Showing posts with label Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Show all posts

Monday, April 1, 2013

New Look at Cartoon Network's 'Teen Titans Go!'

Cartoon Network has released a new clip from their upcoming show, Teen Titans Go!, the latest and comedic take on the super team comprised of Robin. Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Starfire. Set to debut on Tuesday April 23rd at 7:30, it is one of two shows scheduled to replace the recently departed Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice Invasion in their DC Nation line-up.

Per WB Animation:
Teen Titans are on the Go! The new animated series Teen Titans Go!, from Warner Bros. Animation, made its debut at WonderCon this weekend, as producers and talent treated fans to a special look at two episodes from the series’ premiere season. But don’t despair if you couldn’t make it to the ‘Con — we’ve got a super-powered sneak peek right here guaranteed to make you hungry for more Titans … and probably a sandwich."





Wednesday, March 13, 2013

First Look At Cartoon Network's New 'Teen Titans Go!' Line-Up

Cartoon Network released the first look at the re-imagined Teen Titans for the new animated series, Teen Titans Go! set to debut on April 23rd in a 7:30 PM time slot.

DC Nation fans weren't exactly over the roof when word came down that the older skewing Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice would not be returning beyond their current seasons, and would see a new comedic take on Teen Titans join the latest Batman animated series to take their place among Cartoon Network's schedule. 

Green Lantern: TAS and Young Justice unfortunately end their run this weekend on March 16th.

Check out the newest take on Robin, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy and Starfire, in addition to the official press release from Cartoon Network below.



Per Cartoon Network:
"The Teen Titans are returning to Cartoon Network with all-new comedic adventures, and this time they’re giving viewers a look at what life is really like as a teen superhero… once the cape comes off. 
The half-hour animated series, Teen Titans Go! premieres on Tuesday, April 23, at 7:30pm (ET/PT) and will be rebroadcast during the DC Nation block on Saturday mornings at 10:30am (ET/PT) beginning April 27. 
The character-driven comedy series focuses on the funny that happens in between saving the world and living together as teenagers without adult supervision. The comedic mayhem of the animated series is punctuated by pranks and the occasional need to fight crime, but it will also deal with the everyday issues of adolescence. With epic staring contests to decide who does the laundry, a series of quests and battles to construct the perfect sandwich or fighting crime in Jump City, one thing is for sure, these Titans will always be ready for an adventure inside the house and out.

The principal voice cast from the original Teen Titans series, based on DC Comics characters, will reprise their roles in Teen Titans Go!, with Scott Menville as the voice of Robin, the slightly power-mad perfectionist and leader of the Teen Titans. Hynden Walch voices Starfire, an alien struggling to fit in; Tara Strong voices Raven, the sardonic, deadpan demon girl; Greg Cipes returns as the slightly dim but always loveable loafer, Beast Boy; and Khary Payton provides the voice of Cyborg, a laidback kid who is half teen, half robot. 
The fan-favorite theme song from the original Teen Titans will also be making its return to television, with an updated remix from Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys."



Monday, March 11, 2013

Lucasfilm Ends Production on Cartoon Network's 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'


Lucasfilm announced today that production on Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be discontinued, having run on Cartoon Network for five seasons. When Disney purchased Star Wars from George Lucas, it was widely assumed that the CGI show's days on Cartoon Network were numbered, and would eventually switch to air on Disney XD instead. The announced actual end, or 'winding down' of the show does come somewhat as a surprise, though as stated in the press and video release, there is still a future planned for the characters, story arcs and completed animation they already have in the can. Additionally, Lucasfilm Animation has plans for a new series set in a yet untouched time frame in the Star Wars universe.

Lucasfilm is evidently putting all its resources to production on the next wave of Star Wars films, the first being Episode VII targeted to hit theaters in 2015 under the direction of J.J. Abrams. Disney axed the scheduled conversions and re-releases of Episodes II-VI in 3D and now the Lucasfilm animation department will also adjust its workload accordingly. This could mean that characters introduced in The Clone Wars series could potentially pop up in the next trilogy or could be groomed for separate spin-offs.

The recent Clone Wars fifth season finale left an uncertain, yet unexpected open door future for Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Padawan Ohsoka Tano, who would be an ideal popular character to use in the future to target the female demographic. Since all of the Jedi Knights except Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda have perished by the time Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope rolls around, Ohsoka's unaddressed final fate (as of now) leaves her free to possibly join in other adventures.

At the end of the video below, a teaser clip is included for what is still to come. Work on the series had obviously been well in place by the time Disney acquired Lucasfilm much less the decision to end the series. The action packed clip foreshadows Emperor Palpatine's Order 66 from Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which put in motion the Clone Troopers planned annihilation of the Jedi.

