Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Greenzam 01-17-05, 06:43 PM	Before you say anything, not like the one on fox a few years back. I mean, totally brand new, and done in a more serious style of art like Spawn, or Aeon Flux, and the main characters can be mialee, jozan, and the rest of those characters. Plus, no kiddie stuff at all, zero. The series should focus towards a mature audience, so I'm think either Adult Swim or HBO :cool: So what do you think?
Shurdus 01-17-05, 06:51 PM	Um, you want us to say what we think of a cartoon that does not exist? I think it awesome.
TheUnknownZombie 01-17-05, 08:45 PM	It would be good to watch. For the three or four episodes that would be shown before it was pulled off the air due to the low viewing figures. In order for it to have any chance of success, they'd have to aim it at kids. Not that it couldn't still be good, the Batman cartoons of recent years were aimed at kids, but were very high quality.
Habronicus 01-17-05, 10:44 PM	There have been quite a few threads about that in this forum. If you want to find several opinions on the matter, search a bit. Here's one I participated in, but I'm sure there are others with more opinions: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=161981
Vaalingrade Ashland 01-18-05, 09:13 PM	done in a more serious style of art like Spawn, or Aeon Flux, NO Peter Chung should never be allowed to draw a humanoid again. EVER.
DragonEnthusiast 01-18-05, 11:58 PM	If you want a serious D&D animated adventure, why not check out this DVD: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009KU8L/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/103-2241111-3999017?v=glance&s=dvd&st=* Its a D&D Adventure where you decide what the characters do. I haven't seen it myself, but it does look interesting.
Edymnion 01-19-05, 12:13 AM	NO Peter Chung should never be allowed to draw a humanoid again. EVER.At least Aeon Flux was a woman in the G-string. Unlike that horrible Alexander thing, where Alexander the Great was just Aeon Flux, complete with metal G-string, with a new head pasted on her. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go shove a flaming brand into my mind's eye for picturing that again...
Joni-san 01-19-05, 01:18 PM	NO Peter Chung should never be allowed to draw a humanoid again. EVER. Words can't expres how much I agree with you :twitch:
Azalin 01-19-05, 02:06 PM	I'm sure if they made a new D&D cartoon, it would be animated a lot better and it would not be so childlike for lack of a better word. You have to remember that the D&D cartoon that was shown a few years ago was the same one they showed during the 80's, the same time Smurfs, Potato Head Kids, and Glo' Worms (shudders) were around. Sure we had G.I. Joe and Transformers, but even those were kind of goofy if you try and watch them now. As for a more mature theme, I have to agree that it would not last long. Maybe once the new D&D movie comes around they might try something, but I kind of doubt it since we never got some Lord of the Rings cartoon spin off involving Hobbits and their misadventures, like the old Ewoks cartoon (shudders again).
Vaalingrade Ashland 01-19-05, 02:22 PM	At least Aeon Flux was a woman in the G-string. Unlike that horrible Alexander thing, where Alexander the Great was just Aeon Flux, complete with metal G-string, with a new head pasted on her. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go shove a flaming brand into my mind's eye for picturing that again... Androgenous woman... Yeah, I watched three episodes from Reign and now I am incapable of having mental images at all. Its all text. But OT, a loooong time ago, I had a project on my own forums to develope and pitch a DnD tv show. Anyone interested in participating?
Aliquid 01-19-05, 02:27 PM	In order for it to have any chance of success, they'd have to aim it at kids. Not that it couldn't still be good, the Batman cartoons of recent years were aimed at kids, but were very high quality.There are lots of cartoons on TV that are developed for a "mature" audience, and they seem to do fine.
Edymnion 01-19-05, 04:11 PM	But OT, a loooong time ago, I had a project on my own forums to develope and pitch a DnD tv show. Anyone interested in participating?Sure. I remember one of the threads on the old boards about this. Don't remember most of it, but the teaser line stuck with me. "Dungeons & Dragons. Its not what you think. Its what you imagine." Although, if you wanna plan a D&D show, I'd suggest animated (think Justice League quality), and put it in Eberron instead of Faerun or Greyhawk. More interesting characters, better flavor for the setting, more cool visuals.
