Here’s a good example of a comic book company doing what they can to promote their brand. For years, the Cartoon Network has aired a number of DC-centric cartoons; Justice League, Teen Titans, Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ben10 and so on. Now it looks like the two are going a step further by creating an infotainment program centered around DC/Warner Bros. products.
DC Nation: A multi-platform, branded block of original programming and exclusive content based on the DC Comics library of legendary character properties, DC Nation is developed in partnership with Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. The all-new venture will harness the publishing, theatrical and television assets together for one powerful on-air block on Cartoon Network with exclusive online content.
It’s about time is all I can say. And with the push by Disney to include more boy-centric programming on Disney XD, expect a similar reaction from Marvel within the next year.
In addition, The Cartoon Network announced The Looney Tunes Show, a new Ben 10 series, Thundercats, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, How to Train Your Dragon, and an ongoing animated series based on the recent Lego Ninjago feature.
ThunderCats: The re-imagined animated series based on the beloved 80s classic tells the tale of a hero’s epic journey to fulfill his ultimate destiny. On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being threatened by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra and young heir to the throne Lion-O embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The unlikely champion, joined by his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat and his loyal pet Snarf, must work together to save their world from darkness.
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!
How to Train Your Dragon: Based on the book by Cressida Cowell, DreamWorks Animation’s new series rolls fire-breathing action, epic adventure and laughs into a captivating and original story. Hiccup is a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends one of his deadliest foes—a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. Together, the unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both of their worlds.
11 Comments
Two things:
1. Isn’t this basically what “Batman: The Brave & The Bold” already was? Does this mean the best show CN has had in years is over?
2. Am I the only one who finds the use of clip-art from the comics in lieu of an actual design concept (heck, even just art from the same single artist) a little off-putting?
I’ve had a lot of complaints about CN lately and it seems like they’re shafting the two shows I like (BTBTB and Symbionic Titan) and pushing crap (like the unpleasant Young Justice and – ugh – Generator Rex) in their place. This needs to be half as awesome as BTBTB and way less “thirty minutes with superpowered jerks” as YJ for it to work for me. If they’re priding themselves on being “the network for boys”, we’re gonna have a generation with very low standards.
Am I the only one who finds the use of clip-art from the comics in lieu of an actual design concept (heck, even just art from the same single artist) a little off-putting?
You are not. It looks slipshod and rushed, and that’s from someone who uses photoshop to cover his lack of an actual design concept every single day. :)
its images from the comics [i]not images of a new show[/i]… why would they draw them all the same its supposed to convey a union between the COMICS and CN.
its images from the comics [i]not images of a new show[/i]… why would they draw them all the same its supposed to convey a union between the COMICS and CN.
To make the presentation look professional, for one. To provide unity, for another. And most of all, to avoid the implication that somebody slapped the whole thing together in half an hour before the announcement. While I appreciate that you’re on-board for this, you may want to refrain from slamming those who disagree with you on the basis that they disagree with you… Regardless of correctness, it doesn’t do your argument any favors.
Even if it is a block, as dumb!Matthew keeps insisting, advertising your block like this screams “We don’t care”. Glad to see someone has enough basic sense to see that.
@ mela
nitpick much?
1) no, batman brave and the bold is a show. i think what they are saying is they are going to have a block of programming with existing shows (including brave and the bold) set in DCU and new shows set in the DCU. maybe some of the older shows, and the animated movies. with bumps between shows and during commercial breaks with DCU related themes and info. also online.
2) yes. they are showcasing art from the comics.. by the comic artists…. they each draw in their own way and there are more than one of them… i think its great, and might bring some of those kids that like the shows into the world of comic books if they arent already. but thats just one promo image, how can we base a judgement on that image alone?
you left star wars clone wars off your list of CN shows.. tsk tsk. -500 internets.
as a die hard DC fan this sounds great. anything that can promote the book sales and introduce people to the badassery that is DCU. a green lantern show!? fantastic..
im actually starting to think you didnt even read the article.. just saw the art and “dc nation” and assumed it was a new show.
Star Wars Clone Wars is not a WB or DC venture. It is a LucasFilm production… -10,000 internets to you sir.
;)
“@ mela
nitpick much?”
No. If you’re going to announce something, at your Upfront no less, and you’re using a presentation that a bored kid with warez Photoshop could use, you don’t care. I don’t see it as “synergy with the comics”; like Matthew said, it’s just lazy. If they wanted synergy, they’d at least get one of their exclusives to do a proper logo so it looks consistent. It just shows that their main priority with the series is “move toys”, not “tell good stories”. Brave & the Bold did both well, but for some reason, they’re burying it.
Oh, by the way, an insider with CN just said that they’re burning through the last few episodes of Symbionic Titan and ending it because it didn’t move enough toys. Shows exactly where their ultimate motivation lies & how much they value creativity. And I refuse to watch any cartoon, even Star Wars, that’s in plasticky CGI. So I guess I “fail the internet” by having taste.
Lately, MS is getting as douchey as Newsarama – grammarless morons like you and the XBox Live crew mauling someone who dared to say Nintendo is *gasp* a good company. It’s really disappointing, since the owners led me to believe this was a comics & pop culture site that actually valued intelligence. Shame the users are making a lie of that.
As long as Adventure Time is still around then it’s all good.
Lately, I haven’t been watching much on Cartoon Network, their “original programing” has gone down the tubes. Adult Swim has gone to the dogs. There’s more live action shows now, that I don’t care for, and the movies most are live action. Usually any cartoon that’s good doesn’t last too long either. Hope Thundercats fills some of that void. Looks like they’re going the same way as Nick……