Here is the full press release from StarWars.com
"As we enter into an exciting new era focused on the next Star Wars trilogy, Lucasfilm has decided to pursue a new direction in animated programming. We are exploring a whole new Star Wars series set in a time period previously untouched in Star Wars films or television programming. You can expect more details in the months to come.
As part of this shift, we have also made some key decisions affecting Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Detours. 
After five highly successful and critically acclaimed seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we feel the time has come to wind down the series. While the studio is no longer producing new episodes for Cartoon Network, we're continuing production on new Clone Wars story arcs that promise to be some of the most thrilling adventures ever seen. Stay tuned for more information on where fans can soon find this bonus content. In the video below, Supervising Director Dave Filoni offers a peek of what is to come in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 
At Star Wars Celebration VI last year, George Lucas gave fans a glimpse at the animated comedy series Star Wars Detours from Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, and Todd Grimes. Detours was conceived and produced before we decided to move forward with the new Star Wars trilogy, and in the wake of that decision, Lucasfilm has reconsidered whether launching an animated comedy prior to the launch of Episode VII makes sense. As a result, we've decided to postpone the release of Detours until a later date."


SOURCE: StarWars.com



Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Mark Hamill Reacts To 'Star Wars: Episode VII' News

We can assume Mark Hamill's phone rang a few thousand times yesterday. So he took to his Twitter account to update fans on Luke Skywalker's possible return as the Jedi in Star Wars: Episode VII, the 2015 film announced yesterday by Disney (as millions of voices cried out in joy all across the world).

Even if it's a cameo as an elder Jedi Master, Hamill's inclusion as Luke Skywalker is a must for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, which by all accounts will follow the events of 1983's Return of the Jedi. George Lucas has a third trilogy plotted out, and it would be disappointing to learn that after all this time he has no plans to reveal what happens to the last Jedi Knight years after the death of Darth Vader and the downfall of the Galactic Empire. Let's keep an optimistic outlook for Hamill's opportunity return in an Obi-Wan Kenobi-esque role, but it's not like Star Wars fans have not developed a tough skin for disappointment in the last decade or so.




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Disney Buys Lucasfilm For $4.05 Billion... Sets 'Star Wars: Episode VII' For 2015


In a surprise announcement by Disney, the House Of Mouse acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 Billion, encompassing all of its properties, Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound. The deal also obviously includes the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Under the new regime, a slate of Star Wars features will be produced. "Star Wars Episode 7" has been announced, with a targeted 2015 release.

With the title "Episode 7," it is implied, if not assumed that the next film would take place chronologically after 1983's Return of The Jedi. Do you hear that Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford?? The prospect of Mark Hamill returning as an elder Luke Skywalker, by this time a Master Jedi Knight, is extremely exciting to any Star Wars fan. Lucas in fact revealed today he has story treatments for an entire new trilogy, now in development with Kathleen Kennedy serving as Executive Producer.


"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas in today's press release.

"It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime," he said.

"I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products."

With the general disappointment felt by fans regarding the Star Wars prequels, all written and dircted by George Lucas, the fact that he is now stepping aside and letting fresh blood to take the reigns of the franchise may very well be a great thing.

Cartoon Network's animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars is proof positive of the potential an off-shoot series can have when Lucas is not directly steering the ship. With Lucas now in a Creative Consultant role, having new writers and directors in the mix provides exciting potential for the future of the franchise for those of us who have been put off by the last three big screen installments.

"We are absolutely going to make Star Wars movies," said Kathleen Kennedy, co-chair of Lucasfilm, in a video interview.

"We are in the midst of the really fun part of the process which is we are sitting down with a couple of writers and we're starting to discuss ideas and we're starting to talk about what those stories might be," she said.

In the video below, Lucas explains his thoughts behind Star Wars' future with Disney, and reveals he already has story treatments for Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.



Disney also bought Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for $4 Billion, and is in charge of all the big screen Marvel Studios films, which includes The Avengers and all the upcoming Marvel Phase Two films, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. So any initial fear of what Disney may do with Star Wars can be put at ease, they seem to be allowing the proper people to handle these properties.


Highlights from Disney's Press Release:
Burbank, CA and San Francisco, CA, October 30, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.
"Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney's unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value." 
"For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next," said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. "It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I've always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I'm confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney's reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products." 
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and "evergreen" Star Warsfranchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.
Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney's global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future. 
The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo. 
Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm's legendary Star Warsfranchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world's top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney's strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.
The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney's very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company's unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney's portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company's ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world's highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

SOURCE: Disney



Thursday, February 23, 2012

TRAILER - Darth Maul Coming To 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'

Just because you get sliced in half by a Jedi Knight's lightsaber and plummet down a power shaft on Naboo apparently doesn't mean its the definitive end to a Sith Lord's scourge of terror. That said, Darth Maul makes his long awaited first appearance on Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and by all accounts it looks like the demon-esque villain of few words survived Obi-Wan Kenobi's blade at the end of Episode One: The Phantom Menace

The hit animated CGI series takes place between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, so Maul has had some time to heal up and really build up a grudge against the Jedi. And I'm sure Obi-Wan has a lot to settle with Maul after striking down his Jedi teacher Qui-Gon Jinn.

If you haven't checked out this excellent show, now would be a good time. Many familiar big screen characters also look to return, including Yoda and General Grievous. This storyline follows up an arc from last year that took place on Maul's home world of Dathomir, where the search began for a new unstoppable warrior from his savage family clan.

You can check out USA Today for the full rundown. They have the first look at the tense teaser for the four-part episode arc that begins on March 9th.

 



SOURCE: USA Today

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