Cartoons In Need of a New Intro

[Old Guy]

Seth McFarlene has a new intro for American Dad, but hasn't done one for Family Guy in the decade that it has been on the air. Why? And what are some shows that should also consider a new intro? I'd say Spongebob and Fairly Oddparents. If Nick is gonna continue to milk those two franchises they might as well freshen it up.

[Dr.Pepper]

I always thought that Dexter's Lab needed a new intro when the revival episodes came on.

[Taoku]

As far as The Simpsons go, maybe not a completely new intro, just reanimate it so it looks newer to go with the chalkboard and couch gags.

[Frank15]

If Nick is gonna continue to milk those two franchises they might as well freshen it up.

That sounds like a TV executive's way of thinking. I don't like it one bit. The best way to freshen up Spongebob would be to improve the writing. Alienating the audience by introducing a new theme song that most viewers would likely hate because it's different is definitely not what Spongebob needs.

[Wonderwall]

Although its a new show, my biggest complaint with Wolverine and the X Men is the uninspired opening intro.

[Old Guy]

new theme song

I never said new theme song. Although that wouldn't hurt. ;)

[PC!]

I don't think shows need new theme songs, per se, but if a show has dramatically changed in appearance and keeps the same outdated-looking intro animation, I think its in need of an update. Family Guy and Spongebob in particular I think could benefit from this, especially the former since Seth updated the American Dad intro a mere 4 seasons in.

One show that should've updated the intro LONG ago was Rugrats. The horrible first season animation was used in the intro for, like, ten years, long after the animation had improved drastically.

[Shredder565]

Although the original is classic, I think that Thundercats needed a new Intro around the time of the Thundercats: Ho Movie.

It's weird seeing the mutants as head villains in the intro, yet in the show they are reduced to second fiddles...

[Old Guy]

One show that should've updated the intro LONG ago was Rugrats.

They did update after that Rugrats in Paris movie if I recall.

[Frank15]

I never said new theme song. Although that wouldn't hurt. ;)

You said Spongebob needed a new intro. Not merely an updated intro, but a new intro. That kinda' implies overhauling the whole thing, song included.

Still not sure how alienating all the viewers with a new theme song wouldn't hurt.

[chdr]

Moral Orel seriously needs a new intro. Listening to that cheery tune is just really hard to do this season.

[veemonjosh]

They did update after that Rugrats in Paris movie if I recall.

Yeah, once Kimi joined the cast, the opening was completely revamped.

The only show I feel needs a newly animated opening is Family Guy. The thing just looks...so outdated and unfitting now.

Simpsons and Spongebob...While they both still use cel-animated openings, I feel neither should change. Their openings are both so well-beloved that anything else would just be wrong.

[Old Guy]

You said Spongebob needed a new intro. Not merely an updated intro, but a new intro. That kinda' implies overhauling the whole thing, song included.

Still not sure how alienating all the viewers with a new theme song wouldn't hurt.

Who has ever stopped watching a TV show cause of a new intro?

[veemonjosh]

Who has ever stopped watching a TV show cause of a new intro?

The Master Quest theme was one of the reasons I stopped watching Pokemon for a while (you know, on top of that entire season being...horrible).

But no, I've never heard of a person solely hating a show because it changes it's theme song (then again, I don't really know of many American cartoons that have done that...).

[Old Guy]

I don't really know of many American cartoons that have done that...

Ninja Turtles. Batman.

[Spideyzilla]

Although its a new show, my biggest complaint with Wolverine and the X Men is the uninspired opening intro.

I love the opening, myself. Fantastic Four WGH, if they did continue, get a new theme and opening. It sucks.

[Tobias]

Ninja Turtles. Batman.

Not to mention:

G.I. Joe
X-Men: Evolution
Transformsers
Pound Puppies
Smurfs
Jem
Superfriends
Scooby Doo
Gummi Bears
Ducktales
Alvin & The Chipmunks

I'm sure there were plenty of others that changed their openings. Some of them even changed their opening YEARLY like the Smurfs, Scooby Doo and Superfriends.

[Gokou Ruri]

Ninja Turtles. Batman. Static Shock, W.I.T.C.H.: The Animated Series, Justice League (if you differentiate JLU from JL), and American Dragon: Jake Long as well. They had both animation and song changes. Animation changes are fairly common, though song changes are a bit more rare.

