Chatterbox - Western Animation

The article does call it "an animated series based on Robert C. O’Brien’s Rats of NIMH book series" so I wouldn't expect too many elements from the Bluth film.

EDIT: Pagetopper

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Sep 10th 2021 at 1:29:45 PM

I'm noting a research failure, as Robert C.O'Brien (real name Robert Conly) only wrote Mrs.Frisby and the Rats of NIMH; he died two years after the novel was published. His daughter, Leslie Conly, wrote Racso and the Rats of NIMH (1986) and R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH(1990).

Look, it's that mythical traditionally animated 2D animated theatrical film some people were requesting! From the website, for the film premiering on October 15th:

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Peter Chung, best known for animating the pilot and original intro for Rugrats, along with Æon Flux, just revealed he's working on an adult animated series with Amazon. The semi-realistic pitch artwork is on his Instagram page, it's tenatively titled "China Doll".

Jem and the Holograms was planned to get some kind of animated TV reboot, according to the concept art of Jerrica Benton. Unfortunately, after Hasbro acquired eOne, it would seem the merger caused the cancellation of this idea and Micronauts.

NGL, that character turnaround looks truly, truly outrageous. (See what I did there? )

Seriously though, we were robbed, goddamnit.

According to a music composer, Micronauts is still in production, but I doubt his guess for a 2021 release is likely at this point. Also, notice that the mention of the show is gone in the original interview.

That would explain why Stretch Armstrong ended at only 26 episodes and after a cliffhanger, though.

Edited by GamerSlyRatchet on Oct 17th 2021 at 8:22:49 AM

Latest blog update (November 5th, 2022).

So I was just watching a video pointing out how lore is not necessary to make a good cartoon. It makes me wonder, could an episodic action cartoon work? I mean, there is DC Superhero Girls (though that does have some comedic elements, and I've only seen a handful of eps, so I dont know if it's taken on an arc now), but stuff like both of the new He-Man cartoons are serialized.

Episodic Western action cartoons have been a staple since the 60s. It's relevantly more modern, vaguely around the 90s, that some Western cartoons even considered ongoing continuous plots per season.

For a modern example of the episodic, the Zagtoons shows like Miraculous Ladybug, Ghostforce, and Power Players tend to have self-contained episodes on the surface. It's to the point where they've been aired out of order, but mostly easy to jump into.

That being said, Miraculous has gotten a little more into its own lore in the recent seasons.

Edited by XMenMutant22 on Oct 23rd 2021 at 10:18:49 AM

Forgive me if this is well known information, but something I've frequently wondered is why modern cartoons seem to have much more extensive credits than older cartoons. I heard an interview with an animator recently, and he said this is because of time contraints; if production has enough time, or is able to keep to schedule, they can generally complete a cartoon with one crew. However, if production stretches on, sometimes animators or other crew members have to drop out because of other commitments, or they'll bring in multiple crews to all work on the project at the same time. This was less of a problem in the old days, when animation was done in-house and the animators could devote themselves to one project at a time.

Again, if this is common knowledge, I apologize, but I've always wondered about that.

The owner of Alvin and the Chipmunks is looking to sell the high-pitched musical squeaky guys to anyone willing to pony up $300 million.

Among the possible candidates is ViacomCBS.

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Nov 2nd 2021 at 6:02:16 AM

Given how often Nickelodeon airs those live action Chipmunk films, they just might buy it. I'm a bit surprised, though, as the property has made the Bagdasarian family a very good income over the years, and Ross Bagdasarian Jr's son and daughter have involved themselves in the franchise, too. I suppose they might be going for a deal like Henson and Lucas got, where they're still involved with the property even if they don't own it anymore.

I'm shocked to learn they still own it,most franchises like that pass out of creator's heads fairly early on.

New theme music also a box

Bagdasarian Sr. retired the property and bought a vineyard. Bagdasarian Jr. became the head of Bagdasarian Productions upon his father's death in 1972 (he bought out his siblings' shares of the property in the 90's) and has said he continued it rather than selling it initially because working with it made him feel closer to his father. He and his wife Janice Karmen built it into what it is now. Whatever you think of Alvin and the Chipmunks, it's the rare well-known property that has remained in private hands. Well, it won't for much longer, I suppose.

Devil May Cry: The Animated Series’ Story Will Be Told Over Multiple Seasons, Stars Dante and Vergil

I hope Adi Shankar abandoned his plan to make the Devil May Cry animated series share the same universe as Castlevania.

I want James Hong to voice one non-sleazy politician in his lifetime. Maybe make him appear to be sleazy but be on the up-and-up.

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.

Interplay Entertainment just announced a brand new 3DCG animated series: Earthworm Jim: Beyond the Groovy. The official website has an animated preview and concept art.

As reported by Variety:

Edited by XMenMutant22 on Nov 18th 2021 at 5:39:34 AM

I literally jolted straight up after seeing that news and thought "WHOA NELLY!"

They provided a clip too. Or at least a proof-of-concept:

Hrrrmmm. I think I'm still a little too accustomed to Dan Castellaneta as Jim right now. Maybe if we see new Jim in more EWJ-level shenanigans, I might get a better feel.

(*hopes against hope that they'll have the Great Worm Spirit*)

The old 80s GI Joe cartoon is getting a comic book revival and will have very zany plots like the show.

Edited by Zarius on Nov 19th 2021 at 7:52:14 AM

2021 continues to be a slump for linear animation networks on United States television with the Nielsen viewer base, according to CartoonBrew's interpretation of Variety's Top 153 networks of 2021.

The 80's GI Joe would occasionally delve into straight-up science fiction and fantasy, whereas the comic was much more grounded, but I don't know that I'd call it's plots "zany." I mean, the whole "Cobra-La" business was pretty ridiculous, but even so that gave us Cobra Commander's "Once a man" monologue, which was pretty damned disturbing for a toy-based kid's cartoon from the '80's.

Edited by Robbery on Jan 1st 2022 at 9:16:10 AM

Anyone here ever watched Zig & Sharko?

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”

Sealab 2021 lied to us.

Never trust anyone who uses "degenerate" as an insult.

Does anyone know of a list of animated series currently airing on cable networks— not streaming services— that are serialized as opposed to episodic? I know such shows are less common than they once were, but are there any that are currently in production, or that are planned to air in the near future?

Apparently Europe collectively produces an average of 55 animated features a year, but Europeans overwhelmingly prefer US animated films.

[REDACTED]

Edited by Delibirda on Jan 12th 2022 at 9:35:43 PM

"Listen up, Marina, because this is SUPER important. Whatever you do, don't eat th“ “DON'T EAT WHAT?! Your text box ran out of space!”