Was Batman Beyond created by a toy company?

[killercroc]

I read this on a forum somewhere. I think it was Aint it cool news. Basically, a poster said that Hasbro(or whoever makes the toys) gave WB a certain amount of money to create BB, so that they could make toys based on it.

This is the only time I've heard this and you've got to consider the source, but could it be true? This would basically just be the Transformers, GI Joe type thing with a bit of a twist. Without taking anything away from the show, I could see this being true.

Flame On! if ya gotta.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by killercroc
I read this on a forum somewhere. I think it was Aint it cool news. Basically, a poster said that Hasbro(or whoever makes the toys) gave WB a certain amount of money to create BB, so that they could make toys based on it.

This is the only time I've heard this and you've got to consider the source, but could it be true?

Hmm. I don't know anything about this, but it smells like an anti-BB slander. Some jerk who doesn't like the show decides to spread a nasty rumor about it.

Anyway, why would Hasbro have to come up with idea of launching a new, highly toyetic Batman aimed at a younger demographic? Isn't WB sufficiently sleazy to come up with the idea itself?

I think I recall "Batman Animated" stating that the idea did originate with the studio and not the production team. I suppose in the course of discussions with the studio about various matters Hasbro might have indicated its interest in a new Batman line of toys based on a new Batman show, and the studio took the bait, but that's really the most truth I could imagine in the rumor.

[freebooter]

If this were true, I would expect better action figures.


and why don't they make other characters instead of Batman in 49 different shades of neon green?

[DerekPowers]

well in "batman: animated" they said that the execs wanted to do more batman shows after tnba, but they wanted a teenage batman inorder to cash in on a certain demographic. but thats basically all the input they had, the bat team took it from there. I even think they said that they werent even going to do it at first, untill they came up with the bb concept, which was really cool and happened to fit the criteria of a teenage superhero for the wb execs.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by freebooter
If this were true, I would expect better action figures.

LOL! Good point.

[Bird Boy]

I agree with Free Booter. If Hasbro "Created" Batman Beyond, it would not have made the crappiest figures from them to date. Plus, I don't think Hasbro has the brains to create somthing that big. They did however, create the "BATLINK" line. $5 toys with suped up weapons, and smaller packaging. I only bought one of em'..Firewall Robin...cool lookin' guy..

-BB

[Calhoun07]

I agree that this reeks of a bad rumor. Who posted this "news" on Ain't it Cool? I don't put faith in everything at the Aint it Cool site as it is, but this is totally out of left field. Everything that we have read and heard about Batman Beyond suggests the creative team and execs created this show, not a toy company.

[Shriek]

Hey man. That can't be true!!!

[Inque]

If this is true, where are my Inque action figures?!?!

[Shriek]

Inque states a very good point. I want to see a Royal Flush Gang Set. Or an old bruce character. If a toy company created this they would of made so many toys out of this. The possibilities. Think about a big time figure?

[James]

I doubt it. The Batman Beyond Cash Cow has only very recently began to kick in (with those dreadful 'Net Batman figures' and duff batmobiles!). Actual figures from the series have been few and far between with most already discontinued.

And they were indeed...crap. (The Batsuit one would have been fine IF they hadn't insisted on giving him a cloth cape..... jeez..)

Anyway, what does it matter? Transformers and Master's Of The Universe were stonking cartoons regulated by the toy companies Hasbro and Matel respectively. They were both cool.

When it comes down to it, whether toys are involved or not, the same regulations and censorship apply. If you are making cartoons for kids, you have to obey certain rules. No death yet lots of explosions and big guns. No love or sex, yet there must be a sexual chemistry between the lead and another girl. A simple moral code, yet a nice range of merchandise to be spawned from the cartoon to feed the pockets of the company....

[The Mad Hatter]

Transformers and Master's Of The Universe were stonking cartoons regulated by the toy companies Hasbro and Matel respectively

"Stonking?"

Anyway, I think the main motivation for creating Batman Beyond was the fact that KWB demanded a series with a youthful protagonist, so the kids could "identify" with him. That's a big load of crap since Batman was doing just fine, thank you, but the network gets what it wants.

A Nightwing series was considered, but Nightwing was too "old." The creators thought of creating a "young Bruce Wayne" series, but they thought it would be too much of a handicap to not be able to use the old rogue's gallery. Eventually, they settled on the concept of Batman Beyond.

The toy companies, I think, are just hangers-on... they encourage the networks to create series that can be made into toys, but, at least in BB's case, they didn't have any direct control.

[killercroc]

Originally posted by SJJ


Anyway, what does it matter? Transformers and Master's Of The Universe were stonking cartoons regulated by the toy companies Hasbro and Matel respectively. They were both cool.



