are excited for this great opportunity to
introduce the series to a brand new generation a quarter of a century after the original premiere.”
We have yet to see DC’s new Young Justice cartoon here in Oz, but from what I’ve seen it looks right up my alley. Now the first DVD collection is on its way in July. Official info below.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF DC UNIVERSE SUPER HEROES PUT THEIR TRAINING TO THE TEST AS WARNER HOME VIDEO RELEASES YOUNG JUSTICE SEASON 1 VOLUME 1 ON DVD JULY 19, 2011
One Disc Featuring Four Fantastic Episodes of the Brand-New Cartoon Network Show from Warner Bros. Animation
The newest Warner Bros. Animation–produced hit series on Cartoon Network finally arrives on DVD as Warner Home Video (WHV) unleashes its secret weapon with Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1. These DC Universe teenage super heroes have quickly proven to be a hit as the favorite show among boys 9-14. With non-stop action, Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1 comes to DVD for the first time on July 19, 2011.
In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over — to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? How much harder will it be to prove yourself in a world of super powers, super villains and super secrets? Are you ready to come of age in such a world? Are you ready for life or death rites of passage? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League? That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice — Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis — will find out: whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero.
These teenage heroes collectively become the Justice League’s secret weapon against the forces of evil. The young protégés must put their super hero education to the test and band together to covertly fight the evildoers that exist on Earth-16. Utilizing The Cave as their home base, the teen heroes will take on under-the-radar missions that would be impossible for the league’s famous and identifiable elders to handle secretly.
While the team works to take on more super hero responsibilities, they are in constant training by the Justice League to eventually take their place alongside the great heroes. Red Tornado is their supervisor; Black Canary is in charge of their training; and Batman determines and directs their assignments. Of course, in true teenage fashion, the members of the team push the limits of their missions, often turning a simple assignment from Batman into something significantly larger.
“DC fans have been vocal about their love for Young Justice, so I am particularly pleased to announce our first DVD release,” said Sam Register, Executive Vice President Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Animation.
“We are thrilled to bring the newest and youngest members of the DC Universe to homes with the release of Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WHV Executive Director of Family and Animation Marketing. “As a brand new series, Young Justice is already a favorite and will continue to excite fans with its group of crime-fighting teenage super heroes.”
Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1 is executive produced by Sam Register and produced by Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman. The voice cast includes Jesse McCartney as Robin, Khary Payton as Aqualad, Jason Spisak as Kid Flash, Nolan North as Superboy, Danica McKellar as Miss Martian, Stephanie Lemelin as Artemis and Bruce Greenwood as Batman.
Go Chuck Norris! He’s 70 you know. Wow. Well, for those of you like me who fondly recall the ’80s as a golden age of Saturday morning cartoons, here comes some good news. Chuck Norris Karate Commandos. I still have my Chuck Norris action figure. Here’s the official description for the collection and trailer for the 1986 cartoon. It’s all 5 episodes and is MOD, ie, manufactured on demand and can be ordered here.
Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos
Martial arts master Chuck Norris brings his thrilling mix of heroism and incredible athletic prowess to this animated action series, blending the courage and ingenuity of the American frontiersman with the willpower and stoicism of the samurai warrior. Through five exciting installments, Norris and his Karate Kommandos warrior crew battle the sinister organization VULTURE, a sophisticated terrorist cabal led by The Klaw and his lieutenant Super Ninja. Norris created the series and kicks off each adventure.
Mr. Norris has lots of costumes doesn’t he?
Smallville’s final season is just about to end, and now you can get the complete collection. It’d make a nice companion to the Blu-Ray Superman Anthology.
The Ultimate Collector’s Set for the Ultimate Fan
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Featuring All 218 Episodes, Including Never-Before-Seen Special Features, in Highly Collectable New Packaging
After 10 incredible seasons, Smallville: The Complete Series will arrive on DVD this fall. This ultimate collector’s set for the ultimate fan features over 192 hours of content – including all 218 episodes, over five hours of newly added special features such as an unaired, never-before-seen Superboy pilot from 1961, a 90-minute series retrospective with all new interviews, the 2010 final Comic-Con panel and more!
