Aquaman Animated Series?

[James Harvey]

I'm surprised no one caught this in the end paragraph of my latest JL Update (JL Update coming on Tuesday, BTW :)). Here's an excerpt from my last paragraph:

"Also, one of the writers for Cartoon Network is writing a two episode treatment of a new WB Aquaman series. Aquaman's appearance in the episodes The Enemy Below was enough to warrant him not only a second season appearance, but an all new comic series and resurrection from the dead in the regular mainstream DC Comics." (Full News Post <a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44511">Here</a>)

Comments?

[Knight]

I like Aquaman but I dont think he has what it takes to hold down his own animated series. I wouldnt mind an occational Aquaman animated movie though. But thats just me.

[goatboy57]

I have to agree with Knight on this one. I really enjoyed the Aquaman appearance on JL and I'm looking forward to a season 2 cameo, but a whole series? I dunno.

[Brainiac]

I'd have to agree--Aquaman is a good character, and I like seeing him in cameos on JL, but a whole series to himself? I'm not sure about that idea...but who knows? It could turn out to be good.

-Brainiac

[susan123]

I also agree with Knight and goatboy57. Aquaman is great as a supporting character but I don't think there will be enough interest for an entire animated series. When he was killed off in the Our Worlds at War comics by DC, I didn't see any of the fan reaction that took place when Superman died. A direct to video movie would be good provided they had a good writer like Paul Dini or Peter David to do the script and with Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett on the visuals that would be a winner. However, if Messrs. Timm, Dini, and Burnett decided to make an Aquaman series their names alone attached to the project would certainly generate interest.

[Karkull]

Wait -- did they mean an animated Aquaman series, or a live-action one?

[Anarky]

no, that bit wasn't overlooked by my eyes.

Interesting development. Aquaman:TAS???
I'd thought for certain (before JL) that GL:TAS was the next step.

I'm skeptical, considering how often DC has either killed his titles and kiled him.

I'm with the rest of the board here. He's great as a special appearance but a series? I only know of 2 of his villains: Manta & The Ocean Master.

There are other things I'd like to see before Aquman:TAS
1. more Batman episodes and DTVs
2. GL:TAS
3. instead of a new series, use that staff to work on JL
4. DC DTVs: solotistic movies highlighting one character: GL, Flash, Diana, etc... Diana vs. Ares or The Flash vs. his Rogues, an Aquaman movie, etc...

I trust they can make a good series. I'd just hate to see them bust though. They have a winnign streak going: BTAS, STAS, TNBA, BB, JL.

[Batman49]

I'm guessing writers for Cartoon Network means people other then Dini, Timm, Burnett and company will be responsible for this series right? If so that might not make this series so attractive but I'll give it a shot. Unless it is horrible, I'll be watching it. I think they can make a good series out of Aquaman. Sure I'd like to see some of the other things mentioned earlier more but an Aquaman series isn't bad at all. Thats how I look at it anyway. I'm interested in hearing who is involved in this pitch for a series.

[Johnny Depp]

That is great news! I couldn't be behind it more. Aquaman has a formidable rogues gallery, and an immediate circle with the likes of Tempest and Mera that make for a great supporting cast. I'm sure it'll be writhing with guest stars as well.

I'm of the mindest that ANY DC animated series is great for the fans. If this Aquaman is anything like the Enemy Below's incarnation that will be a tremendous show. It's about friggin time there is a water based show that straddled the conflict between the surface world and the ocean. I'm more interested in this far more than I was in Superman's series, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[TimTwoFace]

I was under the assumption this was a COMIC series, not an animated series on TV.

-Tim

[Batman49]

The new comic series is being written by Rick Veitch. That has been announced for a while, well at least for a couple of months. The announcement by Jim Harvey sounds like an animated series.

I agree, Johnny Depp, any DC series is a good thing. Hopefully this series is on par with BTAS and STAS. I can't wait to see Tempest or Mera again, she was a hottie. :D

[Mr. Obsession]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
I'm surprised no one caught this in the end paragraph of my latest JL Update (JL Update coming on Tuesday, BTW :)). Here's an excerpt from my last paragraph:

"Also, one of the writers for Cartoon Network is writing a two episode treatment of a new WB Aquaman series. Aquaman's appearance in the episodes The Enemy Below was enough to warrant him not only a second season appearance, but an all new comic series and resurrection from the dead in the regular mainstream DC Comics." (Full News Post <a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44511">Here</a>)

Comments? Has everyone forgotten that William’s St. was in the process of creating a show with Aquaman (Superfriends era and giving him the Space Ghost: C2C/Sealab 2021 treatment) hosting a children’s show (along the lines of "Krusty the Clown")?

