Animated Hellboy at last!

[Tad]

I thought I'd share this with you guys. It's been a long time coming:

Ex-Disney Animator Goes to Hell - Boy!

Billings, MO - FantasyMax Cable Channel has named former Disney animation producer, Tad Stones, to take the reins of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HELLBOY: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Hellboy, the comic book creation of Mike Mignola was the basis of a movie by noted horror director, Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro is currently finishing a script for a proposed sequel.

Barry Tamerind of FantasyMax is excited about the inclusion of Tad Stones and Hellboy in the FantasyMax family, "We think Mike Mignola has created wonderful source material for an animated series which will now grow in new directions for a brand new audience." The series will combine elements of the comic and the motion picture and include brand new characters, " Hellboy will continue to work with the BPRD but there will be less emphasis on romance. The focus of the adventures will be the monsters, Hellboy in action with the team and his solo adventures with Helldog."

Tad Stones is enthusiastic about the possibilities for interesting stories, "Mike Mignola has woven terrific stories from a combination of world folklore and cheezy pulp fiction. " That mix will be extended into a more contemporary vein drawing on urban legends, inner city conflicts and the supernatural underpinnings of rock music. "Yes, in our universe the Devil really is backward masking messages in heavy metal music."

Mignola will not be involved in the production. "Mike has always encouraged artists to put their stamp on his characters and the movie kept him away from creating comics for too long. He's decided to sit this one out." says Stones. Barry Tamerind says not having the creator involved will speed production and increase merchandising opportunities, "We respect the protective feelings a creator has for his character. Too often, those feelings get in the way of kicking a property into high gear and maximizing potential. The new members of the BPRD will have more edge than their comic counterparts, more color and more punch in the marketplace."

Stones was cool to changes at first, " I've been pitching a Hellboy animated series since 1996, always staying faithful to the comic. But the concept art for the new toy lines is really impressive and the 'Extreme BPRD' vehicles are a kick. Seeing that, and knowing that Mike wanted the series to stand apart from the comic, brought me on board with FantasyMax."

The New Adventures of Hellboy: the Animated Series is set to debut in September of 2006 on FantasyMax Cable. The FantasyMax Cable Channel began operations in Montana in 2000. It currently services Montana, Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota.

[hellboyone]

Tad: I love you. :) Yay! None more perfect.

R.

[E. Spears]

dude, sweet.

sweetsweet.

That's awesome news Tad. WOOWOWW!

Wish I had FantasyMax, though :(.

-ers

[Gene Poonyo]

Hey Wizened Goblin,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Way to go, Mr. Tad Stones!

[morna]

Hmmmm.... isn't today April 1 st??? ;)



this post brought to you from morna AND Gary

[Mikolaj]

Am i happy about it? Hmmm... I guess I am- but we shall se how it turns up... Helldog?? Not sure about it...

p.s.
If it's another one of these ghrmmm mrrrr wrrrrrgh april fools day jokes then I'll ghrmmm mrrrr wrrrrrgh!! ;)

[Ken O]

First, I love the post. Now the important part:

Tad, I now demand a picture of Animated Hellboy, the Helldog, and E.B.P.R.D (Extreme! Buerau of Parnormal Research and Defense). It's your joke buddy, back it up with some pretty pictures!



Please?

[Tad]

Part of the coordinated PR roll out:


Billings, MO - FantasyMax Cable Channel has announced THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HELLBOY: THE ANIMATED SERIES based on the Mike Mignola comic book published by Dark Horse Comics. Twenty six episodes have been ordered for a Fall 2006 premiere. The series will incorporate toy designs from ButteToys Co. a toy manufacture based in Montana.

The toyline and series will feature "The Extreme BPRD," a line of Paranormal Powered"urban assault vehicles. The toyline also features a more colorful, edgier take on characters from the comic book series. New characters include Warren Lupine, an Oxford educated werewolf, Bones Delgado, a Central American mummy and Francine Racine, a Voodoo Priestess with Tai Chi Action Grip.

The FantasyMax Cable Channel began operations in Montana in 2000. It currently services Montana, Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota. ButteToys Co. distributes merchandise throughout the American Northwest with the exception of Washington and Oregon.

[morna]

T-wyrm you NAILED it. C'mon Tad let's see some concept art.

[E. Spears]

damnit. I always fall for april fools jokes.

but yeah, I want to see pictures anyway.

-ers

[Maija]

Okay Tad, you tease, you have to give us some concept art for those toys now.

:p

April Fool's is simultaneously my most and least favourite day of the year.

[Tad]

Sorry, I have to hang tough and say no to artwork although every one should take a crack at the new characters. In addition to finishing up a cartoon script I'm trying to finish an eight page comic of my Goth Faerie, Spryte, in time for inclusion in the next issue of ZOWIE!, the comic anthology.

See my art thread for pictures of her.

