ROBOT CHICKEN's Kevin Shinick: The CFQ Interview

The Justice League... and Trojan horse... assemble for ROBOT CHICKEN: DC COMICS SPECIAL
The Justice League... and Trojan horse... assemble for ROBOT CHICKEN: DC COMICS SPECIAL

It’s an old cliche, but worth repeating: Comedy is serious business, even when we’re talking about the nut shots and fart jokes of ROBOT CHICKEN, even when we’re talking about the gentler, youth-appropriate rowdiness of Cartoon Network’s MAD. Kevin Shinick knows about that — he’s copped an Emmy writing for CHICKEN and not only writes but produces and a heavy contributor to the voice population of MAD. I got to sit down with him to discuss how these shows come together, explore mutual geekly passions, and discuss the aborted STAR WARS comedy show.

J.G. Quintel on REGULAR SHOW: Cartoon Interview Podcast

J.G. Quintel and his REGULAR SHOW.
J.G. Quintel and his REGULAR SHOW.

Give REGULAR SHOW creator J.G. Quintel credit for coming up with a title that works in ironic counterpoint to itself. On the one hand, the Cartoon Network series is an examination of young people entering the workforce in modern America, with all the friction, tension, and social and moral quandaries that might ensue. On the other, said young people include a giant blue jay, his best-friend raccoon, and their boss, a giant, walking gumball machine, and situations that start as prosaically as an argument over Internet access time and the desire to forge a cool identity for oneself soon acquire such irregular aspects as visits from interplanetary basketball gods and assaults by far-future Terminators. Yep, starting a career in this world is harder than you imagined.
I got to sit down with J.G. Quintel to talk about unusual challenges of being regular. Click on the player to hear the show.

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DC Nation Starts Tomorrow

Starting March 3rd, DC NATION brings the regular series premiere of the CGI GREEN LANTERN show, and the 2nd Season of YOUNG JUSTICE.
Per Warner Brothers’ Press Release:

“Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment are teaming up to present DC NATION, a full hour of exclusive kids’ television programming and shorts based on DC Comics characters. Full of action and humor, DC Nation brings some of the most beloved and legendary heroes — as well as some lesser-known cult favorites — from the pages of DC Comics to the screens of a whole new generation of fans.
Anchored by GREEN LANTERN: The Animated Series and YOUNG JUSTICE, DC Nation will premiere Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m. (ET, PT).
Green Lantern: The Animated Series debuted in November 2011 on Cartoon Network as a special one-hour movie event and was greeted with much critical acclaim: Variety lauded the “beautifully rendered” series for its “bold, sleek design.” Now fans can experience the series again from the very beginning. With stunning, stylized CG animation,Green Lantern: The Animated Series takes viewers on a journey of cosmic proportions as Hal Jordan and his band of heroes fight to save the universe.
The second half hour of DC Nation will be comprised of new episodes of Young Justice, a series whichEntertainment Weekly called a “super-ior cartoon” with “a good dose of super-hero action.” The series continues with more adventures for Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis as they continue to try to prove themselves as superheroes while dealing with all the pitfalls of being teenagers.
Rounding out this branded block of original programming will be a number of shorts featuring DC Comics super heroes and characters as you have never seen them before. With fresh designs and concepts, fan favorites such as Plastic Man and Doom Patrol will finally take center stage next to the likes of Wonder Woman and Teen Titans. Bringing them to life will be the result of a collaboration with some of the top talents in the animation industry, which include award-winning Aardman Studios (Arthur Christmas, Wallace and Gromit) with its stop-motion clay animation techniques, and the unique direction and character designs of Lauren Faust (The Powerpuff Girls, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic). In addition to these shorts, DC Nation will also feature event programming, interstitials, exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at theatrical motion pictures and an insider look into the world of all things DC Comics
Each week, check out new shorts and live events featuring DC Comics super heroes as you’ve never seen them before.
Hundreds of heroes, thousands of villains, millions of fans all make up the DC Nation, home of the world’s greatest super heroes.”
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'DC Nation' Advance Trailer

This new preview includes footage of the  GREEN LANTERN: ANIMATED CG series, the new season of YOUNG JUSTICE,  and interesting glimpses of other projects, from silly and amusing stuff aimed at young children and more adult-targeted fare.

DC NATION is coming in 2012, as a new block of DC Entertainment programming on Cartoon Network.

