Reviews are trickling out.
Here's a absolutely raving one, whose only criticism is it's not particularly original:
Here's one that is pretty excited as well (though the reviewer apparently "detested" Samurai Jack's pacing and saw SJ as "shallow"):
http://www.nickandmore.com/2010/09/15/sym-bionic-titan-review/
Here's one that is impressed by the potential, though not fond of the high-school comedy tropes:
Some interviews of Tartakovsky:
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/09/symbionic-titan/?pid=971&viewall=true
A couple of things gleaned from these:
"Wired.com: What can you tell us about what you or other hardy souls at your production company The Orphanage are excitedly working on?
Tartakovksy: We opened Orphanage Animation Studios in 2005, and have since developed multiple movies and TV shows. We have a couple of features in official development with studios and we continue to develop and pitch various TV shows. Bryan Andrews, who I worked with [on] Iron Man 2, is currently working on storyboarding The Avengers for Marvel. The rest of the team is spread throughout the industry working on various projects. But here's a scoop for you: Because our sister company The Orphanage folded, we are officially changing our name to Viking Animation Studios.
Wired.com: Vikings over mechas and samurais? Why?
Tartakovksy: Vikings are cool, and we have a Viking movie that we are really fond of."
I was afraid when Orphanage folded, the sweet looking Viking project that was on one of the Samurai Jack DVD featurettes was gone forever. Looks like it's still kicking.
"Wired.com: Please tell me you're still involved in the Samurai Jack film that J.J. Abrams' company Bad Robot is working on.
Tartakovksy: Luckily, I am involved with the Samurai Jack feature with Bad Robot, which I think is great! We're currently in the writing and development phase. But for the past year or so I have been head over heels in love with Sym-Bionic Titan.
Wired.com: Why?
Tartakovksy: It's been the most challenging project I have ever done. But hopefully it will be the most rewarding. After Clone Wars, I thought we had reached our plateau, as far as quality goes. But there are certain sequences and episodes from Titan that I think have gone far beyond anything we've done in the past."
A) Samurai Jack movie is still in production. I wasn't worried about this but some people here might not have been following.
B) Apparently Tartakovsky rates at least parts of Titan above anything else he's done.
Hells yes.
So, let's review: we've got Sentai influences, 70s Go Nagai-style giant robots, and MOTHERFUCKING ALUCARD WITH A Wave-Motion Gun! This show is awesome.
I'll turn your neocortex into a flowerpot!And you can't forget John DiMaggio playing the King of Atlantis Galaluna. Pure awesome indeed.
edited 17th Sep '10 6:04:07 PM by piccorotto
Argh, missed it. If someone gets it up on youtube I willl be really grateful. Same with Generator Rex.
Watch SymphogearI'm agreeing with the person who said the Titan is Conspicuous CG, but it works because it fits the visuals and is well-utilized; it doesn't look nice in spite of being CG but partially because of it. In particular the use of transparency is about a billion times better looking than I figure it would be (I loved the scene against the sunset where it refracts the light).
I was half dreading the high school stuff.
But I laughed at almost all of it. The action was somewhat shortened by the exposition, but in the future I have seriously great expectations for that half of the show. I know he can do epic scale action brilliantly (if you've seen the mecha episode of Samurai Jack), as well as choreograph human sized fights (also Samurai Jack).
The preview at the end looked like it had plenty of awesome material to look forward to.
Heres the episode on the internet
And Part 2:
[[youtube:t_0zlV8uNm0&feature=channel]]
edited 18th Sep '10 9:57:51 AM by Demongodofchaos2
Watch SymphogearI caught a Shout-Out at 9:09-9:12.
edited 18th Sep '10 4:52:42 PM by Demongodofchaos2
Watch SymphogearThat was a very strong premier. Tons of potential here, I like the visuals, and the humor certainly has its moments ("I can't read!"). Sure, it looks like Genndy Tartakovsky may have gone to the same high school as Butch Hartman, but that's by no means a deal breaker if it's handled well.
And I don't know if there's ever been a shorter time between a character appearing onscreen and me thinking "Hell yes, I approve" than with Solomon. Perfect badass look.

The one thing that really stands out about the art are the lush backgrounds. Stunning work.
edited 11th Sep '10 8:46:27 AM by edvedd
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