Ben 10: Omniverse…

I really enjoy the Ben 10 ‘Verse, the stories were always very good, the aliens were cool, and varied and it was just good to see Ben, Gwen, and Kevin grow up, even become rounded teenagers who loved to battle the bad guys. I really loved the Anodites!

One of the things that has been great is that Cartoon Network has been expanding upon this universe, by continuing the series in a forward direction. And though I can’t wait to see this new series, I have a few issues…

ACK! The animation! I’m not sure that will grow on me. The style of the last two series, Ben 10: Alien Force, and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien was nice and crisp, also they seemed to take place style wise within the same universe as the original Ben 10 series. This animation style I find a bit jarring, and flat. I don’t like the way ten-year old Ben looks. He seems malformed to me, and I was not very keen about how Gwen looks either. Oddly Granpa Max does not seem to have been redesigned all that much, at least not in a jarring manner like the other characters.

Watch this video and judge for yourself…

 

 

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Voltron Force

Voltron Force: The Black Lion

Like many of my generation, I grew up with those imported, and cobbled together Japanese anime series, such as Robotech, and Voltron – I liked the Lion Series far better than the other robot made from vehicles.

I know I’m a little late on this, but I’ve only just gotten the chance to watch Voltron Force, which airs on Nicktoons.  There are some things I like about it: The lions have more curves, as does Voltron himself, he’s no longer blocky when the team forms Voltron. In fact the overall designs of this show are good.

But one thing which bugs me, sometimes the humans look flat, and not to choose an ironic word, ‘cartoon-y’ , the stories are good, but I wish the animation of the people didn’t make me think of kids TV (even though I know it is…) the old show could be filled with choppy animation at times, yet its slightly darker color palette added a bit of depth, which I think would provide a far less kiddy feel to this series, which in general is pretty good.

Queen Allura

One of the things which is good about this series is that they’re advancing the plot, that is, the whole thing is about passing the torch onto a new generation to command Voltron. Allura even becomes a full-time queen of Arus to let her niece pilot the blue lion. Though I do wish Allura and Keith Kogane would confess their love for one another already! That would truly alter the scheme of the whole Voltron ‘verse by having them marry.

 

 

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Luc Besson To Adapt ‘Valerian’

 

Luc Besson will write, and direct an adaption of the French comic book ‘Valerian’.

I can wait! I really, really loved The 5th Element, and Luc Besson‘s slightly crazy science fiction vision will go well with Valerian.

As some of you may know, I was introduced to the characters of Valerian and Laurelin thanks to Hulu, where you can see a French animated adaption under the title Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline. I like it, because it had both a familiar feeling which hearkened to classic pulp-ish Sci-Fi, while also being slightly out there. And I’ll honestly admit, I myself have been influenced by it in my own storytelling.

 

And as some of you may know: I love time travel!

 

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Siegfried trailer (Alex Alice)

This is French, based on Wagner’s Ring Cycle, it’s a graphic novel by Alex Alice, though it deserves to be a full film. Odin looks… menacing. But, its pretty awesome. French animation is really all kinds of cool.

One of the greatest pieces of animation I have laid eyes on.

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Tron: Uprising

I really, really can’t wait for Tron: Uprising! I enjoyed Tron: Legacy, the more sophisticated special effects, and depiction of the grid were pretty awesome.

Here’s John Sheridan… Tron… err… Bruce Boxleitner introducing an extended look at Tron: Uprising which will premier on Disney XD on May 18, 2012.

Official synopsis:

Tron: Uprising introduces Beck, a young mechanic living in Argon City, a growing metropolis in a far off corner of the grid that has just been occupied by General Tesler, a henchman of the notorious Clu. After his best friend Bodhi is ruthlessly derezzed by Clu’s army, Beck seeks justice for his lost friend and launches a crusade against the regime. His rebellion captures the attention of Tron, the greatest warrior The Grid has ever known, who sees the potential in Beck and trains him to be his successor. Labeled with the moniker of The Renegade, Beck sparks a revolution to fight for the freedom of The Grid.

I love the animation style, and feel of the computer world. The sense  of it is menacing with those red guards, and their leader Tesler.

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Time Jam: Valerian And Laureline

Everyone should watch this anime! Its one of the greatest series I’ve ever seen. If by chance you notice familiar elements from other Science Fiction, it is my understanding that the French comic book which this series is based upon, had a huge impact upon the genre.

A bit of pulp, with a feisty heroine, and roguish hero! All the women are easy on the eyes, Laureline is cute as a button, and intelligent as well.

You can watch all 40 installments on Hulu. I do hope there is a season 2! Let me warn you, that “I love you”… err, actually you just kind of need to watch it for yourself.

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