Vaalingrade Ashland 01-19-05, 05:02 PM	The thread (http://www.ledgermaincomics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1620#1620) has been ressurected to its former horrible glory, along with a link to the original thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161981&perpage=30). Also, yes, animated all the way, monsters and magic would be constantly hokey/expensive in live action.
Ranger REG 01-19-05, 05:15 PM	Meh. Animation is just a filler, like Rankin-Bass LOTR. Sooner or later, I will hunger for live-action motion picture. Of course, there are some things that should not be made live-action, like Spongebob Squarepants or Barney the Purple Dinosaur
Saurstalk 01-19-05, 07:07 PM	If you want a serious D&D animated adventure, why not check out this DVD: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009KU8L/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/103-2241111-3999017?v=glance&s=dvd&st=* Its a D&D Adventure where you decide what the characters do. I haven't seen it myself, but it does look interesting. I bought it. It's a great idea, but feels incomplete. Not enough decisions, not enough story arcs, and not enough conclusions. It should have been much more intensive. As is, I think the running time for each arc averaged between 20 and 40 minutes. (And there were only 4 conclusions.) Each story arc should have been at least an hour, if not 90 minutes. And I think that there should have certainly been MANY MORE endings. (Plus, choices were often pretty darn minimal. E.g., "Attack the werewolves" v. "Run.") You'd generally be given a choice that involved having to decide what one particular character was going to do ... not which character was going to act, and THEN what that character was going to do. Like I said, it's a neat idea, but it feels incomplete. The programmers could have done more.
Chazmon 01-26-05, 12:10 PM	Meh. Animation is just a filler, like Rankin-Bass LOTR. Sooner or later, I will hunger for live-action motion picture. Of course, there are some things that should not be made live-action, like Spongebob Squarepants or Barney the Purple Dinosaur Ah dont mention it, DnD the movie was shockingly poor. It was a resonable film with lots of dragons but it failed to capture the full exitement of the game. One of the best bits was when you saw the beholder but they didnt evan fight it. Basicly they over focused on dragons and not enough on actual adventuring. Chazmon
Reinforcements 01-26-05, 12:32 PM	I would certainly watch a DnD cartoon. Definitely should be set in Eberron, and frankly, if they actually made it this is probably where it would be set. I'm not terribly impressed with Justic League animation. The only really good non-anime style animation currently on that I can think of is Teen Titans. All in all, though, I doubt it'll happen. But who knows? Oh, and Edymnion, just a heads up, I'm gonna have to find and kill you for making me picture Reign again. Now if you'll excuse me... PURGE! PURGE!
Stark Raven 01-26-05, 01:54 PM	I'm not terribly impressed with Justic League animation. The only really good non-anime style animation currently on that I can think of is Teen Titans.Um, I hate to point this out, but the animation style for Teen Titans is hardly "non-anime". It is, in fact, extremely anime-ish in style. Super-Deformed anime at that. While I like the show for its humor (and the fact that Raven is a toon hottie), I don't think I'd like to see a DnD cartoon done in that fashion. If they are going to do a cartoon (be it set in Eberron or otherwise), it needs to be animated as photo-realistically as possible. Preferably with taste and elegance to spare. I'm personally sick of seeing cartoons that go out of their way to make everyone look like caricatures. Ugly and stupid characters for heroes seems to be the (very disturbing) trend in mondern cartoons. A well done adventure cartoon with serious themes and larger-than-life heroes would be welcome. Oh, and I've never seen more than a few seconds of the Reign cartoon, which probably explains why I haven't had a stroke at the mere mention of it like so many others. The little I saw of it was... disturbing.