Is it possible that since not much, other than a show is in the works is mentioned, that the show isn't a serious animated series but rather the rumored "Aquaman and Friends Hour"?

[James Harvey]

I thought "WB Animation" and "Aquman" side by side sorta made it obvious I was talking about a new animated series. I've fixed up the post abit to make it more obvious and clear. Sorry for any mix up!

[Divv]

Sounds pretty good to me. I loved 'The Enemy Below' and 'A Fish Story' was pretty good too. I could see an Aquaman series doing pretty well, as long as it stayed true to the Timm style and kept with continuity of the recent DC animated series. I'd love to see a Bats and Aquaman team-up episode.

[Joe Wagner]

I think that an Aquaman animated series could prove to be very interesting because of the environment that it would be set in and Arthur's role in the world - split between the ocean world and the world above the ocean.

If the colorists used the same effects that they did in "The Enemy Below" I think this could be an amazing series.

Considering all of the DC properties WB/CN has been putting into pre-production I wonder if there is any chance that they would consider finishing the first two episodes of Aquaman and Teen Titans and using them as a couple of CN movies if they weren't picked up for a series. If CN choose to do that I think a lot of us would be very happy with the decision.

-Joe!

[peterparker05]

I think an Aquaman series would be very interesting because it would be very different from the basic superhero antics found in Superman, Batman, and Justice League. If they keep in line with the style they set in The Enemy Below, Aquaman:TAS could be very interesting indeed.

[JChampion]

I disagree with some of the other posts about Aquaman not being able to hold his own in a series. There is SO much about Aquaman and his world that we don't know about and I feel with the help of other heroes from the DC universe, this cartoon WILL ROCK!!!!! He's an interesting figure and is worth a good exploring. Besides .....do we really need another Anime show on Cartoon Network. They've run all the good ones into the ground.

[TimTwoFace]

Hmmm...an Aquaman animated series. I dunno - like I said, I don't know a heck of a lot of the JLers background and supporting cast (aside from Bats and Supes), so my question is, does he have a large enough and interesting enough supporting cast to have a point in even making it to begin with?

I wonder why the other heroes (WW, GL, Flash, MM) were overlooked...

Then again, if the animated crews from these four DC-based series' are involved, you've got my interest, at least. Hey, they created BATMAN BEYOND out of thin air and made a great show, so taking an already established character would be a piece of cake in comparison...

...or is it that fact that makes it even more difficult?

*TWILIGHT ZONE MUSIC*

-Tim

[Jor-El]

I think an hour called "Brave the Bold" featuring Green Lantern(s) and Flash(es) in seperate episodes would be a much more profitable and more entertaining endeavor.

That's me though. I guess I'm biased. :)

[cartoonboy]

Some characters are treated best as supporting while others are as leading.
But hey, he's had his own comic for years and has different incarnations that could be adapted to animated video.
I do question the choice of Aquaman though. With so many other properties....why not do a "The DC Universe Hour/Half Hour" and spotlight different characters - good and bad? (ie.Impulse, Booster Gold, Beetle, Captain Marvel, SandMan, Mr. Terrific, CatMan, Green Arrow, Azarel, etc....)

[DerekPowers]

well my first question is is bruce timm or paul dini or some faction of the team involved in producing/developing this new aquaman series?? anyone know the official word on this?

it seems a bit unlikely, what w/ Jl in full swing and the upcoming teen titans show.

but if they are involved and this becomes another installement into the dc animated universe, then i for one cant wait!! sure aquaman isnt as good of source material to work w/ as batman and superman, but if i remember correctly, wasnt superman not in the best shape before that great team of artists put out STAS and reinvented the characters and villians they way they should be? i say they can do it for aquaman!

