Smurfs Turn 50

January 17, 2008

Get some Smurfberry cake and sarsaparilla juice because the Smurfs are turning 50 this year. To most of North America, the Smurfs officially landed here in 1981. Long before that they were in print and in film in the rest of Europe. So 50 seems daunting to some and a bit of a surprise. Hanna-Barbera took a chance on the little blue imps and cashed in the residuals of their world fame. Not much is heard from them on this side of the world, but their popularity is still strong in the rest of the world. There will be many new projects for the Smurfs this year, so we have not heard the last of the little guys. So smurf-it up and join the celebrations.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie

January 16, 2008

Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie

Although the motion picture industry initially disparaged and feared television, by the late 1950s, studios saw the medium as a convenient dumping ground for thousands of films that had long been gathering dust in their vaults. As these films found their way to local TV stations, enterprising distributors grouped the titles by genre so programmers could showcase them accordingly. It was in this spirit that Chicago s tradition of horror TV movie shows was born. TV viewers couldn t get enough of the old monster movies everything from glossy Frankenstein and Dracula epics to low-budget cheapies featuring giant grasshoppers and teenage werewolves. Here in Chicago, these films were broadcast on such horror movie shows as Shock Theatre, Thrillerama, Creature Features, and Screaming Yellow Theater. Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows: From Shock Theatre to Svengoolie is the first comprehensive look at Chicago s horror movie programs, from their inception in 1957 to the present. Through career profiles of the Horror Hosts who provided comedic interludes between commercial breaks, discover which creepy presenter was one of the 12 reporters to travel around the country with the Beatles during their 1965 66 U.S. tour, and learn about the politics behind Channel 32’s sudden (and outrageous) switch from Svengoolie to the Ghoul. Also included are broadcast histories of such hostless programs as Creature Features, Thrillerama, The Big Show, The Early Show, The Science Fiction Theater, and Monster Rally, along with a guide to 100 fright films broadcast on Chicago television and a look at the Shock! horror library that started a TV craze. Filled with rare photographs and ever-before-published data, Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows celebrates a grand tradition in local television.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Where the Wild Things Are The Movie ?

January 13, 2008

One of the most important children’s books has been adapted for the big screen for a release date of October 2009, yet for some strange reason it has flown under the radar since plans were erected to film the adaption of Maurice Sendak’s classic book, Where the Wild Things Are. Spike Jonze is the director of this mystery film that has only two pictures to show for any existence of any type of filming of this endeavor.

Warner Brothers is either keeping this movie under wraps, or maybe not much interest was garnished with lacklustre performances by the Dr. Seuss films in the past few years. It remains to be seen how you can turn a quick reading child’s book into a two hour movie. One can only guess. I think this movie might surprise a few people.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

January 7, 2008

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show - The Complete Series was the first spin-off of the Flintstones, as you figured Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm are the main focus of the show. They are teenagers and had a motley collection of friends with names such as Moonrock, Penny, Wiggy, Cindy,Fabian, Schleprock, and a motorcycle gang called the Bronto Bunch (Bronto, Noodles, Stub and Zonk) The characters were created to cash in the hippie craze of the day in 1971. The show lasted only one season and 16 cartoons were produced and the voice of Pebbles was supplied by All in the Family’s Sally Struthers. There were six other cartoons created after the show was canned, but those remaining episodes were included in the third spin-off of the Flintstone franchise called, "The Flintstone’s Comedy Hour". Like all the spin-offs of the original show that followed, they never captured the original series which was created for prime-time. The other shows were Saturday fare and the censors were very stern to the content. The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show remains a popular demand for DVD production, as bad as the show was it has a few bright moments years after.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Futurama on Comedy Channel

December 17, 2007

COMEDY CENTRAL will begin to air all 72 existing episodes of “Futurama” along with four “Futurama” DVD movies, including “Bender’s Big Score,” “Bender’s Game,” “The Beast with a Billion Backs” and “Into the Wild Green Yonder.” “Bender’s Big Score,” released on DVD this year, will air in First Quarter of 2008.

“Futurama” focuses on the life of Philip Fry (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life - and a “diverse” new group of friends including Turanga LeeLa (Katey Sagal), a tough, but lovely one-eyed alien, and Bender (John DiMaggio), a robot who possesses human characteristics and flaws. The show also features guest stars such as Sarah Silverman, Hank Azaria, Bob Odenkirk, Pamela Anderson, Beatrice Arthur, Lucy Liu, Beck and Coolio.

