TRAILERS! TRAILERS! TRAILERS!

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted and a lot has happened since then! In particular, a boat load of trailers are out for some upcoming animated projects. Let's take a look:

Horton Hears a Who



Blue Sky's first non-Ice Age movie sure looks good! Dr. Seuss Characters really translate well to computer animation! This one hits the theatres March 14, 2008!

Alvin and the Chipmunks



This looks strangly better than I thought. But I'm still against it. It hits theatres this Christmas.

Beowulf



Beowulf is the new motion-capture film from Robert Zemeckis. Looks fun and epic but will probably be bogged down with people who this the characters aren't life-like. Get over it! Enjoy the motion-capture for what it is! After all, it is a new technology. It isn't going to be perfect! Beowulf hits theatres November 16

Tales From Earthsea



Tales From Earthsea is the newest film from Studio Ghibli. This film was released last year in Japan and is being released in the UK next week. The North American date has yet to be announced but it has to be soon.

Spectacluar Spider-Man Animated Series



This clip was taken at the San Diego Comicon and give a nice preview of what the upcoming series will look like! It looks like fun!

Transformers: Animated



This incarnation of the Transformers looks like it may be the most faithful to the original series we've seen yet. Listen for the fans going crazy when Grimlok appears on screen!

TRANSFORMERS AND SPIDER-MAN POSTERS!

First of all, I want to state how sorry I am for neglecting this blog. Work has gotten busier and I have been spending more time preparing for my switch over to Animated Views.

However, I have come across two posters for a few new shows next year and I want to share them with you.

Click to see full image.

Transformers: Animated is set to air spring 2008 on Cartoon Network and looks like an amalgamation of all the different series and the movie. Some of the new movies designs, like Bumblebee, have been borrowed but Optimus Prime is a Fire Truck as he was in Transformers: Robots in Disguise.

Over the years, the various different versions of Transformers have had some pretty ugly character designs. Most of the reasons for ugliness were becasue they were too busy. CG shows like Beast Wars, Transformers: Cybertron and the new movie used character designs that were overcomplicated (they used the "it's CG, so why not?" mindset). They were so detailed that it made it hard to watch since characters would get lost in background or each other.

Other shows like Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon were Japanese-made, and you know how the Japanese are about their robots. Super detailed and probably a pain to animate.

This new show is heading in the right direction by keeping their characters neat and clean but still distinct and with style. Too bad I don't like this style at all! Transformers are supposed to be hard and tough. These designs make them look too organic. It's like the characters are wearing foam robot outfits. I hope the storytelling holds up.


Click to see full image.

The Spectacular Spider-Man is set to air in spring 2008 on the WB! Network. This series is to compliment Spider-Man 3 but is not related like the MTV Spider-Man series. It is being developed by Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman.

According to this poster, we should see Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Electro and Vulture in the series and Weisman has said that Venom and Green Goblin will also show up. The series will revolve around a 16-year old Peter parker and his friends Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Betty Brant and Liz Allan.

Some concept art has made its way online and while these are not the final designs, you can get a feel for what they are going for. Sort of X-Men: Evolution. I can't wait to see this one.