BUT if they arent involved, then im not too excited. mainly because regardless of whose producing the show, this is obviously an attempt at the wb to cash in. Aquaman was a good JL guest star and will be on again, so why not give him his own series, have cross promotions, and make more $$ even though there are a bunch of better comics more deserving of an animated series?? and without the right team behind it, a venture like that almost will inevitably suck. look at the zeta project (and didnt they even have alan burnett involved?? correct me if im wrong).

now the only cash in attempt that turned out great was Batman Beyond. If you think making aquaman interesting enough to carry his own show, think how hard it was to give the mantal of the bat to a teenager!! but they pulled it off GREAT and made one of the best animated series of all time. but unfortunately i doubt anyone else but those responsible for btas/tnba/stas/tnsa/bb/jl could pull off an aquaman series, especially if its not rushed and theyre given proper time to develop it.

but if its not them then i dont know how to feel about it. i hightly doubt, regardless of who is making it, that the wb wont make it in line w/ the current continuity (or atleast not contradict it) mainly because theyre using JL to spin it off and probably will want cross overs. but i'll have a hard time getting all excited if bruce timm or paul dini arent involved. who knows, maybe itll be refreshing to have some other team of artists take a crack at a dc animated series, but so far no one but our beloved current dc animated team has even come close to being worthy (x-men evolution anyone? avengers? hulk? etc). those are the best cartoons ever made, period, so why mess w/ it if its not broken?? i guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Joe Wagner]

I've gotta disagree with the assesment that Timm and Dini are the only ones capable of creating a good animated series - I mean they are both very, very good at what they do but by no means does that mean that no one else should get a shot if they too can put out a quality product.

Perhaps the best example of this is Batman and Mr. Freeze done by Boyd Kirkland - a movie that didn't involve either Timm or Dini. While Avengers didn't live up to the hyped potential Hulk was very well done and X-Men Evolution has proved to be a very entertaining over it's first two seasons. As for the Zeta Project - I was a big fan of the series and would have to say that the second season was comparable to many of the other DC animated series that have come out.

While I would love to see Timm and Dini involved with an aniamted Aquaman series I would still support the show if a different creative staff was involved with the creation of the series - as long as the series was well done and stayed within the continuity that BTAS, STAS, JLTAS and BB have already created.

-Joe!

[The Flash]

Cool! I'd rather see an Aquaman: TAS then a Teen Titans show! I wonder what will come of this... :)

[Alph]

Cool!Before I saw "enemy Below" I wouldn't be to exited,but now he's one of my favorite superheros!

[Harvey Dent]

If this does see the light of day, I pray to God that the people behind this show Atlantis as a continent, and not a city. There are only two cities that remain underwater, Poseidonis and Tritonis. If they take the comic book approach in regards to the locations, then the producers/writers/etc. will have more to draw from then they would using a watered down version for the sake of simplicity.

[Justice League 2000]

Aquaman TAS will be great ;) .

[Karkull]

I don't see it happening. It would probably be nice, but Aquaman would be a little too thin to sustain his own ongoing cartoon.

[Knight]

Not to knock Aquaman but I think there are better comic properties to animate other than him. I can think of several Id love to see before his. Nightwing ,Green Lantern, The Titans or JSA I fel deserve series ahead of him.

[Storm]

I really fell that Aquaman should just have a continuing guest star role on JL. Before seeing a Aquaman series I rather see a Teen Titans series or even a Nightwing series. I just think Aquaman is not a "solo hero" he's better just guest-starring on JL.

[Nightwing]

Knight hit the nail AND ME right on the head with his last post. I'd like to learn more about Aquaman, but I think the first step we should take is that comic idea they have in mind to parallel the Aquaman animated series. That'll give the show some backbone to base itself off of (many of the best BTAS episodes of all time are just literal animated translations of comic stories), and it'll show how well it'll do with the fans, showing if an animated series is a good next step or not.

Like Knight said, when I heard about this one character solo project animated series idea, first I thought of Green Lantern, then I thought of Nightwing. Although Aquaman deserves the same depth and character development concentration that comes with one's own series.

[Reed Richards]

I probably wouldnt watch much of an Aquaman TAS-- im not a big fan of his really.

a Brave and the Bold hour long show with GL/Flash would be magnificent however

[Joe Wagner]

I really think that if the designs were kept from JL:TAS Aquaman:TAS could prove to be very well interesting and very well done. With any luck the coloration styles will be kept the same and they will thouroughly explore the kingdom of Atlantis.