In addition, exclusive printed materials include a Daily Planet newspaper, written by DC Comics, that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show and an episode guide with never-before-seen production art (storyboards/sketches) and behind-the-scenes photos. Smallville: The Complete Series is presented in highly collectable new packaging consisting of two lay-flat picture books that hold 62 discs.
“It’s been an unbelievable 10 season run for Smallville, still one of the most popular series on television and one of our best-selling titles on DVD,” said Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV and Special Interest Marketing. “The fan base for the franchise is not only huge, but loyal and they’re going to love this ultimate collector’s edition.”
Soaring toward the end of its 10th and final season, this modern retelling of a hero’s legendary origins blends realism, action, heart and humor as Clark Kent completes his epic journey by claiming his birthright as the world’s ultimate hero – Superman.
Starring Tom Welling as “Clark Kent,” Allison Mack as “Chloe Sullivan,” Kristin Kreuk as “Lana Lang,” Michael Rosenbaum as “Lex Luthor,” John Glover as “Lionel Luthor,” Erica Durance as “Lois Lane,” Annette O’Toole as “Martha Kent,” John Schneider as “Jonathan Kent,” Justin Hartley as “Oliver Queen,” Sam Jones III as “Pete Ross,” Cassidy Freeman as “Tess Mercer,” Aaron Ashmore as “Jimmy Olsen,” Eric Johnson as “Whitney Fordman,” Laura Vandervoort as “Kara,” Callum Blue as “Zod,” Jensen Ackles as “Jason Teague” and Sam Witwer as “Davis Bloome,” Smallville has also featured many notable guest stars including Terence Stamp, James Marsters, Michael McKean, Ian Somerhalder, Jane Seymour, Brian Austin Green, Pam Grier, Helen Slater, Michael Ironside, Julian Sands, Tori Spelling, Rutger Hauer and Christopher Reeve.
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Based on DC Comics characters, Smallville was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. Its executive producers have included Gough & Millar, Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, James Marshall, Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Greg Beeman, Ken Horton and Tom Welling. The series is from Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television.
The two-hour Smallville series finale will air on Friday, May 13, 2011, at 8pm on The CW Television Network.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Never-before-seen Superboy pilot from 1961
90-minute series retrospective with all new interviews
2010 final Comic-Con panel
A Daily Planet newspaper written by DC Comics that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show
Episode guide with never-before-released on DVD production art and behind the scenes photos
And more!
SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Running time: 192 Hours
SRP: $339.88
Human Planet
BBC’s latest and naturally, awesome series is not on nature, but man. The last episode I saw featured a tribe that lives in extraordinary treehouses, an elephant that understands over 100 commands and 3 languages, a Brazilian man whose job is to prove and publicize the existence of undiscovered villages and the danger of getting fresh honey in Papua New Guinea. Here’s the official lowdown on the series, which is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Human Planet is the first BBC/Discovery Channel co-production to focus solely on human behavior. Since premiering in the UK, the series has received overwhelming critical acclaim including The Telegraph proclaiming, “it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before” and The Sun stating that it’s “visually stunning and utterly fascinating, this is seriously impressive stuff.” From the makers of Planet Earth, Life and Blue Planet, Human Planet focuses on humanity’s amazing, complex and profound relationship with nature. It weaves together 80 stories, many never told before, to illuminate humanity’s uncanny ability to adapt and live in every corner of our diverse world. Each episode centers on a particular habitat, and by using innovative and cutting edge filming techniques, reveals how its people have created astonishing solutions in the face of extreme adversity.
