Western Animation - Discuss American, Canadian, and European cartoons here (or just bitch about wokeshit, I guess)

[Toxinophile]

Usagi Yojimbo finally got a cartoon series... and it has nothing to do with the actual comic.

I hear we don't got an Usagi Yojimbo cartoon is because no one wanted to put in the money to actually produce it. Stan Sakai has been workshopping this idea since forever and it looks like Netflix finally gave him his chance, compromised it may be.

The interesting aspect of Pibby is the trailer’s suggestion that the point isn’t “Look, it’s corrupted nostalgia! The horror is all the old characters you used to love, now wrong!” as it is “This is a child character having to mature to deal with an apocalypse, the nostalgia is set dressing.” It’s yet to be seen whether or not the now-inevitable full series or miniseries can live up to that premise and not just fall into the former category, though I’m optimistic that it can.

I dunno, how interesting will Pibby's character development be when it has to compete with the horror? Horror in general has never had the best track record for compelling protagonists, due in part from the horror itself being the main focus. At best she'll most likely become someone like Ash Williams or Ellen Ripley, I ain't expecting any thing much more compelling than that.

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

I hear we don't got an Usagi Yojimbo cartoon is because no one wanted to put in the money to actually produce it. Stan Sakai has been workshopping this idea since forever and it looks like Netflix finally gave him his chance, compromised it may be.

Apparently it was due to the failure of Bucky O'Hare. No one wanted a similar cartoon.

 

[Crescent Fresh]

I hear we don't got an Usagi Yojimbo cartoon is because no one wanted to put in the money to actually produce it. Stan Sakai has been workshopping this idea since forever and it looks like Netflix finally gave him his chance, compromised it may be.


I dunno, how interesting will Pibby's character development be when it has to compete with the horror? Horror in general has never had the best track record for compelling protagonists, due in part from the horror itself being the main focus. At best she'll most likely become someone like Ash Williams or Ellen Ripley, I ain't expecting any thing much more compelling than that.

I’m more expecting them to go for sort of a Clementine thing, which could work given the right time to breathe. It largely depends on how much time is given to the show.

 

[Toxinophile]

Apparently it was due to the failure of Bucky O'Hare. No one wanted a similar cartoon.

That seems oddly specific, why is that this one funny animal, made-for-toys action cartoon amongst all the other ones in the 80s and 90s prevent Usagi Yojimbo? Usagi Yojimbo in story and tone bears very little resemblance to Bucky O'Hare other than the fact that they both started out as comic books.

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

That seems oddly specific, why is that this one funny animal, made-for-toys action cartoon amongst all the other ones in the 80s and 90s prevent Usagi Yojimbo? Usagi Yojimbo in story and tone bears very little resemblance to Bucky O'Hare other than the fact that they both started out as comic books.

Here's a website that talks about it, as well as the first pilot made in the 90s. Evidently another rabbit in space was considered too risky.

 

[SteelPlatedHeart]

https://twitter.com/starmanattacks/status/1510355232261345280?s=21&t=MqvxyTRw1OF1s__aOEKDIA

 

[Mr. Nobodyguy 202]

'SpongeBob Squarepants' Renewed For 14th Season on Nickelodeon!

https://www.justjaredjr.com/2022/03/24/spongebob-squarepants-renewed-for-14th-season-on-nickelodeon/

Last year, only 4 new episodes of Season 12 aired on Nick in favor in prioritizing in characters such as Patrick and Sandy getting their own spinoffs series and movies.

 

[DeadwastePrime]

Sandy getting their own spinoffs series and movies.

what the pasta

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

what the pasta

If they're doing that it hasn't been announced yet.

 

[Usaguu]

That seems oddly specific, why is that this one funny animal, made-for-toys action cartoon amongst all the other ones in the 80s and 90s prevent Usagi Yojimbo? Usagi Yojimbo in story and tone bears very little resemblance to Bucky O'Hare other than the fact that they both started out as comic books.

Usagi Yojimbo is one of those comics that is more suited for an adult audience given the subject manner and themes in the original work. I have an inkling that TV producers/executives weren't keen on funny animals murdering each other in feudal japan wasn't suited for animation, and apparently, all animation is FOR KIDS /sarcasm.

if someone like Genndy Tartakovsky were to adapt an animated Usagi show for adults, I think it would do pretty well. also forgive my sperging, Usagi is one of my favorite comics books, okay

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

Usagi Yojimbo is one of those comics that is more suited for an adult audience given the subject manner and themes in the original work. I have an inkling that TV producers/executives weren't keen on funny animals murdering each other in feudal japan wasn't suited for animation, and apparently, all animation is FOR KIDS /sarcasm.

if someone like Genndy Tartakovsky were to adapt an animated Usagi show for adults, I think it would do pretty well. also forgive my sperging, Usagi is one of my favorite comics books, okay

Do you remember some of the things that got cartoons back then? It was pretty common to adapt movies that were incredibly unsuitable for kids into Saturday morning shows.

 

[Usaguu]

Do you remember some of the things that got cartoons back then? It was pretty common to adapt movies that were incredibly unsuitable for kids into Saturday morning shows.

