Craig Crumpton
08-08-2002, 04:48 AM
Toon Zone is pleased to offer some exclusive news bits on upcoming animated DVD titles -- straight from the San Diego Comic-Con 2002.
<B>STEVE OEDEKERK'S THUMBS</B>
Steve Oedekerk (director/writer of "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" and "Kung Pow: Enter The Fist") and voice actor Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain, Jimmy Neutron) hosted a panel discussion on "Steve Oedekerk's Thumbs." Aimed at fans of quirky, offbeat humor and movie parodies, Oedekerk's Thumb DVD titles include Thumb Wars, The Blair Thumb, Thumbtanic, and the recent Bat Thumb (http://thumb.com/batthumb/).
During the panel discussion, Oedekerk announced that <a href="http://www.ochannel.com/r">O Entertainment</a> has "at least eight" new Thumb titles "in the works", including a possible feature film.
Among the titles mentioned:
<li><b>WTW World Thumb Wrestling</b>
<li><b>Thumbatrix</b> -- Steve says he loves this title because it sounds so much like the original title: "The Matrix." He adds that this title will be released "around the time" that WB's Matrix sequel (The Matrix: Reloaded) arrives in theaters.
<li><b>The Thumbersons</b>
<li><b>Godthumb</b> -- A parody of "The Godfather."
<li><b>Lord of the Thumbrings</b> -- Steve says he just finds it hilarious that a ring on one of his Thumb characters becomes a belt.
<li><b>Viva Thumb Vegas</b> -- Steve says he's always wanted to do a parody of an Elvis movie.
<li><b>The Good, The Bad & The Thumb</b>
<li><b>The Thumbinator</b>
<li><b>Jaws Thumb</b> -- Steve says he loves this title just because it's "such a bad title".
To see more of Steve's Thumbs - visit THUMB.COM (http://thumb.com/) - and check back later this month for pictures and other fun details from this panel.
<b>GARGOYLES</b>
Greg Weisman provided a small update on our previous report (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39719&highlight=Gargoyles) (which came courtesy of Gargoyles: Station 8 (http://www.s8.org/)) on the Gargoyles DVD. He says that there's still no word on a projected release date, what extra features will be included or even which episodes are being released. However, he says that Disney has asked him to be "involved in the process," which does at least assure quality production and the possibility of bonus features such as a director's commentary.
<b>TEAM ATLANTIS</b>
Greg Weisman also shared that the ill-fated animated series "Team Atlantis" -- the TV spinoff of Disney's animated feature "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" -- will see the "light of day" after all. Since scripts were finished and the cast had completed voice recording for much of the first season, Disney went ahead and "finished animation on the first 3 episodes" -- editing them into a feature direct-to-video/DVD release that should reach stores in the Spring of 2003.
<b>BATTLE OF THE PLANETS</b>
During a panel discussion (which featured BOTP English voice cast members Janet Waldo, Casey Kasem and Ronnie Schell) a representative of Rhino Home Video (http://rhino.com/) announced that they will be releasing a BOTP DVD Box Set (with 4-5 discs) -- with episodes "in chronological order." It will include not only the English-dubbed G-Force series, but also the UNCUT versions from <i>Gatchaman</i>, the original Japanese series (with English subtitles).
"It's like having twice as many episodes on the same collection," said the Rhino representative. Other bonus features are planned for the BOTP Box set as well. An exclusive San Diego Comic-Con limited edition BOTP DVD was available as part of a BOTP promo kit for $10, only for convention attendees, and included a whole grab bag of BOTP goodies. The kits sold out -- look for them to start appearing on eBay any day now.
Six volumes of BOTP are currently available on DVD thru Rhino Home Video (http://rhino.com/search/NameSearch.lasso?Name=Battle+of+the+planets).
Also announced was an official BOTP website -- battleoftheplanets.com (http://www.battleoftheplanets.com/) -- launching "in a few weeks." BOTP fans should also visit the Dynamic Forces BOTP Fan Club (http://www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/botpfanclub.html) for other merchandise news.
Toon Zone will be working with Rhino Home Video more closely in the near future to provide updates on the BOTP DVD Box Set and their other upcoming animated titles.
<b>THE MUPPETS</b>
The Jim Henson Company (http://henson.com/) is releasing <b>Kermit's Swamp Years (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40840)</b> on DVD on September 3 (along with Volumes 1 and 2 of "The Muppet Show").