[Wonderwall]

I love the opening, myself. Fantastic Four WGH, if they did continue, get a new theme and opening. It sucks.

I actually kind of liked theirs, it was trippy, but when they added the narrator is fell apart.

[Racattack!Force]

The Mighty B! - The theme is crazy and insane. I have no clue what they are even saying. The composer must have been high when doing this.

[Tash]

The Master Quest theme was one of the reasons I stopped watching Pokemon for a while (you know, on top of that entire season being...horrible).

But no, I've never heard of a person solely hating a show because it changes it's theme song (then again, I don't really know of many American cartoons that have done that...).
KidsWB made a big deal about Yu-gi-oh's theme song switching when it first happened. There were commercials specifically advertising it and everything.

[Lavenderpaw]

Spongebob:The animation is the same as it's been for nearly 10 years now. :sweat:

[Flame Alchemist]

Spongebob:The animation is the same as it's been for nearly 10 years now. :sweat:
I think the time it would take to make a new SB intro would be put to better use if it was used making better episodes. ;) (I know I didn't word that right...)

Also, to who ever mentioned the Master Quest theme song. All the Pokemon theme songs suck. Especially the recent ones. :ack:

[Caswin]

I actually kind of liked theirs, it was trippy, but when they added the narrator is fell apart.I have to agree here. The intro was good, especially the beginning.

Has someone said X-Men yet? Granted, it is a sweet intro, but two things about it bug me:
First, Magneto is portrayed as the X-Men's archenemy and Professor Xavier's evil opposite number... even though they only fought him on and off throughout the first season, he was an outright good guy in the running b-plot of the second, and from what I've heard, he's generally a pretty decent person from there until the last episode. That part could've done with some shaking up.
Second, well, look at the codenames, flashed up to a great deal of fanfare, and right in the middle of all these cool-sounding superhero names: "JEAN GREY"! It's bad enough in general, but if you're going to build your introduction around awesome codenames, well... there has to be a better way than that.

[The Huntsman]

I don’t believe that an animated program has to alter its entire opening, but I do believe that subtle changes can be made in order to keep things fresh. For example, the intro for “Yin Yang Yo!” has a brief scene that shows the silhouettes of various villains; that scene has been changed three times (1 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/One-1.gif), 2 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/Two-1.gif), 3 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/Three-1.gif)) despite the fact that it’s only a few seconds long. Steve Marmel, one of the executive producers, felt that the small change was enough to grab the attention of the audience; as far as I could tell from my discussions with other fans of the series, it worked. Drastic changes are fine, but subtle changes can be fine as well.

[Sam Hill]

I've never liked the opening for Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. It's uninteresting and seems lazily made.

[Frank15]

Arguable. But regardless, considering the show is ending, it's kinda' pointless to change it now, anyway.

[tucsoncoyote]

I don’t believe that an animated program has to alter its entire opening, but I do believe that subtle changes can be made in order to keep things fresh. For example, the intro for “Yin Yang Yo!” has a brief scene that shows the silhouettes of various villains; that scene has been changed three times (1 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/One-1.gif), 2 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/Two-1.gif), 3 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n147/The_Huntsman/Cartoons/Three-1.gif)) despite the fact that it’s only a few seconds long. Steve Marmel, one of the executive producers, felt that the small change was enough to grab the attention of the audience; as far as I could tell from my discussions with other fans of the series, it worked. Drastic changes are fine, but subtle changes can be fine as well.

Agreed and QFT. After all, look at the 3 different subtle changes they did with Kim Possible (In seasons 1, 2, and 3 they all had in the opener, Kim and Ron running across the top of the screen while in the 22 episode season 4 they had Kim's car zooming across the top. Also the intro was changed slightly in season 4 to reflect Kim becoming a high school senior (rather then a high school sophomore when the series started (also it is interesting to note that they went from Junior Varsity Cheerleader to Varstiy Cheerleader also in Season 4 (You can see this subtle change in the opening credits as well (Along the right side of the screen).

and the endings for Season 4 is more along the lines of the new Disney standard for animation (where there's a 1 minute bump with some silly blurb put in). This was actually started with American Dragon Jake Long Season 2, and they did the same for Kim Possible (Season 4), as well as Emperor's New School (Both Seasons), The Replacements (Both Seasons), and Phineas and Ferb.