Saurstalk 01-26-05, 02:48 PM	Personally, I'd like to see a D&D cartoon done South-park Style! "Oh god, they killed Mialee!" Seriously, if ever you've seen Record of Lodoss War, I think you'd see how anime could work for a series. Other than that, CG animation may be the way of the future. As for its setting - most likely WotC would use the standard setting, Greyhawk. Personally, I'd love to see a cartoon series in Sigil and the Planes. But I'd be happy with Faerun or Eberron. Heck, let's be totally honest - I would be happy to see the series in any setting just so long as I could connect with the characters and storyline/plot. (The old 80s cartoon never did anything for me. And again, in support of anime - there are so many Manga cartoons out there that are written as movies, not as cartoons. I wouldn't want a goofy dumb-down Care-Bears-do-D&D type cartoon.) BTW, I heard a rumor that there will be a sequel to the D&D movie. Anyone know more about this rumor? (Supposedly, it was intended to be a trilogy.)
Wharin 01-26-05, 03:38 PM	I wouldnt mind seeing DnD done in Venture Bros. style animation/humor. And like Edy, i wouldn't mind seeing it done in Eberron over the other 2 biggies. Yeah either Eberron, or Discworld (Nightwatch series) which is not too far from DnD (Eberron) done in Venture Bros animation.
jnrhayz 01-26-05, 03:54 PM	It is an interesting idea, but I would probably go with computer animation. Lots of freedom with special effects and can capture some of the realism. That might be cost prohibitive though. In that case, I probably would go with the newer batman cartoon style. Kids seem to like it and it is still interesting enough for adults.
Saurstalk 01-26-05, 04:32 PM	In that case, I probably would go with the newer batman cartoon style. Kids seem to like it and it is still interesting enough for adults. If you are speaking about the Batman Beyond series, I think that would work. Here's a question - is Batman Beyond (or Teen Titans) hand-drawn or computer-generated? From what I understand, South Park is actually a computer-generated cartoon. It isn't hand-drawn. Another option - what about the animation for the new Spiderman cartoon series? It's clearly computer-generated, but I love the graphics. Awesome and fluid are two words that come to mind.
Reinforcements 01-26-05, 04:39 PM	Bleh. I don't like the new Spiderman animation, it's just too almost-good-but-not-quite computer animation. Maybe it's just me, but I can accept a lot of different animation styles, but unless computer animation is perfect it drives me crazy. Batman Beyond-ish would work. Teen Titans is probably too 'out-there.' Justice League just has a flat, simple, we're-not-trying-real-hard look. I would probably prefer some nice anime style over anything else, something along the lines of Cowboy Bebop, but I don't see that happening.
Aliquid 01-26-05, 05:27 PM	somehow I always associate anime with futuristic, sci-fi, or superhero cartoons. As a result, I find that it really clashes if you do a fantasy setting with anime. Although, I guess there are some acceptions. Princess Mononoke was very well done... and it was fantasy. I guess I just have a problem with how everything is oversized in a typical anime cartoon (weapons, armor, etc), also, how emotions are expressed can be quite annoying.
crazysamaritan 01-26-05, 06:02 PM	The only really good non-anime style animation currently on that I can think of is Teen Titans. Technically, Teen Titans is anime-style. It's not actual Anime, but it is anime style. Batman Beyond would work, sign it up to be played on adult swim. THat's the perfect slot for a mature cartoon.
Ranger REG 01-26-05, 09:29 PM	Technically, Teen Titans is anime-style. It's not actual Anime, but it is anime style. Are you sure? Because on some episodes, when they played the opening theme song, I hear japanese lyrics. At least the other episodes, the lyrics are in english, albeit ANNOYING! "Kiddie anime" like Pokemon is okay if you're doing a G-rated D&D movie, or a Saturday morning series. Serious anime like the good ones in Animatrix and Heavy Metal: The Movie are for PG-rated audience.
crazysamaritan 01-27-05, 01:36 AM	that's 'casue the lyrics are by puffy ami yumi... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343314/fullcredits but as far as i can see, it's made in america. So it can't technically be anime.