The movie's plot serves as a "prequel" of sorts - starring a younger Kermit (around 12 years old "in frog years," according to Muppet panelists at the convention) who decides there's more to life than the swamp and sets out on a quest "to become a movie star."
Muppets panelists at the con included <i>Swamp Years</i> Executive Producer Michael Polis, Writer/Producer Jim Lewis, and Muppets puppeteer Victor Yerrid (who performed live with 2 Muppet characters from the movie -- Goggles and Croaker). Jim Lewis encouraged fans to "look for hidden Muppet references and jokes" in the movie. Lewis also stated that this is the very first Muppet movie, to his knowledge, with a close-up of a "naked Muppet butt."
Yerrid quipped (through the Croaker Muppet), "You don't have to the take the kids out of the room, [though]. We're made of fleece, for God's sake."
The trailer and 3 clips from the movie (as well as outtakes included on the DVD, and the display of "muppet nudity") were previewed at the Muppets panel. Polis said that other films starring a young Kermit are planned for the future.
Special features on <i>Kermit's Swamp Years</i> include a behind the scenes featurette filmed from the perspective of a new Muppet character, Joe the Armadillo -- who has his own website (http://joethearmadillo.com/) (a fun promotional endeavor from The Jim Henson Company). Other features (besides the aforementioned outtakes previewed at the con) include a "rock version" of the song "The Rainbow Connection."
Click HERE (http://www.dvdangle.com/previews/screen.php?id=622) for a preview of the DVD menu.
Jim Lewis shared after the panel that the next Muppets feature, tentatively titled "A Very Merry Muppet Christmas" (http://muppetcentral.com/news/2002/072402.shtml), is currently in production and is slated to air on NBC during the 2002 holiday season. (Lewis says that they wanted to call it "It's a Wonderful Frog," but there were legal issues preventing them from doing so.) There is a possibility that the movie will be released on VHS and DVD as well.
Lewis also said that a new Muppet TV series (still untitled) is in the works, but there's no projected airdate.
<b>Check back with Toon Zone News next week for additional updates with convention photos and DVD news on ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS, and a comic book inspired indie film being produced by MARK HAMILL (voice of The Joker on Batman: TAS who also stars in the film) that will include on-camera roles from some of animation's most versatile voice actors.</b>
<B>STEVE OEDEKERK'S THUMBS</B>
Steve Oedekerk (director/writer of "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" and "Kung Pow: Enter The Fist") and voice actor Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain, Jimmy Neutron) hosted a panel discussion on "Steve Oedekerk's Thumbs." Aimed at fans of quirky, offbeat humor and movie parodies, Oedekerk's Thumb DVD titles include Thumb Wars, The Blair Thumb, Thumbtanic, and the recent Bat Thumb (http://thumb.com/batthumb/).
During the panel discussion, Oedekerk announced that <a href="http://www.ochannel.com/r">O Entertainment</a> has "at least eight" new Thumb titles "in the works", including a possible feature film.
Among the titles mentioned:
<li><b>WTW World Thumb Wrestling</b>
<li><b>Thumbatrix</b> -- Steve says he loves this title because it sounds so much like the original title: "The Matrix." He adds that this title will be released "around the time" that WB's Matrix sequel (The Matrix: Reloaded) arrives in theaters.
<li><b>The Thumbersons</b>
<li><b>Godthumb</b> -- A parody of "The Godfather."
<li><b>Lord of the Thumbrings</b> -- Steve says he just finds it hilarious that a ring on one of his Thumb characters becomes a belt.
<li><b>Viva Thumb Vegas</b> -- Steve says he's always wanted to do a parody of an Elvis movie.
<li><b>The Good, The Bad & The Thumb</b>
<li><b>The Thumbinator</b>
<li><b>Jaws Thumb</b> -- Steve says he loves this title just because it's "such a bad title".
To see more of Steve's Thumbs - visit THUMB.COM (http://thumb.com/) - and check back later this month for pictures and other fun details from this panel.
<b>GARGOYLES</b>
Greg Weisman provided a small update on our previous report (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39719&highlight=Gargoyles) (which came courtesy of Gargoyles: Station 8 (http://www.s8.org/)) on the Gargoyles DVD. He says that there's still no word on a projected release date, what extra features will be included or even which episodes are being released. However, he says that Disney has asked him to be "involved in the process," which does at least assure quality production and the possibility of bonus features such as a director's commentary.