“Futurama” aired on Fox from 1999 to 2003 and the series consists of 72 episodes. The series was nominated five years in a row and won three Emmys including its award for “Outstanding Animated Program” in 2002.

“Futurama” is produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox Television. The show is created and executive produced by Matt Groening with co-executive producers David X. Cohen, Ken Keeler and Eric Horsted.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

TUROK: SON OF STONE DVD

December 17, 2007

The legend is born with DVD debut February 5th.

A great warrior in a lost land is about to find his destiny when TUROK: SON OF STONE charges onto DVD for the first time February 5th from Genius Products and Classic Media. Presented by The Weinstein Company, this Gold Key Production draws on the original 1950s comic book series, as well as influences ranging from Frank Miller to Akira Kurosawa, to create a dark, intense, epic re-imagining of Turok’s origin story. For the generation of fans who grew up on Turok video games as well as new devotees of the legendary franchise, this film is a chance to peer into the heart of the hero — and witness the birth of the legend. Turok gamers will love this return to the original story.

Timed to coincide with the property’s landmark re-launch, the TUROK: SON OF STONE DVD features the vocal talents of Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers, Law and Order: SVU), Robert Knepper (Prison Break), Cree Summer (A Different World) and Irene Bedard (Pocahontas).

During 20 years in exile, Turok has become a powerful and feared warrior. He now returns home to find his village destroyed and his family slaughtered at the hands of the ruthless tyrant Chichak. On a mission of vengeance, Turok must journey to the Lost Land, a savage place forgotten by time, where primeval beasts hunt all who enter. Turok will face his greatest battle as he fights man-eating dinosaurs, merciless cave dwellers, and the darkness inside himself to take revenge on his sworn enemy. In this epic journey, Turok will find his destiny. In this Lost Land… A legend is born.

The DVD contains exclusive bonus materials including an in-depth look at the Turok property from comic book to video game and now an animated movie. The DVD also includes a commentary by the creators of the film. TUROK: SON OF STONE will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.95.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

New Speed Racer Trailer

December 6, 2007

The brothers Wachowski gave USA Today exclusive pictures of their latest movie “Speed Racer“. There is promise with the duo’s track record with their Matrix movies, but with a hit and miss failure with the latest crop of comic/animated related films, it remains to be seen. It’s hard to judge right now, but some of the still photos do not leave much to be desired. Must be because we are so used to see a darker landscape created by the brothers in their Matrix trilogy. I remain an optimist.

Watch trailer>>

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Justice League the New Frontier

November 22, 2007

Justice League the New Frontier

The "Silver Age" will once again shine on February 26, 2008 when Warner and DC Comics bring to DVD Darwyn Cooke’s acclaimed series and newly re-titled, "Justice League the New Frontier. Here is a quick peek into the cover art for the DVD. This was a great series explaining the origins of the characters that came out of the "Silver Age", basically a reboot of older characters with new origins and a new earth as we discover later on. The best thing about the new promise of hope in this new frontier as the Space Age was just breaking is the camaraderie of the characters. The building blocks of their futures within the DC annals of the present day versions of these heroes and their counterpart original inceptions are examined. This is a real point of origin for anybody wanting to rediscover this menagerie of characters that came to be into the fold of comic history.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Bee Movie and Nicktoons

October 28, 2007

It’s a double bill this week with books from Jerry Beck with The Art of Bee Movie and Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons!. Forget the candy for Halloween and save your kids a trip to the dentist and shell out a few bucks for a weatlth of info from toon world animation expert Jerry Beck from Cartoon Brew.

Jerry Beck is an animation historian and cartoon producer. His twelve books on the subject include The Animated Movie Guide, Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide and The 50 Greatest Cartoons. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney, and is currently a consulting producer to Warner Bros., Universal and Disney for their classic animation dvd compilations.

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation

Wired on Manga

October 22, 2007

Wired magazine is out already this week and they have the coolest issue ever about the invasion of Manga and how it conquered North America. You could buy the magazine or get it free online in a few days. Either way the latest issue is an amazing read. Read more>>

Written by editoonc · Filed Under Animation, Anime, Art, Blog, Cartoons, Comics, Manga, Movies, Web, software, toys