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Friday, November 15, 2002
SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED UPDATE
The producers of MTV's upcoming Spider-Man animated series want to make Spider-Man similar in body form to his comics counterpart.
"The first incarnations, he was younger and geeker," producer Audu Paden told The Continuum. "But we want to be able utilize the Spider-Man body as the Peter body. The difference is going to come from the performance and the acting and the keyframe acting performance."
The new Spider-Man series was briefly previewed during MTV's Spider-Man special last April, but the most extensive glimpse to date comes during a 30-second promotional spot on the VHS release of the Spider-Man movie. In addition to character introductions of Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn, the clip shows Spidey swinging through the 3D environment created at Mainframe Entertainment.
"We've actually done some tests like doing motion capture on a rope just so that you can get the real physics of the way he moves," Paden told The Continuum. "That's actually something that works so well that when I met John Dykstra of the film, I said, 'Have you tried this?' And he said, 'No, but that's a good idea.' And that was kind of cool."
While it's a computer-generated show, the producers aren't trying for a completely realistic look, employing Toonshader software for a cartoon feel.
"One of the advantages is, in a realistic-looking 3-D show, you're requesting reality. Reality is your art direction. And the fact is you'll never arrive there. Because the youngest member of your audience is sophisticated enough to see that's not real," Paden said. "If you look at the critiques of Final Fantasy, you'll see, 'It's really nice, but it's a little creepy.'
"What we're doing is choosing an aesthetic that is not reality, which all of a sudden relaxes the audience and gives us permission to get into the stories and enjoy the art direction for what it is, a unique thing."
"What we're trying to search to meld the 2D and 3D styles into something that's unique," said producer Steve Wendland of Mainframe. "The 3D permits us to do things that's especially appropriate for Spider-Man.
"For example, you're so often in a situation in Spider-Man where you're up high on top of a building and you're looking down from Spider-Man's perspective. So much about that is in the comic books, giving that sort of almost vertigo. But you never really get that full dynamic effect in cartoons that you've seem. Except now, we've suddenly got the ability to move the camera. Even moving the camera just slightly gives a really dynamic effect on perception and distance to the subject. It really brings the audience into that sense."
Click on the thumbnails for larger images from the promotional spot.
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In other Spider-Man notes:
* Harry Osborn, who will be Peter's roommate in the series, is blonde. At one point, the producers were tinkering with his hair being purple.
* MTV doesn't have a premiere date for the show, which was originally targeted to begin last October. Original plans were for Spider-Man to air on Wednesday nights.
* Paden said Spider-Man will be geared toward older audiences than the character's previous animated incarnations. "This is for MTV, and I'm not sure what MTV's demographics are, but I'm sure it's not children aged 7," he said. "To give you a gauge, we're trying to level of drama and maturity that's represented in the feature film."
ORIGINAL SPIDER-MAN SERIES TO BE PRESERVED
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The original Spider-Man animated series is getting a facelift. Buena Vista International Television has announced it will renovate the series, which premiered in 1967.
In the restoration process, Spider-Man's 52 half hours will be re-mastered to a high definition format from the original 35mm film negatives. The episodes' original English soundtrack, including the memorable title song, will be renovated and a new music and effects track will be added.
The 1960s series and other Spider-Man animated series from the '90s, '80s and '70s are part of the Fox Kids Europe and BVS portfolios (formerly known as Saban), of which BVI-TV services the distribution. The portfolios comprise more than 6,300 episodes of children's programming.
Tom Toumazis, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, BVI-TV, Europe, Middle East & Africa said: "We are delighted to be able to preserve the heritage of a character as iconic across all media as Spider-Man, whilst strengthening even further the resources of popular animated entertainment in the FKE and BVS portfolios."
"By using today's technology, we can both halt the severe deterioration of the original film and improve upon its sound and visual effects, whilst maintaining the series' classic retro look and witty storylines. Our company has a historic commitment to high quality animation and it is important to include both the driving forward of contemporary animation and the preservation of classic animation within this remit."
Click on the thumbnails for before and after images.
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CROSSGEN COMICS FIRST LOOKS
For covers and four-page previews of CrossGen Comics titles arriving in stores on Wednesday, CLICK HERE.
Titles include Scion #30, Crux #20, Route 666 #6.
SMALLVILLE UPDATE
The WB has released five images from "Skinwalker," the episode of Smallville scheduled to air on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Here's how the network describes the episode:
"While moto-crossing with Pete (Sam Jones III), Clark (Tom Welling) falls into a cave and discovers two hidden treasures - ancient Indian writings that hold the key to his identity, and a beautiful girl (Tamara Feldman) whom he believes to be his soulmate. Desperate to preserve the writings, Clark pits father against son as he enlists Lex's (Michael Rosenbaum) help to stop Lionel's (John Glover) construction crew from demolishing the cave."
Marita Grabiak directed the episode, with story by Mark Warshaw and teleplay by Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders.
Click on the thumbnails for larger images.
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X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE -- WITH IMAGES!
"Self Possessed," a new episode of X-Men: Evolution that spotlights Rogue, will premiere on Saturday on Kids' WB!.
The show's creators are promoting the episode as one of the series' best.
"This episode is what happens when everything goes right," Marvel Studios' Craig Kyle told The Continuum. "The writing, storyboarding, directing, animation, editing and music are all outstanding. We have set quite a high bar for any future episodes."
The episode was written by Greg Johnson and directed by Curt Geda.
Johnson, the show's story editor, provided The Continuum with insight into the episode. "We really put Rogue through the emotional ringer in this one, and the result is not only a testament to Megan Black's wonderful voice acting, but the incredible animation and direction that supports it. Though I'm the credited writer, I have to say this episode has greatly benefited from the creative input of many people, particularly Boyd Kirkland and Craig Kyle. It's also stunningly directed by Curt Geda.
"This story is yet another example of the unique difficulties our young mutants go through as they mature and develop. Occasionally they reach the breaking point, and either take off for a while like Evan did, or come through it better off, like Jean. How Rogue fares is something you don't want to miss."
Click on the thumbnails below for larger images from the episode.
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FIRST LOOK: NEW X-MEN #134
New X-Men #134 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Grant Morrison, with art by Keron Grant and a cover by Ethan Van Sciver.
Here's how Marvel describes the issue:
"In a world without Magneto, will the greatest threat to the X-Men come from within their own ranks? And if so, who is the young mutant known as Kid Omega? Find out in New X-Men #134 when Professor Xavier's dream faces its most unexpected and devastating challenge. It all happens 20th when writer Grant Morrison and penciler Keron Grant present the prologue to 'Riot At Xavier's'"
New X-Men #134 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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BRIEFLY
Copyright © 2002, The Comics Continuum