ANIMATED SHORTS 291: AVATAR CONTINUES TO SURPRISE

[MattBrady]

AVATAR CONTINUES TO SURPRISE
Krypto Returns, Anime Channel Grows, Pokemon Moves & More

by Steve Fritz

If there’s any show that continues to surprise and please, it’s Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Launched last year, and now deep into its second season, about the only complaint fans have is new episodes have lately been few and far between. Otherwise this creation of rising stars Michael Dante DeMartino and Bryan Konietzko continues to grow in popularity.

Lately, Nickelodeon has established a policy wherein the middle of each month they debut two new episodes of the series as a sort of mini-movie. As far as I’m concerned, the fans do have a right to gripe about this being a bit too infrequent. I also will say that when Nick does air some new stuff, the griping tends to go down.

Well, the next two-chapter installment is subtitled: “The Secret of the Fire Nation.” It will air on Friday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m. with repeats on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. I have to admit I was totally blown away. It’s some of the best work DeMartino and Konietzko has done.

For those who haven’t seen the last two-part release, Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) was hit hard when his beloved flying bison, Apa, was stolen and then sold. He and his posse are now headed to the Earth nation capital of Ba Sing Se to reclaim the beast. Fallen Fire Prince Zuko (Dante Basko) and his Uncle Iroh (the late Mako) continue their personal quest for revenge and/or redemption, and also decide to go to the city. At the same time, Zuko’s sister, the very evil Princess Azula, has hatched a scheme to take Ba Sing Se down.

What’s important about this particular arc is it looks like a number of threads are starting to tie into each other. As many fans know, Ba Sing Se is the location where Iroh, when he was a Fire General, suffered his greatest defeat. Also marking their returns are Jet and his “freedom fighters” and one particularly interesting character from Sokka’s (Jack De Sena) past.

Interestingly enough, it’s Sokka who is the character going through the biggest evolution here. DeMartino and Konietzko have been slowly turning him from the clown of the main trio of Aang, himself and his water-bending sister Katara (Mae Whitman) into a tougher, smarter warrior who can actually come up with strategies that work. Another thing is he’s actually turning into a stud among the younger females in the team, including last member Toph (Jessie Flower). He also manages to stick his foot in his mouth as often as win a girl’s heart, but it’s a nice add-on. Also, he’s still quite capable of a pratfall or ticking off one of his colleagues at any given moment. Still, the growth is adding a nice dimension to the series that is truly appreciated. As it turns out, this is primarily due to DiMartino.

The animation, as usual, is spectacular. As it turns out, Nickelodeon is now boasting that it spends about $1 million per episode, and one can see the money on the screen. The man who must take full credit on this one is Konietzko. He’s created an interesting hybrid that combines American personality animation with ancient Chinese motifs and made it work.

As for the future of the series, inside sources at Nickelodeon assured me that Avatar will start going back to its more regular Friday night, 8:00 p.m. schedule in the very near future. There will be times when the show is pre-empted because of other specials, but it did sound like this once-a-month fix is nearing the end of its reign. About time if you asked me.

Because it seems Nickelodeon is truly pleased with the results it’s getting, not only has the network given the series a greenlight for a third season of an additional 20 episodes, but is also talking to the creators about a fourth and maybe more. According to www.TV.com. if that does happen, the war with the Fire nation will be over and a new arc will begin.

We’ll have to sit back for more on that. One of the sources also told me they are finally getting ready to start airing Skyland on Nicktoons in the near future, too. That’s been overdue for nearly a year.

In the meantime, plant yourself down on Friday for this latest two-episode spectacular. Believe me when I say it’s worth your time.

WONDER PETS RETURN FOR FOUR NEW EPISODES

While I’m on the subject of all things Nick, the kneebiters will have a treat next week when the Nick Jr. channel debuts four new episodes of the Wonder Pets! series. It will then be capped off with a marathon.

Yes, I realize this operatic cuddly critters are the stuff that make parents hit a Costco for cotton balls, but it’s turned into one of the top three preschool shows currently on air. Personally, I think it spanks the hell out of the Teletubbies any day.

