The tree that is the production deal between Lions Gate Films and Marvel Comics is about to bear fruit. Fruit in the form of an original animated movie set for direct-to-DVD release.
Ultimate Avengers: The Movie hits the shelves February 21, 2006.
I have to admit, it is pretty likely that I’m going to buy this. I’m probably at 90% for buying it.
Why? I don’t know. I feel like a series of direct-to-DVD animated movies is a good idea, especially for properties that would never work as live action movies. This format allows for more flexibility and longer form storytelling that, if successful, I’d hope that they’d explore.
It’s hard to tell exactly from the trailer, but the animation doesn’t appear to be top notch, which is disappointing.
But at $13.99, I’ll at least give it a shot.
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Hunh….
The animation’s a little, uh, dated? I wonder who they made this for. Was it for the audience of comic readers (mostly males age 20-40 ish) or was it for kids?
I can’t say I’ll buy this, but I might netflix it.
Yes, the animation is very late 80s Hanna-Barbara.
GI Joe-esque.
This really looks like it’s aimed at young kids. Note how it looks like ye olde Spider-man and X-men cartoons from the mid-90’s. With these cartoons running on Toon Disney lately, it seems like a goldmine.
I believe it could benefit MORE if it was aimed at a more ‘Marvel Knights’ imprint-esque look…Kinda like…Well, not many examples to draw from. Think an animated Spider-Man Marvel Knights (EARLY, From the ‘Down among the dead men’ storyline art style.
my Tivo caught an episode of the new Batman animated series this weekend. The episode was the introduction of Batgirl and Poison Ivy.
I didn’t love it, and there was a bit of “what’s the point” but it was pretty well done. I remember when they put the original Batman TAS on sunday nights in primetime. A noble experiment that went away quickly I think, but I love that they tried it.
Frankly, I’m excited about the Ultimate Avengers movie. I’ve been grooving on Ultimates 1 & 2 – and I’m hoping a lot of that flavor comes through the movie.
Oh, and I can’t say enough good things about the new Batman. Frankly, I drool over THE CAPET. And I’m digging Babs. She’s a lot of fun. We’ve been DVRing the new Bats to watch over dinner.
I don’t like how the animation is all happy and light, shouldn’t it be darker to reflect the book?
Considering the comic book animation shows that are successful, like JLU, Teen Titans and The Batman, the creators probably had to concede to the network execs on the colors. Remember, most adults in this country still consider comic books and cartoons the property of children. No network executive is going to risk their job (which they can loose with a big enough flop) on adhering to the comic book creator’s visions.
Robert Rodriquez and Sin City didn’t have that big of an impact. Well, not yet. Time will tell. But for now, happy and light colors will stay to appeal to the kids (the target demographic).
Wait, comics aren’t for kids?
😉
Yea, but it is rated PG-13. Does it have to be R in order to be dark?
Man’s got a point. What a strange choice of animation style for a PG-13 cartoon.
Well, if the Spawn animated series is what we get when it looks good, but sucks ass, I’ll take garish colors.
Maybe it will suck and look ugly.
I sat in the Chicago ComicCon Preview thing and they repeatedly said the movie wasn’t for kids. I’m not sure what age they are targeting but at least its not the younger crowd.It a risk but I’ll believe them and spend $14.
Now, see, I’ll probably spend the 14 dollars to see this, for many reason.
1) It looks cartoony, but isn’t that what comics are missing these days? Fun stories? With Crisis, and ‘The Other’, and everything else happening, there’s no room for ‘fun’. If this can take us back to the fun times, it might be worth watching
2) Marvel cartoons have always been good. (Save that old avengers series: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Aven_seri.jpg/130px-Aven_seri.jpg)
And besides, whilst it’s based offa the Ultimates, the Hulk storyline was great.
It looks to me like Marvel’s going to make a lot of money off this.
Part of that money will be mine!
Well, if this one is good, at least the sequel will be out this summer already. We won’t have to wait two years to see what happens next.
That’s certainly a benefit to having the movies be animated. I’m really hoping that this is good. A series of high quality, straight-to-DVD movies could be a huge cash cow if done correctly.
I’ve been saying for years that they should be doing this with literal translations of super hero books.
Newsarama has a review of the DVD:
http://www.newsarama.com/movies/UltAvengers/AvenegrsReview.htm
o/ “Pretty close to great.”
I am so pleased!
Newsarama has a preview clip!
http://www.newsarama.com/movies/UltAvengers/UltAvengersClips.htm
I gotta say, it looks promising.
*squees* This would make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for me….if it came out on Valentine’s.
In case you don’t want to buy it… Ultimate Avengers will be airing on the Cartoon Network on Saturday, April 22 from 9:30-11 p.m.