Monday, July 25, 2011

SDCC - Green Lantern cartoon first look



So we've finally been able to have a look at the upcoming Green Lantern: The Animated Series!
It's been quite some time since last DC showed anything related to this upcoming show for 2012 (they even changed the logo since last time).

What is it about, how will it look like, what's the pitch and more!
First up, here's Warner Bros official PR statement:


"Based upon the DC Comics super hero, Green Lantern: The Animated Series is an all-new CG animated action series from Warner Bros Animation and overseen by world-renowned producer, artist and animator Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Teen Titans, Batman Beyond, DC Universe Original Animated Movies).

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, Green Lantern: The Animated Series finds Hal on the Guardian Frontier, where he must face down an invasion from by the Red Lantern Corps. Powered by pure rage, the evil Red Lanterns have sworn to destroy the Green Lantern Corps and everything they stand for. Dispatched with his friend and former drill sergeant — the gruff, hulking alien Kilowog — on the experimental spacecraft The Interceptor, Hal is soon joined by an all-new group of heroes on a mission to protect Guardian Space — and the Green Lantern Corps itself!"

Alright!
Sounds already better than the live action movie!

Red Lanterns from the go, sounds like Geoff Johns' in charge here :P

Here's the official trailer, finally!



Now, the series's animated in CGi rather than drawn.
It kinda bugs me. I mean with the Star Wars: Clone Wars art style and Lucas budget behind, it works great.
But Warner Bros animation doesn't have that much experience (besides the occasional CGi vehicles here and there on most of their cartoons)
It's using Bruce Timm art style, which is neat...but I dunno...it sort of lacks life (specifically in the backgrounds)
'Reminds me a bit of those old PS1 CGi cut scenes...

Wouldn't you have preferred a traditional Green Lantern cartoon looking like this instead:



Yeah, I know, Hal Jordan never was the main Green Lantern in Bruce Timm cartoons (and so they used Kyle Rayner in Superman and John Stewart on the JLU).
These are actually recent books for kids. One of the artists from the cartoons made these pictures using the Timm-verse art style. (and adapting for the first time in this design Arisia and a Blue Lantern!)
But it gives a good look at what a 2D animated GL series could have looked like.

I much rather prefer this style for 2D figures than blocky CGi models...
IMO!