So do drastic changes work? Not always. Sometimes the subtler changes keeps the show fresh and going.


:coyote:

[EJLD4Ever]

I always thought that Dexter's Lab needed a new intro when the revival episodes came on.

Yes, I agree with you, Dr. Pepper. Especially when you consider the fact that the "original" episodes used cels while the revival ones used Digital Ink and Paint, to keen eyes there is a noticeable difference in image quality.

For example:

-Cels always have this inevitable layer of dust and/or dirt that accumulates on them, which was still there when the cel was photographed against the background under the camera (this becomes especially evident when the action is taking place against a dark-coloured background).

-When parts of a character are split up onto separate levels (which is quite common in "limited" animation for TV), there is a noticeable colour shift among these parts--the darker parts being on a bottom-level cel, while the lighter parts are on a top-level cel. Each successive cel level darkens the level(s) below it.

-Some colours are more subdued than others when cels are used, and outlines slightly softer due to the focal mechanisms of the camera. In DI&P, colours are much more brighter and contrasty, and outlines are sharp and distinct due to SCANNING of the drawings.

In short, ANY show which began life in the cel era and has crossed over into the DI&P era SHOULD get a new intro.

[Mynd Hed]

Second, well, look at the codenames, flashed up to a great deal of fanfare, and right in the middle of all these cool-sounding superhero names: "JEAN GREY"! It's bad enough in general, but if you're going to build your introduction around awesome codenames, well... there has to be a better way than that.

And yet, still better than "Marvel Girl." (-:

[macattack]

Would striking promotional deals with American music labels and artists to make intros for a limited amount of time work like it does in Japan? It would keep intros fresh at the very least.

[Light Lucario]

The Master Quest theme was one of the reasons I stopped watching Pokemon for a while (you know, on top of that entire season being...horrible).

I know that the entire Johto saga for Pokemon was pretty bad, even though I don't remember it being nearly as bad as most others in the fan base believe it to be, but I actually thought that Master Quest was the best out of the three Johto seasons. Of course, it helped that it did end the Johto saga with an awesome match between Ash and Gary.

Anyway, I don't think that a new intro is needed for a show as a way to improve it. That's what better writing is for. If something major changes, such as a new character is introduced or the art style is changed, then I think a show will need a new opening. If that's not the case, then there's not too much of a point for a new intro. At least that's the case for American shows. Most openings for anime change to foreshadow upcoming changes in characters or a new arc in the story.

[JPPT1974]

I always thought that Dexter's Lab needed a new intro when the revival episodes came on.

That would be great!

[Gokou Ruri]

Would striking promotional deals with American music labels and artists to make intros for a limited amount of time work like it does in Japan? It would keep intros fresh at the very least. The idea of Spongebob or Superman pushing Linkin Park would be amusing, to say the least.

I would say no, I prefer the theme to actually be about the show.

[Silverstar]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr.Pepper http://forums.toonzone.net/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?p=3019774#post3019774)
I always thought that Dexter's Lab needed a new intro when the revival episodes came on.


That would be great!

You mean "would have been".

Anyway, it's not like a new intro would've improved the quality of the episodes. The only good it would've done would be serve as a warning to viewers: "These aren't the good original Dexters, but the cheesy, cheaply animated revival shorts without Genndy Tartakofsky at the helm."

[Classic Speedy]

Family Guy. Not only change the intro animation, but change the theme song arrangement (not necessarily the lyrics). I've heard it so many times that I actually mute it when the program starts, because I'm so sick of hearing it. No joke.

I mean, they changed the end credits arrangement, why not the intro too?

[dth1971]

I wish the PBS Kids Arthur cartoon now in its 12th. season had a new opening intro but with the same theme done by a different singer instead of Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

[chdr]

Family Guy. Not only change the intro animation, but change the theme song arrangement (not necessarily the lyrics). I've heard it so many times that I actually mute it when the program starts, because I'm so sick of hearing it. No joke.

I mean, they changed the end credits arrangement, why not the intro too?

Seconded. Watching the intros to the "Road To..." episodes are a breath of fresh air after that.