The Discovery Channel version will be presented by Charles Parnell and consists of six episodes that will take viewers to the farthest reaches of the globe culminating with, Life at the Extremes, a “best of” episode. The Human Planet DVD and Blu-ray will include all eight episodes from the original UK broadcast version, presented by John Hurt, extending the home viewing experience with three hours of footage not seen in the North American broadcast. It will include the episode, Cities, which will be exclusive to the DVD and Blu-ray. Additionally, the DVD and Blu-ray will take viewers deeper into the heart of Human Planet with its set of ten Behind the Lens “making of” bonus features, and, exclusive to Blu-ray, a further “making of” feature called, Zanskar, accessible via BD-Live. Zanskar showcases the astonishing life struggles of a resilient group of people living at the edge of the Himalayas.
To support the series, BBC has launched an official Facebook page, featuring the new game Human Planet Trivia Challenge. Challenge friends, race against the clock, and see if you have what it takes to top the leader board. Each week we will be giving away incredible prizes including Blu-ray/DVD copies, framed photos, and award winning books.
One lucky grand prize winner will receive an amazing Human Planet prize pack!
The next DC animated film is an anthology centering on six different ring bearers in the Green Lantern Corps and is called Emerald Knights. It is released on June 7, just before the film starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Martin Campbell and has a great voice cast including Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle) as Hal Jordan, Henry Rollins as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs as Sinestro, Arnold Vosloo (the bad guy in The Mummy) as Abin Sur, and former wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper as Bolphunga. Yep, the Green Lantern names are almost as cool as those in Star Wars.
See more images here and below is a lost of the extras included on the Blu-Ray.
– Featurette:“Only the Bravest: Tales of The Green Lantern Corps”
– Featurette: “Why Green Lantern Matters: The Talent of Geoff Johns”
– Feature Film Commentary with Dan DiDio and Geoff Johns
– Pod: “From Comic Book to Screen: Abin Sur”
– Pod: “From Comic Book to Screen: Laira Omoto“
This short pod will take a peek into Geoff John’s Green Lantern: Secret Origin book, which for the first time, showed fans what really happened to Abin Sur before he crashed landed on Earth, and passed on his ring to Hal Jordan.
– Bruce Timm’s Picks: Excerpt from “The Siege of Starro! Part One” from Batman: The Brave and The Bold, “Revenge of The Reach!” from Batman: The Brave and The Bold
– Digital Comic: Green Lantern
– Sneak Peek at upcoming DC Universe animated movie
– Sneak Peek at All-Star Superman
The lively art of Aussie Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz is eye meltingly good as anyone who’s seen his stuff on Udon’s Street Fighter comics knows. Here is a nifty piece showing all manner of cartoon faves from the 1980s. Ninja Turtles, Danger Mouse, Mighty Mouse, Inspector Gadget and more below.
See more of Cruz’s great work here and here and my interview with him in the first issue of the Extra Sequential magazine here (on page 22).
Voices From Krypton has a great, but short, chat with director Bryan Singer about 2006’s Superman Returns. The only director who is ever candid about Hollywood is Kevin Smith, so it’s refreshing to see Singer open up about where that film went wrong.
QUESTION: One final point I’d like to make is the fact that Luthor stabs and nearly kills Superman, but it seemed wrong to me that the two characters never came back together again; that there was no comeuppance for Luthor.
BRYAN SINGER: I’ve always felt that the origin of Superman is the story of Moses – the child sent on a ship to fulfill a destiny. And this was a story about Christ – it’s all about sacrifice: “The world, I hear their cries.” So what happens? He gets the knife in the side and later he falls to the earth in the shape of a crucifix. It was kind of nailing you on the head, but I enjoyed that, because I’ve always found the myth of Christ compelling and moving. So I hoped to do my own take, which is heavy shit for a summer movie. But definitely the nostalgic, romantic aspects of it worked against people’s expectations of it in the climate. And if I was going to do another one, it would be a reboot. I would go back and redo the original, but I only thought of that recently. It would be a much less romantic, more balls-to-the-wall action movie. It would be a very different pace than Superman Returns, which I can say at this point because I have distance from it now.
Ah, what could have been. Comics publishers have stacks of rejected proposals and writer Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Witchblade) reveals a few.