The first new mini-operetta for preschoolers rolls out Monday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. and new episodes will continue until Thursday, September 14. The marathon will be on Friday, September 15 from 10:30am – 12:30pm.

As additional warning, here are the log lines of the four new episodes:

Monday – “Save the Camel/Save the Ants” - The Wonder Pets fly to Egypt to help a thirsty baby camel get home to his oasis. They also race to a picnic site to prevent a fight between two armies of ants who are preparing to battle over some fruit.

Tuesday - “Save the Hedgehog/Save the Crocodile” - The Wonder Pets travel to England to rescue a baby hedgehog trapped inside the mouth of a large topiary lion. Then they visit a Nile crocodile with a toothache and introduce her to an Egyptian plover who is more than happy to become her personal dentist.

Wednesday – “Save the Bullfrog/Save the Poodle” - The Wonder Pets head to the Louisiana Bayou to help an elderly bullfrog who's having trouble moving, by making him a set of wheels. Then it’s off to Paris to help a poodle stuck on top of the Eiffel Tower.

Thursday – “Save the Sheep/Save the Hermit Crab” – It’s off to Switzerland to save a herd of sheep who are about to wander off of a cliff. Then in Cancun, the Wonder Pets help a hermit crab who has outgrown his shell.

Any animators who manage to churn out all these mini-operettas for kids earns my respect.

KRYPTO FLIES TO KIDS WB

A few months back, it was reported that Alan Burnett’s latest series, Krypto The Superdog, was on the verge of being pounded by Cartoon Network. Well folks, it appears the series has a new master. Starting on September 23, the series moves to the Kids WB, where it will now air at 7:00 a.m. every Saturday for some time to come. Interestingly enough, it will get two episodes every Saturday.

September 23 also marks the start of the tenth season of KWB. So if repeats of the Super Dog aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, there might be other offerings of interest. Here’s what the schedule will look like, at least for the first two weekends:

Effective Saturday, 9/23/06:
7:00 a.m. Krypto the Superdog – Repeats from CN Series 7:30 Krypto the Superdog - “ “ “ “ “
8:00 Monster Allergy – New Series
8:30 Tom and Jerry Tales – New Series
9:00 Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! – New Series
9:30 Johnny Test – New Season
10:00 Legion of Super Heroes – New Series
10:30 The Batman – New Season
11:00 Xiaolin Showdown - Repeats
11:30 Loonatics Unleashed – New Season


POKEMON MOVES TO CN

I can see it now, the PTB’s from the KWB on one side, and their counterparts at Cartoon Network on the other. The exec on the left hands the exec to the right the leash to the Super Dog. In return, the guy on the right hands over the big electric rat. In other words, while Krypto is making the move to the WB, Cartoon Network will start airing all-new episodes of Pokemon next Monday. If that isn’t enough, CN will also be doing a Pokemon limited series, entitled Mystery Dungeon, as part of its Fridays block.

The ninth season of Pokemon is subtitled “Battle Frontier.” It will air exclusively on Cartoon Network, part of Cartoon Network's Saturday morning line-up of comedic and action-adventure programming. The new season kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. (ET, PT) with a special one-hour episode. The series then airs regularly on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

Pokémon: Battle Frontier takes Ash and Pikachu back to the Kanto region to complete the Battle Frontier. He must face seven ultimate tests challenges as a Pokémon Trainer. Ash's friend May must also seeks to win Kanto's Pokémon Contests and become a top Pokémon Coordinator. Together, these two Trainers and their friends will recruit more Pokémon, battle powerful opponents and make new friends.

As for Mystery Dungeon, this series goes in an entirely new direction. It starts with a young boy being turned into a Pokemon himself. Now a Squirtle, he joins a Chikorita and a Charmander as part of a new rescue team. The big thing is in this series the little critters actually talk to each other, using the English language no less.

It will air this Friday, September 8, at 8:00 p.m.

Say what you will, while this series doesn’t quite have the incredible madness that was once attached to it, the fact the series has made it to its ninth season and has spawned two spin-offs (the other being Pokemon: Chronicles) is newsworthy.

