Re: GI Joe ABSOLUTE: New PG-13 animated series for 2009!
From yojoe.com:
From yojoe.com:
So they showed the new GIJoe animated series at the Convention today - I can honestly say, this is the GIJoe series we've been waiting for. This is aimed at the adult market, and is using some of the lead team that worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender. The animation was saw was incredible, and as they put it, this is the G.I.Joe battles that we all saw in our head when we were playing with our toys. It's got a gritty, modern anime look to it while still retaining the feel of an American animated show (unlike the kiddie anime crap that was Sigma Six).
- They've redesigned the characters, gear, and vehicles to be near-future, and they are all very recognizable as the characters we all know and love (similar outfits, color scheemes, etc but with an updated look). Lots of new weaponry and high-tech gear like the stratellite low-orbit baloon satellite.
- The team is based on a futuristic version of the USS Flagg, with a round Ops Center where the conning tower would be and multiple takoff runways.
- The show will focus on the core characters *CC, Destro, Baroness, Snake Eyes, Stormy, Duke, Flint, Roadblock, Lady Jaye, Scarlett, Ace, and Tunnel Rat inlcuded) but will have a lot of other Joes having cameo appearances.
- The initial run is 10 5-minute episodes, followed by a 10-minute episode, all likely released both on TV and on the web Q1 2009, with an eventual DVD release (a la Clone Wars). If it's successful, there will be more to come. There will be a toy line based on the series as well.
- Charlie Evans (Low-Light in the 80s cartoon) voices Cobra Commander, and the piece we saw had Steve Blum (Spike Spiegel on Cowboy Bebop and Mugen on Samuraii Champloo) as Duke. Lady Jaye will be more minor and have a Starbuck-like personality.
- The team behind it are all huge GIJoe fans and seem to be uncomprising on the core idea: PG=13-type rating, no lasers, no parachutes, and some characters will die.
- This is reflecting Hasbro's new directive of doing "Great entertainment" with their franchises, not just vehicles to sell more toys.
- The part about Cobra Commander clubbing a baby seal in the first episode was a joke. But he will be vicious and dangerous, not a bumbling fool like the old series.
- The 1-2 minute clip we saw was a proof-of-concept test and not part of the final story. There will be somethign of an origin tale here, though. Cobra will be the only enemy in the first run.
IT'S GONNA BE FREAKIN' SWEET!