Doc225 01-27-05, 02:07 AM	I've always kind of liked the idea of having the show start with five or so people, sitting around eating and setting stuff up, and then when the game starts they switch to cartoon. It's kinda cheesy, but hey, as long as the cartoon is drawn well enough and not overly campy, they could get away with it. Show the parents of the kids who will probably watch it, that DnD is just a game, when something bad happens to a character, maybe do a cut scene to the player and have him shrug it off and act like it's not a huge deal. It could also boost the interest of young gamers.. heck, pokemon and yugi-oh are huge because of their cartoons, why not use the same strategy with DnD. from a marketing standpoint, it's good sense. Now, as long as they keep it good enough for the adult gamers out there, it could kill two proverbial birds. just my idea. Doc
Reinforcements 01-27-05, 02:37 AM	Meh, I'd rather a DnD cartoon be good than educational. The job of teaching people that DnD is, in fact, a game is not enough of an issue to warrant its show being sappy. The "DnD is evil" craze is largely dead by now, and it would serve the game a lot better for the show to simply be as good as possible.
Ranger REG 01-27-05, 04:49 AM	that's 'casue the lyrics are by puffy ami yumi... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343314/fullcredits but as far as i can see, it's made in america. So it can't technically be anime. It doesn't have to be physically made in Japan. The style they used, down to the big teardrop and the cross emoticons on their foreheads, pretty much follow the format. Doesn't mean it's a good thing.
Aliquid 01-27-05, 11:46 AM	I've always kind of liked the idea of having the show start with five or so people, sitting around eating and setting stuff up, and then when the game starts they switch to cartoon. It's kinda cheesy, but hey, as long as the cartoon is drawn well enough and not overly campy, they could get away with it. Show the parents of the kids who will probably watch it, that DnD is just a game, when something bad happens to a character, maybe do a cut scene to the player and have him shrug it off and act like it's not a huge deal. It could also boost the interest of young gamers.. heck, pokemon and yugi-oh are huge because of their cartoons, why not use the same strategy with DnD. from a marketing standpoint, it's good sense. Now, as long as they keep it good enough for the adult gamers out there, it could kill two proverbial birds. just my idea. DocIf done properly, that would work quite well. The danger is that it would suck big time if they didn't do it properly. With that concept, I think it would be best to do the whole thing animated. i.e. the Humans playing the D&D game would be animated as well as the characters in the D&D world. It would be hard to get good actors for live action... and it would likely look tacky due to cheap lighting and cheap sets. Actually it would be funny if they panned to the players before each commercial break. For example -- just before the second commercial break, a sudden switch to the players -- the door bell rings -- a player says "Pizza is here!" -- they scramble for money, and the show cuts to commercial. Once the commercials are finished, the players are just finishing their pizza, and the DM says "OK, where were we?", followed by a small amount of dialogue about the players' perspective of what's going on.... then back to the characters. With brief situations with the players, you could help dispel many of the misconceptions about D&D. As Doc 255 said, have a player shrug off the death of a character, and start rolling up a new one. Also you could have a situation where a player is casting a spell, just before they pan back to the characters….. and make it quite clear that people playing D&D don’t actually ‘cast’ spells, they just say "my character is casting fireball" There are still plenty of prejudices about D&D out there…. I still see people posting about how their parent’s won’t let them play.
crazysamaritan 01-27-05, 01:45 PM	With that concept, I think it would be best to do the whole thing animated. i.e. the Humans playing the D&D game would be animated as well as the characters in the D&D world. It would be hard to get good actors for live action... and it would likely look tacky due to cheap lighting and cheap sets. No, definately have the humans played by actual people.... it looks tacky... but we all do when we start to game... Besides, you don't need good actors. You just need people who can read their lines. Hard enough, maybe, but doable. You can have the players and DM used as narrators that way, too. I think that'd be interesting...