ADULT SWIM LAUNCHES TWO NEW ANIMES THIS WEEKEND

The days of tons of repeats are rapidly coming to a close on Adult Swim. Starting this Saturday, the mature animation block debuts two highly anticipated anime series, Trinity Blood and Bleach

Here’s the lowdown:

Trinity Blood:

Set in the indefinite future, the basic premise is the world has been at war for an equally indefinite time. On one side is humanity, which is now led by The Vatican and a puppet pope named Allesandro XVIII. On the other side are vampires.

The big point is both sides are finally getting tired of the non-stop battling, but neither knows how to resolve it. Things are about to get heated. A group of vampiric fanatics calling themselves the Rosenkreuz Orden, is out to wipe out humanity through dirty tricks and outright treachery.

Standing in the Orden’s way is an order of priests called AX, led by Cardinal Caterina. One of their best fighters is named Abel Nightroad, a reformed vampire who tries to be a pacifist. As this is anime, you know how that goes.

Based on a series of novels by the late Yoshida Sunao, this series has garnered a strong following in Japan and among local otakus. It earned its Adult Swim status both for its high quality animation and its penchant for violence and horror. The first episode will air, appropriately, at Midnight. The DVDs will be distributed by FUNimation.

Bleach:

Actually this horror series is the second most popular anime in Japan, behind Naruto.

The series tells the tale of Kurosaki Ichigo who can see ghosts. His life is changed when he meets Kuchiki Rukia. She is a Sinigami or Death God, who is charged with sending lost souls to the afterlife. Whilst saving Ichigo from the attack of a malevolent ghost known as a Hollow, Rukia sustained serious injuries. Unable to finish the battle, she offers to share her powers, and responsibilities, with Ichigo.

With DVDs being distributed by Viz, the series takes an old idea, heavenly creature co-existing in a human’s body, and adds elements of violence, sex and other more mature themes to come up with a mix the otakus can’t get enough of. Bleach is rapidly turning into a marketer’s wet dream with all manner of licensed products hitting the market.

It will start airing right after Trinity Blood at 12:30 a.m.

Expect a lot more Adult Swim news in next week’s column. In the meantime, if you want an advance peak at these and other AS programs, check out their new Fix service at www.adultswim.com.

ANIME NETWORK DISTRIBUTION SOARS TO 40 MILLION

Anime Network has reached a new distribution milestone. It is now available to 40 million homes across the United States and Canada…a 233% increase and more than three times its reach in less than two years.

“We are obviously pleased to have made such significant progress,” said Kevin McFeeley, Anime Network’s Vice President of Affiliate Sales. “Yet, we are even more encouraged by the possibilities for even further growth as we seek out new and exciting platforms on which to deliver content to our fans.”

Anime Network is available on a variety of platforms—24/7 “linear” channel, video-on-demand (VOD), subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD), pay-per-view (PPV) and transactional for both cable and satellite subscribers. In particular, the Network’s recent deals with Wide Open West and Harron Communications (linear) and Service Electric Cablevision and Knology (SVOD) provided the reach that took its total distribution over the 40 million mark.

Launched in late 2002 as a free VOD service on Comcast, Anime Network bears the distinction of being the first network in North America to successfully transition from a VOD-only offering to a 24/7 linear service. As of September 13, 2006, its lineup of programming will be viewable as a 24/7 linear channel through 17 different service providers, and as a VOD service through 22 service providers. Anime Network has quickly become the largest VOD offering and one of the most popular SVOD services available today, with over 95% penetration to all VOD-enabled households.

[NightRiver]

Avatar is awesome! Cant wait to pick up the Season 1 dvd coming out on the 19th. Wow! 1million $ an episode, thats crazy!

[Jake's Dad]

My three year old son loves the Wonder Pets but there did seem to be only a limited number of episodes. Good news for the toddler set.

First post apparently, too.--(Or not, actually)

[Steve J.]

I watch Avatar with my 8-year-old son. We both think it's great!

[scottmhallett]

I caught this show on a business trip in the US when it first started. Anyone know any affiliates in Canada that carry it? It rocks from what I saw!

[O.J. Flow]

I saw some promos for Avatar at Burger King for the first time a couple weeks ago, and the first thing I thought was Red Tornado, what with that arrow on his bald head.
And "Airbender"??
That sealed it.