'Beware the Batman' & DC Nation

Sam Register, executive vice president for creative affairs at Warner Brothers Animation, revealed at MIP Junior (Kids Entertainemt Conference) that the next Batman animated series will be titled BEWARE THE BATMAN. 
According World’s Finest,  the CGI animated series, set for 2013 will feature:

 “… A classic-looking Batman teaming up with a gun-toting Alfred Pennyworth and a female ninja sidekick.
 BEWARE THE BATMAN is executive-produced by Glen Murakami, and will explore the mythology’s more obscure villains, such as Professor Pyg, but also won’t shy away from featuring some of the more well-known Batman foes.
In the series, Batman will team up with a younger female sidekick named Katana. During the keynote, Register added that Katana will fill the sidekick role, but won’t be a replacement for Robin.”

Register also provided  more  details about the Cartoon Network DC NATION programming.  
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Aardman Animation (THE WRONG TROUSERS) will create new “claymation” Batman amf Plastic Man animated shorts.  
Wonder Girl, Batgirl, and Supergirl will team up in the girl appeal SUPER BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. 
THE DOOM PATROL will apear in  animated shorts.
Previously announced for 2012:
Another season of YOUNG JUSTICE and…  GREEN_LANTERN_ANIM

GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES  
Based upon the DC Comics super hero, the series is an all-new CG animated action series from Warner Bros.
As Earth’s Green Lantern, Hal Jordan is used to being in dangerous situations—but he’s never faced anything like this! Set at the farthest reaches of deep space, Hal must face down an invasion from the Red Lantern Corps. Hal is soon joined by an all-new group of heroes on a mission to protect Guardian Space —and the Green Lantern Corps itself!
 

I had never heard of “Professor Pyg” before — turns out he’s more an adversary of the recent  Dick Grayson/Batman Damien Wayne/Robin, rather than being one of the classic set of villains.

'Green Lantern: Animated'—Trailer

Here’s a look at Warner Brothers’ GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, a new Bruce Timm-produced series for Cartoon Network.
The CGI-aninmated show features the Hal Jordan incarnation of the hero, voice by Josh Keaton (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN), with Michael Clarke Duncan (DAREDEVIL) reprising his big-screen role of the voice of  Kilowog.
The show is expected to premiere this fall.

"Green Lantern: Animated' Poster

GL_AnimatedFrom TV GUIDE comes this advance poster for GREEN LANTERN: The Animated Series, which will air on The Cartoon Network in 2011.
The new Warner Brothers Animation show will be previewed at New York Comic Con this weekend — which is already sold-out for Saturday, when Bruce Timm (BATMAN:Animated), producer  Giancarlo Volpe (STAR WARS:CLONE WARS) and Jim Krieg (BEN 10) will hold the panel.

Free 'Kekkaishi' Download

KekkaishiVIZ Media has passed on an invite to fans to explore the demon-battling action adventure of the Shonen Sunday KEKKAISHI anime series with a FREE Download-to-Own (DTO) episode starting today through VIZ Media partners iTunes, Xbox Live’s Zune Marketplace, PlayStation®Network and Amazon Video on Demand.
KEKKAISHI Episode 1 will be available for free download through June 17th to celebrate the recent domestic broadcast launch of KEKKAISHI on Adult Swim.

“KEKKAISHI is based on the hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). A story of mystical forces powerful in the region known as Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi”—barrier masters—to guard this land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to it night after night.
Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy, which is built upon the Karasumori grounds. By night, Yoshimori follows the tradition passed down through generations and fulfills his destiny as the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori’s got other demons to contend with, like an obsession with cake making and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are caught up in a feud over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting ordinary people from the ever-present danger of the Karasumori grounds, Yoshimori will continue to grow stronger as he battles the forces of evil again tonight!”

For more information on the KEKKAISHI anime and manga series (both rated “T” for Teens), you can visit www.ShonenSunday.com or www.viz.com.

'Green Lantern' Beams to Cartoon Network

greenlantern_Filmation2The Hollywood Reporter says that The Cartoon Network is planning an animated Green Lantern series.
The article states that during a slide presentation for investors by Phil Kent (Chairman and CEO of Time Warner’s Turner Networks), a slide of Cartoon Network original programs included the title ‘GREEN LANTERN: The Animated Series’.
Later today, Warner Brothers CEO Barry Meyer indicated that this was a sign of their plans to increase coordination between Warners and the Turner cable entities.
Time Warner also recently formed DC Entertainment, to better exploit and promote the value of the comic book characters in other media.
The animated show is apparently planned for a 2013 launch, two years after Warner Bros. live-action GREEN LANTERN feature, currently in production and due in theaters June 17th, 2011.