Perhaps one of the most interesting arcs that Arthur faced in recent memory was during Erik Larsons short run where they discovered an ancient kingdom beneath Atlantis. Not only that but I would love to see some appearances by Black Mana and Ocean Master. There is a lot of history that they could rely on for this series and I think it would finally give Aquaman a much needed chance to shine.

-Joe!

[Marc]

I also agree that a "Brave and the Bold" series would be the best. Focus on Kyle and Wally, and that way there could be a few episodes that also focus on their predecessor’s friendship (Hal & Barry).

Either that, or remake the old Superman/Aquaman Adventure Hour.

[Chibi Kageboshi]

i think the show could work if they gave him a quest such as jackie chan adventures was to gather the talismans he could have some sort of quest to accomplish and have guest stars in some of the episodes...

[JohnStewart-GL]

Originally posted by Chibi Kageboshi
i think the show could work if they gave him a quest such as jackie chan adventures was to gather the talismans he could have some sort of quest to accomplish and have guest stars in some of the episodes...
I like that idea. Kinda like an Aquaman Mini-series.

[JusticeLeagueLegion]

Considering Aquaman's been abused lately (In the comics he's "killed," and he's not a member of the team in "Justice League") I think that he deserves an animated series! Good for the king of the seas!!

[SimonMoon5]

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
Hmmm...an Aquaman animated series. I dunno - like I said, I don't know a heck of a lot of the JLers background and supporting cast (aside from Bats and Supes), so my question is, does he have a large enough and interesting enough supporting cast to have a point in even making it to begin with?


Aquaman has one of the best supporting casts around. He has a wife (Mera), an adviser (Vulko), a sidekick (Aqualad/Tempest)... and if we add in supporting casts from all the different versions of Aquaman, we could add his sidekick's girlfriend (Aquagirl Tula), his mistress and his sidekick's girlfriend/wife (Dolphin), the dolphin who helped raise him (Porm), his walrus friend (Tusky), and his octopus friend (Topo).

I will grant that Aquaman does not have as many good villains as Superman or Batman. I would really only consider Ocean Master, Black Manta, and maybe the relatively obscure Scavenger to be worthy foes. On the other hand, the animators don't seem to mind creating brand new characters (or changing characters so that seem brand new), so that hardly seems to be a matter of importance. Aquaman does also have a number of one-shot villains that could be used.

What made the Silver Age Aquaman series work was that it wasn't just a superhero story... it was a fantasy story. Combine King Arthur (somewhat literally) with Tarzan... put the combination underwater, and you've got Aquaman. The fact that he's a family man (considering that he's got a wife and the equivalent of a son (Aqualad)) combined with his fantastic journeys under the sea leads to a strong combination.

Trying to make him into merely a "villain-of-the-week" character like Superman or Batman does not play to his strengths.

[Mad Monkey 7]

What happend to the proposed Adult Swim Aquaman show?

[Chris Wood]

If Aquaman is the only hero on the show, then who is going to rescue him after he gets captured 5 minutes into the story?? Are we going to be subjected to long scenes of Aquaman playing solitaire in his cell?

[JusticeLeagueLegion]

Originally posted by Desslar
If Aquaman is the only hero on the show, then who is going to rescue him after he gets captured 5 minutes into the story?? Are we going to be subjected to long scenes of Aquaman playing solitaire in his cell?

Use your imagination man...he's not going to get captured every story...have you ever seen the Aquaman cartoon from the 60s on the "Superman/Aquaman Hour"? They may have been only ten minutes long or so, but the episodes were not boring...they supported themselves well, and I think the show lasted a whole two seasons...that was a lot for a cartoon in those days. Considering the quality of it anyway.

[The Electric Knight]

I like the idea. Granted, I like the idea of Birds of Prey: TAS or Green Arrow: TAS more, but this would be good. It'll be good to see a solo-lead title again, getting back to some really great character development and the like.

This would be best done if they explore the issues of power, politics, corruption, betrayal, and things like that, within the kingdom of Atlantis. They could also raise some great environmental issues without shoving it down people's throats.

This would be especially great if they went back to what made B:TAS good...a very moody tone, with dark palates, and psychological stories.