A Hulk-Ghost Rider graphic novel with painted art by Joe Chiodo.
A 64-page Batman story with overtones of Poe’s tales, set in Arkham Asylum, with art by Claudio Castellini.
A Martian Manhunter prestige-format one-shot drawn by Bryan Hitch.
A period Hawkman-Green Lantern adventure, set during World War II, with art by Dusty Abel.
A companion to the Batman-Tarzan project I wrote at Dark Horse, featuring Superman and John Carter of Mars.
A retelling of the Arthurian legends, but featuring the Green Lantern cast.
I would buy all of those, except the John Carter one probably, but Claudio Castellini is an awesome artist and I’ve hardly seen any more of his work since he did Marvel vs DC back in the ’90s.
Most interetsing is Marz’s propsal, with character designs by Cully Hamner, about a Supes/Bats story.
The purpose is to reexamine the origins of DC’s two primal heroes — Batman and Superman. Who would these men have been if their pasts had been different, if their pasts had in fact been reversed? What if Bruce Wayne’s parents had not been killed when he was a boy? And what if Clark Kent had been witness to the murder of this parents at a young age?
Clark Kent still becomes Superman, but without the guiding hand of his parents, a darker and more revenge-obsessed Superman. And without the loss of his parents, Bruce Wayne’s obsessive nature is never given outlet by becoming Batman. So rather than a costumed hero, he becomes a businessman to whom wealth and power are one and the same. Bruce Wayne, in effect, becomes a Lex Luthor-style corporate emperor.
Inevitably, the two will clash, and from the ashes of their war will be born Superman’s most bitter enemy — Batman.
Oh and if you haven’t already, you HAVE to read this great proposal called Sueprman 2000 from Mark Waid, Grant Morrison, Tom Peyer and Mark Millar. Man, what a dream team!
Finally, not really a ‘what could’ve been’ story, but a ‘what will be’ one. The excellent animated series Batman: Brave and the Bold is finally getting a team-up with Superman. Sticking to the series’ old shool visual flair, it also features Lex, Lois, Jimmy, Krypto and more. Screen shots and 2 clips here, one of which is a Dark Knight Returns-like showdown.
I don’t remember seeing the comic that this is based on, but Thor has had more exposure than Charlie Sheen lately. Details below for the latest Marvel animated fare and it seems like these motion comics are getting more fluid.
THOR & LOKI: BLOOD BROTHERS – Download The Trailer and Pre-Purchase The Season Pass !
Now available on iTunes and XBox Live, download and watch the debut trailer of the hotly anticipated Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers! Inspired by the acclaimed graphic novel from Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, no Thor fan can miss this four-episode series spotlighting the troubled and often volatile relationship between Thor & Loki. While you’re watching the trailer, don’t forget to pre-purchase the Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers season pass only on iTunes by clicking here!
“The response to the Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers trailer has been tremendous! The best is yet to come as the first episode releases on March 28th,” says Ruwan Jayatilleke, lead producer. “A huge thank you to our fans, fanatics, our distribution partners, and friends in the media for believing in this content. Marvel Knights Animation is taking it to the next level because of you!”
Don’t miss any of the pulse pounding action when the series kicks into high gear, March 28th!
Here’s the first trailer for the Tron cartoon that will air on the Disney XD channel next year, and features actor Bruce Boxleitner as the voice of Tron, along with some other impressive names including Elijah Wood and Lance Henriksen. It’s set between the eventsof the 2 Tron films.
It seems like it’s using Daft Punk’s score and looks like a great blend of animation and CGI.
Below is the just released cover for the DVD/Blu-Ray handy combo pack thing that Warner Bros. are doing with their great animated films now, and here’s the official description for the animated anthology, plus a new pic.