Aliquid 01-27-05, 02:01 PM	You can have the players and DM used as narrators that way, too. I think that'd be interesting...You mean the live actors to the voice acting for the characters as well.... yeah, I could see that working. My original concern was that the live actors would have such a small role, that nobody of any talent would bother applying for the role. If the live actors are the voice actors for the characters... then they have a full work-load for the show... and you could attract someone with more skills. If you want to be really cheezy, get the actor that plays the DM to be a good voice actor for multiple voices.... and have him do all the NPCs. ;) Hey, I know... get Matt Chapman to be the DM, he can do the voices ;) (Matt Chapman does all the voices on the Homestarrunner site)
crazysamaritan 01-27-05, 02:52 PM	No!!! Well... maybe... I was thinking more like, the geeky voice says, "and Randal draws his sword and says to the ogre..." then the voice for Randal comes on and says, "If you will not let us go, then we will fight you." Or something like that..... I kinda wanted the LA players being just extras, basically. They'd get more in terms of fame than in money. You might see a problem with having good quality, but I don't want the LA to be good quality, since we rarely have it in our games... Not that your idea doesn't have merit, just that's not what I was thinking... A comprimise we could do would be to have the extras also perform as extras in the animation as well...
StormKnight 01-27-05, 04:05 PM	Before you say anything, not like the one on fox a few years back. I mean, totally brand new, and done in a more serious style of art like Spawn, or Aeon Flux, and the main characters can be mialee, jozan, and the rest of those characters. Plus, no kiddie stuff at all, zero. The series should focus towards a mature audience, so I'm think either Adult Swim or HBO :cool: So what do you think? Since by "mature" you seem to mean "teenage boy thrilled by gore and nudity" then I think I would just as soon that never ever gets done to the game or the genre in general. If you had meant "mature" as in "having an intelligent plot that can appeal to adults" are looking to examples series like Escaflowne, Robotech and Gargoyles or movies like Titan AE and The Incredibles, I say COOL!
Grausherra The Dynast 01-27-05, 09:12 PM	Teen Titans is usually classified as "Amerime". Meaning that it is an American cartoon that imitates various aspects of anime.
tuffn00gies 01-27-05, 09:22 PM	I think before they seriously considered it, it would have to be an Eberron cartoon. Which actually isn't a bad idea...
Fox Lee 01-27-05, 10:44 PM	No, it should absolutely not star Mialee, Tordek and co. They are both boring and ugly (sorry to the original artists, but it's true... Vadania is the only vaguely attractive one!). Since the cartoon would already be directed at a niche audience, they could afford to have more interesting characters than the 3.0 or 3.5 iconics, since those characters were only created to be examples of the stereotypes. A live action series would be terrible, there's no two ways about it. They would need an insane budget to look any good, which they would inevitably not get (has anybody seen the horrible crimes against humanity that are the photos on the old Spellfire cards?). The only thing worse would be a combination live-action and animation series; nothing looks cheesier than those. I'd like to see a relatively-mature but tame-enough-for-mainstream version aking to X-Men Evolution or a comparable modern cartoon series. I would hope that it would be anime-inspired, since (most) anime has a sense of cinematics which is (usually) absent from traditional western cartoons (notable exceptions: X-Men Evolution, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), esxpecially in combat sequences (before you complain, go watch Fullmetal Alchemist ;p). That, and surely anime-inspired designs, even if you don't like anime, are better than the bizarre-is-better, everything-must-be-hideously-ugly approach of Nickelodeon (hey, has anybody else seen Drawn Together?). An interesting, if more commercial approach, might be to take the "actually running a game" angle, and take it further - like the holographic stuff in Yu-Gi-O. Now, Yu-Gi-O is a godawful bad series and I only glance at it because Yami and Yugi make nice yaoi (if you don't know, you don't want to ask), but if you take out all the still-frames and time-wasting rules exposition, you have some nice elements. It wouldn't be my first choice (I would prefer a cartoon which doesn't feature anything from "behind the scenes") but I can see something like that going over well. Perhaps a slightly futuristic version where the game is being run online, so the majority of the story is cyberspace (a la Dot Hack or Rockman EXE, f'rexample). Just some thoughts. Either way, I demand at least one cute young boy and one dark bishounen type ;p