<b>TEAM ATLANTIS</b>
Greg Weisman also shared that the ill-fated animated series "Team Atlantis" -- the TV spinoff of Disney's animated feature "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" -- will see the "light of day" after all. Since scripts were finished and the cast had completed voice recording for much of the first season, Disney went ahead and "finished animation on the first 3 episodes" -- editing them into a feature direct-to-video/DVD release that should reach stores in the Spring of 2003.
<b>BATTLE OF THE PLANETS</b>
During a panel discussion (which featured BOTP English voice cast members Janet Waldo, Casey Kasem and Ronnie Schell) a representative of Rhino Home Video (http://rhino.com/) announced that they will be releasing a BOTP DVD Box Set (with 4-5 discs) -- with episodes "in chronological order." It will include not only the English-dubbed G-Force series, but also the UNCUT versions from <i>Gatchaman</i>, the original Japanese series (with English subtitles).
"It's like having twice as many episodes on the same collection," said the Rhino representative. Other bonus features are planned for the BOTP Box set as well. An exclusive San Diego Comic-Con limited edition BOTP DVD was available as part of a BOTP promo kit for $10, only for convention attendees, and included a whole grab bag of BOTP goodies. The kits sold out -- look for them to start appearing on eBay any day now.
Six volumes of BOTP are currently available on DVD thru Rhino Home Video (http://rhino.com/search/NameSearch.lasso?Name=Battle+of+the+planets).
Also announced was an official BOTP website -- battleoftheplanets.com (http://www.battleoftheplanets.com/) -- launching "in a few weeks." BOTP fans should also visit the Dynamic Forces BOTP Fan Club (http://www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/botpfanclub.html) for other merchandise news.
Toon Zone will be working with Rhino Home Video more closely in the near future to provide updates on the BOTP DVD Box Set and their other upcoming animated titles.
<b>THE MUPPETS</b>
The Jim Henson Company (http://henson.com/) is releasing <b>Kermit's Swamp Years (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40840)</b> on DVD on September 3 (along with Volumes 1 and 2 of "The Muppet Show").
The movie's plot serves as a "prequel" of sorts - starring a younger Kermit (around 12 years old "in frog years," according to Muppet panelists at the convention) who decides there's more to life than the swamp and sets out on a quest "to become a movie star."
Muppets panelists at the con included <i>Swamp Years</i> Executive Producer Michael Polis, Writer/Producer Jim Lewis, and Muppets puppeteer Victor Yerrid (who performed live with 2 Muppet characters from the movie -- Goggles and Croaker). Jim Lewis encouraged fans to "look for hidden Muppet references and jokes" in the movie. Lewis also stated that this is the very first Muppet movie, to his knowledge, with a close-up of a "naked Muppet butt."
Yerrid quipped (through the Croaker Muppet), "You don't have to the take the kids out of the room, [though]. We're made of fleece, for God's sake."
The trailer and 3 clips from the movie (as well as outtakes included on the DVD, and the display of "muppet nudity") were previewed at the Muppets panel. Polis said that other films starring a young Kermit are planned for the future.
Special features on <i>Kermit's Swamp Years</i> include a behind the scenes featurette filmed from the perspective of a new Muppet character, Joe the Armadillo -- who has his own website (http://joethearmadillo.com/) (a fun promotional endeavor from The Jim Henson Company). Other features (besides the aforementioned outtakes previewed at the con) include a "rock version" of the song "The Rainbow Connection."
Click HERE (http://www.dvdangle.com/previews/screen.php?id=622) for a preview of the DVD menu.
Jim Lewis shared after the panel that the next Muppets feature, tentatively titled "A Very Merry Muppet Christmas" (http://muppetcentral.com/news/2002/072402.shtml), is currently in production and is slated to air on NBC during the 2002 holiday season. (Lewis says that they wanted to call it "It's a Wonderful Frog," but there were legal issues preventing them from doing so.) There is a possibility that the movie will be released on VHS and DVD as well.
Lewis also said that a new Muppet TV series (still untitled) is in the works, but there's no projected airdate.
<b>Check back with Toon Zone News next week for additional updates with convention photos and DVD news on ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS, and a comic book inspired indie film being produced by MARK HAMILL (voice of The Joker on Batman: TAS who also stars in the film) that will include on-camera roles from some of animation's most versatile voice actors.</b>