DC animated cartoons question

[LifeFirst]

I'm sure everyone is a big fan of Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series.

And we know how insanely well-written and popular Justice League Unlimited was. So now we know that all three series are over, and have been over for a long time and really there's not much more to tell.

So, here's what I want to know. How come they don't just start the thing again, but except this time....FOLLOW THE COMICS!!

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.

Frankly, as good as the stories are in the animated universe....I just don't see them touching the comics when it comes down to being serious and mature, and most of all, adult.

[Hawkman]

I think you're going to get a lot of people responding to this thread with, "Why bother retelling stories that have already been told?" That would more or less be my argument as well, though I'll add that I think your proposal is precisely what the purpose of Warner Brothers' direct-to-DVD animated film division is for.

At MegaCon, DiDio said that he knows Warners is constantly looking at past and current storylines alike, mining the books for what could be their next successful animated film release. And personally, I'm perfectly content with that approach. I know in the case of the X-Men cartoon of the '90s, as much as I enjoyed it, I never felt compelled to watch the episodes, because in many instances I had already read the storyline, and the presentation was usually far more fleshed out in the books than in their animated counterpart.

[LifeFirst]

Well I thought in the X-Men animated series, the "Days of Future Past" animated version is much better than the comic version.


Anyways, I think they should do it simply because not a lot of people read comics. I mean, most people know Batman and Superman simply from the cartoons and movies, but that's it. It's really on a superficial level. So I think it would be cool if they did like 52 or Infinite Crisis animated.....that way it would actually bring more people to read the comics?? Or.....maybe drive them away completely :biggrin:

[Bruce Wayne Jr.]

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.


Me. There are plenty of other stories I'd rather see adapted first.

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

So, here's what I want to know. How come they don't just start the thing again, but except this time....FOLLOW THE COMICS!!

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.

Frankly, as good as the stories are in the animated universe....I just don't see them touching the comics when it comes down to being serious and mature, and most of all, adult.

...

Nah, too easy.

[Mat001]

The thing is that it is too time consuming doing exact adaptations, and restricts the animators and writers too much. That's why the DCAU only did loose adaptations of actual comic stories such as "The Demon's Quest", "A Bullet For Bullock", "The Laughing Fish" and "For The Man Who Has Everything". That's why you never see direct adaptations. Also, some of the content will never get past the censors. The DC Direct films will be the place to such adaptations.

[WorstThingUS]

I'm sure everyone is a big fan of Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series.

And we know how insanely well-written and popular Justice League Unlimited was. So now we know that all three series are over, and have been over for a long time and really there's not much more to tell.

So, here's what I want to know. How come they don't just start the thing again, but except this time....FOLLOW THE COMICS!!

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.



I don't for one. Aside from the fact you chose some pretty unremarkable stories ("Road To Ruin" seriously?), comics are not film. They are different mediums with different techniques and pacing and to try and duplicate one exactly to the other is ridiculous and Watchmen currently is proof of this folly and adaptations of things like "For The Man Who Has Everything" are successful examples of how it should have been done. Comic books are like regular books in that they are source material for films, not blueprints to be followed to the letter.

Besides, DC is currently adapting classic stories for direct-to-dvd films. At least they were. The Teen Titans "The Judas Contract" was cancelled and apparently the sales of "Superman Doomsday" and "The New Frontier" did nothing to change this decision. Now they're back to original stories like Wonder Woman (which is excellent) and the upcoming Green Lantern. I was also disappointed by "The New Frontier" (not to mention "Doomsday" another unremarkable story) and would rather my favorite stories not be made than made poorly. That doesn't entice new fans and makes the old ones wary of future purchases.

[Tabernac]

I actually really enjoyed The New Frontier as it was the book that got me really into comics after being a passive fan for years. Though as much as I like these new cartoons I like how the DCAU is at arms length from the comics since there are differences that I prefer in the cartoons that I don't want in the comics.

[DonC]

I'm sure everyone is a big fan of Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series.

And we know how insanely well-written and popular Justice League Unlimited was. So now we know that all three series are over, and have been over for a long time and really there's not much more to tell.

So, here's what I want to know. How come they don't just start the thing again, but except this time....FOLLOW THE COMICS!!

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.


If only the older series had adapted classic comics like "A Bullet for Bullock," "Mad Love," "The Laughing Fish" and "Superman's Race with the Flash." Then Warner Bros. could adapt stuff like The New Frontier and Superman/Doomsday with no problems.

[LifeFirst]

Well, "The Laughing Fish", "Bullet for Bullock" are more like standalone issues. I'm talking bigger stories that involve other characters and can be made into a 90 minute animated film ...and they haven't really done that yet.

[DonC]

How many people in this thread have mentioned New Frontier and Superman/Doomsday?

[Jared]

Superman/Doomsday wasn't so much an adaptation of the Death of Superman story as it was just take off on the same basic premise. I liked it, and hope they make a sequel, or at least another story in same world with the same voice cast.

The Dark Knight Returns was written and even drawn with a cinematic style that could translate well to film. It can't and won't be done in live-action any time in the forseeable future, but as an animated movie it could rock. Batman always sells, and this is the most famous and popular comic ever made about him. DC is sitting on a gold mine here.

[kalorama]

...

Nah, too easy.


Don't ever let that stop you.

[kalorama]

Who here doesn't want to see "Hush", or "Face the Face" animated?? Or "Day of Vengeance" or "The Road to Ruin" animated, exactly frame by frame.

[*raises hand*] Over here!