That's pretty much how I feel. I don't really care how it was created, just that it was created. If the guy that posted that message was a BB hater, he didn't get the desired reaction from me. I mean in the end it was created to make money regardless of whose idea it was.

Anyway, I figured you guys would know a lot about the creation of the show and would be able to debunk this one. I'd say you did.

[Failure]

A Nightwing series was considered, but Nightwing was too "old."

Darn, that's too bad. I would've loved to see a Nightwing series.

[James]

Mad Hatter:
"Stonking?"

Sorry, dreadful word. I'll be more careful in future. :)

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by SJJ


Sorry, dreadful word. I'll be more careful in future. :)

I assume you meant "stinking cartoons"?

I have to admit I did a double take there...my last name being Stoneking and all. I saw that thing about you using a horrible word, and I thought "why was somebody using my name?"

The ironic thing is that when I type my name in Microsoft Word, it always offers "stinking" as the suggested correction for my name.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by SJJ
Sorry, dreadful word [stonking]. I'll be more careful in future. :)

OK, now my curiosity is piqued. (I love English slang.) Has it got a meaning that can be repeated on a PG-13 board, and if so what is it?

[The Mad Hatter]

Ah, glorious British slang! It confuses Americans, but it sounds so right. I still get odd stares when I wear the "cracking toast, Gromit!" t-shirt I got while I was there. Then there's the classic "arse," which has amused silly non-British people for years over at www.rareware.com (the scribes sections of which are a hoot and a half, even if you don't like video games). I've developed a fondness for "feck off!" myself...

[freebooter]

I assume you meant "stinking cartoons"?

I believe "stonking" means good.

[James]

Originally posted by freebooter


I believe "stonking" means good.

Yeah, it is particularly poor word that was brought to new heights of dorkiness by a charity event in the UK named Comic Relief. Indeed, it is a word that is relieved of all comic value and should never be spoken. It shares a memorable link with Mel Smith - UK comedian of such great films like 'Morons From Outer Space' and 'Wilt' (he also directed 'Mr Bean').

Stay away from this word - and don't use it as part of your lingo if you come to the UK - you'll have your lights punched out faster than "Mr Bean really did nothing for Burt Reynolds career"....

[Fish]

Originally posted by The Mad Hatter


" The creators thought of creating a "young Bruce Wayne" series, but they thought it would be too much of a handicap to not be able to use the old rogue's gallery. Eventually, they settled on the concept of Batman Beyond.

If they made a series like that they could include the old villans but before they became villans. I know that in most of the villans origin stories their past has beem explained, but it could be cool to watch the show and see this guy in the background or included in the story and go " hey! That's Mr Freeze when he was a teenager!!

I know it's not sufficient (sp) to base a series on...but I think it would be a cool idea!


http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/otn/animals/goldfish.gif <>< F I S H ><>http://www.contrabandent.com/pez/otn/animals/goldfish.gif

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by The Mad Hatter
Ah, glorious British slang! It confuses Americans, but it sounds so right. I still get odd stares when I wear the "cracking toast, Gromit!" t-shirt I got while I was there. Then there's the classic "arse," which has amused silly non-British people for years over at www.rareware.com (the scribes sections of which are a hoot and a half, even if you don't like video games). I've developed a fondness for "feck off!" myself...

Feck off is a persona favorite of mine too. Also, "Feck" was teh name of Dennis Hopper's character in River's Edge.

[James Harvey]

From what I hear, it was half and half. Hasbro wanted to make a kid oriented Batman toy line. KWB wanted a new Batman property. So the crew came up with Batman Beyond. Hasbro started to work on toys after only seeing rough sketches and the final version of Batman's costume. That expolains for the whole first line dedicated to 7 Batman Beyond variants that weren't even styled in the animated way.

[killercroc]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
From what I hear, it was half and half. Hasbro wanted to make a kid oriented Batman toy line. KWB wanted a new Batman property. So the crew came up with Batman Beyond. Hasbro started to work on toys after only seeing rough sketches and the final version of Batman's costume. That expolains for the whole first line dedicated to 7 Batman Beyond variants that weren't even styled in the animated way.

They say that every rumor has a kernel of truth. I guess this thread stuck around long enough that that kernel was exposed.

[James]

I'm glad that your peeps on the far side of the atlantic take such an interest in British slang - I'd be happy to translate any words that you require!

Not so much slang, but the new term among the youth here is 'quality'.

'Aw, yeah that's quality mate'. I hear that all the time at the moment.....

Actually, I think Buffy and Angel are a good source of British slang. There are words in that series that don't appear in any other US dramas. 'Berk' is one that springs to mind.

However we don't say 'pouf' as Spike says. Poof, yes (as in homosexual) - that is common slang, but I don't know where this pouf comes from. Someone should tell the guy - the ain't such a word....