I can think of a few on the top of my head - I remember Robocop having an animated series and even Aliens was very close to getting its own. That would have been wild to see.
Also, it's worth mentioning that Sakai is very protective of his work, another factor as to why it took so long to get an animated series.

 

[Newman's Lovechild]

IIRC Usagi Yojimbo has a bunch of kids or soccer mom awards or something. It's not that grimdark. Lots of kills, but no bloody wounds and every corpse has a silly expression on its face.

Also, cartoon rabbit.

Also, it's worth mentioning that Sakai is very protective of his work, another factor as to why it took so long to get an animated series.

Is this why we're getting all-new neon future samuraipunk great great great great great great grandchildren versions of the characters, with no hint of Sakais style?

 

[Trilby]

I can think of a few on the top of my head - I remember Robocop having an animated series and even Aliens was very close to getting its own. That would have been wild to see.
Also, it's worth mentioning that Sakai is very protective of his work, another factor as to why it took so long to get an animated series.

No doubt he knows how to stand his ground than kiss up to marketing groups. He prevented another forgotten piece of animated crap!

 

[AnOminous]

Usagi Yojimbo finally got a cartoon series... and it has nothing to do with the actual comic.

And it's shitty obnoxious CGI on top of that. Fuck these people. Oh well I hope at least Sakai got a nice paycheck out of it.

 

[Saxxon]

IIRC Usagi Yojimbo has a bunch of kids or soccer mom awards or something. It's not that grimdark. Lots of kills, but no bloody wounds and every corpse has a silly expression on its face.

Also, cartoon rabbit.

I think you are really underestimating how violent Usagi Yojimbo is, it's not only about how many people die but also how: suicide, tortured to death, crucifixions, on screen decapitations, etc. Add also the deeper themes like people choosing honor about everything else, the devotion to someone's lord, what happens to a caste of warriors during a time of peace, the constant political chess plays and my favorite the complete disregard for human funny animal life of feudal Japan.

Don't misinterpret, I'm not saying that UY is the western equivalent of Berserk, for all of the above the comic also balances it out with its humor and style but I can see why a peanut brain exec would be put out of doing a proper adaptation which I keep hearing was the case, since no streaming service wanted to make it. So that's why we got... this, I guess Stan gets money? but I doubt it would be that popular anyways its animation already looks kind of outdated.

Animation IS for and ONLY for kids, our streaming executives and Hollywood has decided this so don't expect an actual faithful adaptation of a comic with adult tones for mainstream media because you are never gonna get it. Maybe one day, but not today.

And it's shitty obnoxious CGI on top of that. Fuck these people. Oh well I hope at least Sakai got a nice paycheck out of it.

They really just make it look like TMNT 2012 but 10 years later.

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

I think you are really underestimating how violent Usagi Yojimbo is, it's not only about how many people die but also how: suicide, tortured to death, crucifixions, on screen decapitations, etc. Add also the deeper themes like people choosing honor about everything else, the devotion to someone's lord, what happens to a caste of warriors during a time of peace, the constant political chess plays and my favorite the complete disregard for human funny animal life of feudal Japan.

I mean, the original TMNT comics were pretty violent and yet every adaptation has been for kids.

 

[Vyse Inglebard]

Do you remember some of the things that got cartoons back then? It was pretty common to adapt movies that were incredibly unsuitable for kids into Saturday morning shows.

I can think of a few on the top of my head - I remember Robocop having an animated series and even Aliens was very close to getting its own. That would have been wild to see.

Low-hanging fruit by this point, but.....

 

[Newman's Lovechild]

I think you are really underestimating how violent Usagi Yojimbo is

I've read it all. It didn't stop him getting a Parents Choice award.

You can adapt storylines without making them too graphic, if so inclined. Other cartoons have. Other cartoons have done the gritty, hardnosed samurai bit too. I don't think you have to completely change the setting, the theme, and the characters except that one has to be a rabbit, one has to be a rhino, etc. in the process of adaptation. Can you still call it an adaptation? If you make a cartoon about some norwegian guy called Johnny, who lives in a retrofuturistic city where they swing broadswords about, can you call it The Valiant Chronicles?

Well, too late to moan too much about it. As Anominous says, I hope Stan got a nice payday from it. There's bound to be more money from Netflix cartoons than from comics, these days.

 

[thegooddoctor]

While Fairly Odder is mostly live-action, the 2D animated parts makes the flash animation in Fairly Oddparent's final season look like a masterpiece.
View attachment 3132370

Jesus Christ I love how there are only a few frames on screen at any given moment, really pushes the medium of animation. You deserved better Crocker. Literally compare it any time Crocker screamed his iconic Catchphrase ‘FAIRY GOD PARENTS!! And spazzed out, there’s so much life and energy in the animation of his movements. The fast and zany over the top movements aren’t there just to be cartoony they add to the visual comedy of the scene. That’s what so much modern animation lack. For an animated show, it really isn’t very expressive, lively or ‘animated’ which is the biggest mistake you can make when making a cartoon.

I wish there was more effort put in making cartoons look more lively and interesting nowadays, instead of this static Family Guy look where characters just face each other and speak without any other animation of background movements. It’s the norm for adult animation now.