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights is an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie that weaves six interlocking stories of the Green Lantern Corps’ rich mythology around preparations for an attack by an ancient enemy. As the battle approaches, Hal Jordan (voiced by Nathan Fillion, Castle) mentors new recruit Arisia (Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men) in the history of the Green Lantern Corps, telling tales of Avra (the first Green Lantern) and several of Hal’s comrades – including Abin Sur, Kilowog, Laira and Mogo. In the end, Arisia must rise to the occasion to help Hal, Sinestro and the entire Green Lantern Corps save the universe from the destructive forces of Krona. Penned by comic book luminaries Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi, Eddie Berganza, Alan Burnett, Todd Casey and Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed June 7 by Warner Home Video as part of the build up to the release of the
highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17.
That’s some impressive actors and writers right there.
Airing sometime in the future on Cartoon Network is the ThunderCats remake, with animation provided by Japan’s Studio4C. Lion-O and co. were always favourites of mine from the stellar days of cartoons in the ’80s, so I hope this new series does them justice.
Arriving just before the live action film in June is this animated anthology, featuring a look at 6 different ring bearers. Of course, Hal Jordan is in there, but curiously Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner and John Stewart aren’t, which is strange, considering most people know the former from the JLU cartoon, and he’ll be appearing in the live action film. It still looks good though, and seems to be adopting the same look across all 6 stories.
I’m assuming this isn’t a sequel to the animated Green Lantern: First Flight film from 2009, as the voice cast is different, but the look is pretty similar. Perhaps Warner Bros. couldn’t get one of they key cast members from First Flight back, so they started anew. It makes sense, as this will undoubtedly be fairly newbie friendly anyway, seeing as it’s being released a few days before the live action GL film starring Ryan Reynolds.
NATHAN FILLION, ELISABETH MOSS LEAD STELLAR VOICECAST FOR GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD KNIGHTS
ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE COMING JUNE 7, 2011 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO
Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) lead a diverse array of performers as the voices behind Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the
next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Building up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights arrives on Blu-Ray™, DVD, On Demand and for Download June 7 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation.
Fillion provides the voice of the animated film’s central character Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern assigned to Sector 2814 (which includes Earth). Fillion has starred in several primetime television series including Desperate Housewives, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also developed a popular cult following as a pair of Joss Whedon’s heroic captains: Capt. Mal Reynolds in the space-western series Firefly and follow-up film, Serenity; and Captain Hammer in Whedon’s internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Fillion returns to the DC Universe after his successful turn as Steve Trevor in the animated film Wonder Woman,
and has performed voice work on Justice League, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros., and several Halo video games.
Moss gives voice to Arisia, a young recruit forced into her first mission on just her third day as a Green Lantern. Prior to starring as the ever-evolving Peggy Olson in AMC’s ground-breaking series Mad Men, Moss was featured on The West Wing, Invasion and Picket Fences. Moss has been active in voiceovers for animation with previous roles in
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown!.
The voice cast for the animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also features actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins (Sons of Anarchy, The Henry Rollins Show) as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films) as Sinestro, legendary professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (They Live) as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Abin Sur, Kelly Hu (The Vampire Diaries) as Laira and Wade Williams (Prison Break) as Deegan. Radio Hall of Fame commentator/talk show host Michael Jackson
voices the esteemed Guardian, Ganthet.
Bruce Timm is executive producer of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva and Christopher Berkeley.
The full-length animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights complements the Warner Bros. theatrical release of the highly anticipated live-action major motion picture, Green Lantern. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.
My niece and nephew have been loving the old Flesicher Superman cartoons on DVD. They may be decades old, but they look great, and now animator Rob Pratt has been inspired by them to do his own take. It’s only a minute long, but it’s brimming with that old time adventure vibe. At the end of the film, Pratt gives some brief background info on the project.
This was one of my fave cartoons in the wonderful decade known as the ’80s and now it’s returning to the small screen for the first time since 1990. There’s now a new toon in the works for the Cartoon Network, co-produced by Studio 4C in Japan. It’ll be a darker series than the original and follow the rise of future leader Lion-O. Can’t wait! Below you can see the more anime inspired looks of Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro (the blue one) and the female Cheetara.
comicbookjesus 