[Spaz_Monkey]

Avatar has done nothing but impress me from the beginning. The characters, even the incidental ones, get full treatments, and never feel as if they're just thrown in to appease a certain demographic. The art and story lines have been consistently wonderful, showing the care and affection the creators have for the show.

And Steve - as for Sokka's maturing, it's not just him. Oh sure, his character may have undergone the most evolution, but all of the main characters, including Zuko and Uncle, have undergone progressive changes. Zuko's dishonor to his own family, Uncle taking him under his wing as they live in exile. Ang's growth as the Avatar. Katara gaining confidence as a water bender and warrior. The slow, yet understandable, developing relationship between Ang and Katara.

Avatar is the best sequential American cartoon in many many years, and it makes me happy as hell to see that we're going to be getting it for at least two more years.

[DynamiteKid]

YTV shows Avatar on Saturday afternoons, Scott.

I gotta agree with Spaz_Monkey.

[creatorman]

This is one of the best animated shows on TV. The episodes are consistently well written, with storytelling at its finest. Very impressive overall. It would be great to see this as a series of live action event films.

[iyamwhatiyam]

Originally Posted by Spaz_Monkey

Avatar is the best sequential American cartoon in many many years, and it makes me happy as hell to see that we're going to be getting it for at least two more years.

Mmm...second best after Venture Bros., but definitely still great.

[StevieDisme]

Originally Posted by creatorman

This is one of the best animated shows on TV. The episodes are consistently well written, with stortelling at its finest. Very impressive overall. It would be great to see this as a series of live action event films.

i would love to see this as a live action film series, but who would direct? of course since i loved "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" my first thought would be ang lee. any other suggestions?

and this show just gets better and better. i even got my 8 yr old & 10 yr old nephews & 5 yr old niece hoooked on it.

[Livewire2nd]

Avatar is great. Also I hope the English dubs of trinity Blood and Bleach are messed up, those are awesome shows.

[tiso_spencer]

Avatar is amazing. Nothing else can be said about it. You have to see it. I'm going to laugh at the low ratings Pokemon Battle Frontier gets. Good luck with that Cartoon Network. Also what is KidsWB? Last I remember WB doesn't exist anymore so where exactly is KidsWB going to be at? Some block on the CW morning or on My Network? Anime now sucks. It's so full of itself these days. It's bad enough we got DBZ with ninjas for the near distant future in USA, but we got the new Yu Yu Hakusho in the form of Bleach. And Trinity Blood:

Standing in the Orden’s way is an order of priests called AX, led by Cardinal Caterina. One of their best fighters is named Abel Nightroad, a reformed vampire who tries to be a pacifist. As this is anime, you know how that goes.


The last sentence is exactly what I'm talking about. Anime these days is so boring. "Oh I'm a reformed vampire, but once in a while I have my slip outs." What does this remind of.........

[skaly]

I don't recall there being much sex in Bleach, unless you're counting a couple characters with obscene proportions. Lots of blood, though.

[ticknart]

I had no idea that Mako died. Does this mean we'll be losing Uncle Iroh in the series?

Iroh has been my favorite character in the series since I first heard him sing on Zuko's boat in the first season. I'd be sad to see him go, but Mako would be hard to replace and I know that eventually Zuko will have to be on his own, unless he can finally start working with Ang instead of against him, and I suppose having his uncle die at the hands of Princess Azula could help move Zuko in a positive direction.

[Bearpod91]

Avatar rules. But it's starting to act more like Civil War...delays...

[LunarDaydreamer]

Once again another immauclate column by Steve which is not only wonderfully written with genuine passion and enthusiasm, but has turned me on to a show I hadn't heard of.

Avatar sounds fantastic and that Season One boxed set is so mine when it's released.

Thanks once again Steve for your hard work and efforts. By far the best thing on Newsarama.

^_^

[Wellness]

Avatar has always had monsterus delays.

[Heffaloo]

Originally Posted by NightRiver

Avatar is awesome! Cant wait to pick up the Season 1 dvd coming out on the 19th. Wow! 1million $ an episode, thats crazy!

As someone who has purchased the individual disc releases, this pisses me off. They should have released them as a set to begin with. That's the same way they screwed the people who bought Teen Titans.

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by ticknart

I had no idea that Mako died. Does this mean we'll be losing Uncle Iroh in the series?

Iroh has been my favorite character in the series since I first heard him sing on Zuko's boat in the first season. I'd be sad to see him go, but Mako would be hard to replace and I know that eventually Zuko will have to be on his own, unless he can finally start working with Ang instead of against him, and I suppose having his uncle die at the hands of Princess Azula could help move Zuko in a positive direction.

Sadly, Mako died on July 21 this year of esophagal cancer. A neighbor of mine suffers from it and it's a truly brutal way to go.

On a more positive front, according to the IMDB he's credited with at least two more episodes.

As for me, my favorite VOA performance is still his work as Aku in Samurai Jack. It sounded like he was having an incredible time with that absolutely bombastic avatar of evil.

-s

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by Spaz_Monkey

Avatar has done nothing but impress me from the beginning. The characters, even the incidental ones, get full treatments, and never feel as if they're just thrown in to appease a certain demographic. The art and story lines have been consistently wonderful, showing the care and affection the creators have for the show.

And Steve - as for Sokka's maturing, it's not just him. Oh sure, his character may have undergone the most evolution, but all of the main characters, including Zuko and Uncle, have undergone progressive changes. Zuko's dishonor to his own family, Uncle taking him under his wing as they live in exile. Ang's growth as the Avatar. Katara gaining confidence as a water bender and warrior. The slow, yet understandable, developing relationship between Ang and Katara.

Avatar is the best sequential American cartoon in many many years, and it makes me happy as hell to see that we're going to be getting it for at least two more years.

I'm not saying any of the other characters aren't growing and maturing, but for this two-part arc, the one getting the big boost is Sokka (with Aang and Zuko getting second and third). I won't give this one away, but an interesting character from the kids' past will make an important contribution to the first half of Secret...and this character and Sokka have some interesting history in their own right.

Anyway, this is some of the best Avatar I've seen yet. If the show keeps up at this pace, it's a guaranteed animation classic. -s

[Yami Ash]

Originally Posted by sfritz

I'm not saying any of the other characters aren't growing and maturing, but for this two-part arc, the one getting the big boost is Sokka (with Aang and Zuko getting second and third). I won't give this one away, but an interesting character from the kids' past will make an important contribution to the first half of Secret...and this character and Sokka have some interesting history in their own right.

Anyway, this is some of the best Avatar I've seen yet. If the show keeps up at this pace, it's a guaranteed animation classic. -s

I saw the preview at San Diego, so I know exactly which character you're talking about. Quite frankly, I've feared for said character's safety since the [spoil]Avatar Day[/spoil] episode.

[Yami Ash]

Originally Posted by Heffaloo

As someone who has purchased the individual disc releases, this pisses me off. They should have released them as a set to begin with. That's the same way they screwed the people who bought Teen Titans.

The individual releases were to decide if the show was healthy enough for the season set, much like the Teen Titans ones. They aren't screwing the people who bought the individual discs. If they were foregoing the last two discs, then they would be screwing the fans.

[vbartilucci]

Can we have some love for Krypto please? This is a charming little show, and Paul Dini's last work in the anumated DCU. The Space Canine Patrol is in it, as is Ace the Bat-Hound, and we see the animal sidekicks of all the villains, like Bud and Lou, the Joker's Hyenas. WELL worth a look.

[sfritz]

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Can we have some love for Krypto please? This is a charming little show, and Paul Dini's last work in the anumated DCU. The Space Canine Patrol is in it, as is Ace the Bat-Hound, and we see the animal sidekicks of all the villains, like Bud and Lou, the Joker's Hyenas. WELL worth a look.

Quite frankly, I think Krypto is a GREAT show for kids. It's both entertaining and has the proper element of ethics mixed in, and Burnett did a wonderful job of animating it in a kid-friendly way, also.

I hope Krypto does well at its new home. I mean, I'm apartment hunting as it stands. So I kind of sympathize . - s