[Ming]

Hmmmm.... isn't today April 1 st??? ;)



this post brought to you from morna AND Gary


i was gonna say that :confused:

[ReptileJK]

Part of the coordinated PR roll out:


Billings, MO - FantasyMax Cable Channel has announced THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HELLBOY: THE ANIMATED SERIES based on the Mike Mignola comic book published by Dark Horse Comics. Twenty six episodes have been ordered for a Fall 2006 premiere. The series will incorporate toy designs from ButteToys Co. a toy manufacture based in Montana.

The toyline and series will feature "The Extreme BPRD," a line of Paranormal Powered"urban assault vehicles. The toyline also features a more colorful, edgier take on characters from the comic book series. New characters include Warren Lupine, an Oxford educated werewolf, Bones Delgado, a Central American mummy and Francine Racine, a Voodoo Priestess with Tai Chi Action Grip.

The FantasyMax Cable Channel began operations in Montana in 2000. It currently services Montana, Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota. ButteToys Co. distributes merchandise throughout the American Northwest with the exception of Washington and Oregon.

LOL. Nice one, Tad! Funny how nothing comes up under a google search for Butte Toys or FantasyMax cable channel. :p

To be honest, I was completely believing this (and growing very excited) until I read the line about "Helldog". Mignola might like people using artistic lisence, but no way he likes that idea! :D

BTW, Francine Racine the Voodoo Priestes with Tai Chi Action Grip!! LOL :D

[hellboyone]

Helldog! Yay! Tai Chi Action Grip! Yay! More toy tie-ins with Panda Express! Yay! Hellboy Chow Mein! Hurray!

Ahem. :)

R.

[Poe Ghostal]

Awww, I was looking forward to "Extreme BPRD."

[Gene Poonyo]

Note to self-

1. Too enthusiastic!
2. Too gullible!

WON'T SURVIVE IN THE REAL WORLD!

[SpydaWeb]

Tad, please promise you'll never be party to any ideas of this sort -- as it relates to hellboy...

[Neil Hill]

OK, I'm officially confused. Is this for real or an April Fools Joke? I was really getting excited about our very own Tad Stones being involved in this.

Hoping someone will clarify and cut the Bull :)

[citymadeofash]

OK, I'm officially confused. Is this for real or an April Fools Joke? I was really getting excited about our very own Tad Stones being involved in this.

Hoping someone will clarify and cut the Bull :)
APRIL FOOLS!

[Johann]

:confused: .............

[zefo]

'Extreme BPRD' vehicles ?

uh oh. nothing good has come out of anyhting with the word 'extreme' infront of it

[gardenvariety]

APRIL FOOLS!?!?!
AAAAHHHGGG!!!!
Now I have to clean the drool off my keyboard!
(Sigh) Well there's still hope for Matsuda. Anybody have updates on that?

[Nick W]

Nice one Tad! :p

NW

[Tad]

April 1st is April Fools Day in some countries. Pranks and practical jokes are the order of the day.

For those of you who believed me, I'm surprised no one was irritated by my bogus network executive who seems to care little for anything other than merchandising:

Barry Tamerind says not having the creator involved will speed production and increase merchandising opportunities, "We respect the protective feelings a creator has for his character. Too often, those feelings get in the way of kicking a property into high gear and maximizing potential. The new members of the BPRD will have more edge than their comic counterparts, more color and more punch in the marketplace."


But come on! Helldog! Who wouldn't want one?!

If you disagree, I will take you down with my tai chi action grip!

[Conundrum]

Hey! I want an all chibi episode! I of course will offer my humble services.

Also- I am going to take a break from web designing and commissions and t-shirt designing(see my art thread) to work on a couple of these. So there!

[el seth]

DAMN YOU TAD. :D

I didn't get on the net yesterday, and well... yeah. I kinda forgot. I was buying this for about ten seconds, but that was a terrifying ten seconds!

[citymadeofash]

DAMN YOU TAD.I was buying this for about ten seconds, but that was a terrifying ten seconds!Same here. I mean honestly... "helldog"?

Nearly made my heart stop, I mean it wouldnt be the first time a company or animation group has ruined a well respected comic/animated icon (ie: Warner Brothers Lunatics (http://www.thegreenhead.com/entertainment/2005/02/first-look-loonatics-bugs-bunny-looney.php))

[Conundrum]

Here you go! Animated HB and Helldog. I tried to give them that cel shading. What do you think?

If I get some time I'll try some more.

[VeganVampire]

Well played Tad, well played.

[Tad]

Great versions! Although networks always want to add a pet for kids. He'd probably be droolier. That a word?

[citymadeofash]

That a word?
It is now!

droolier
noun
to drool in excess; more often than one would normally drool otherwise :p





btw, VeganVampire... nice name (vegan myself).... [just thought I'd randomly comment]

[Maija]

Here you go! Animated HB and Helldog. I tried to give them that cel shading. What do you think?

If I get some time I'll try some more.
Oh no! Don't give them ideas!

The horror... the horror...

[Johann]

How can that dog have a goatee?

[morna]

have you never known ... a terrier?



great pics conundrum!

[Conundrum]

great pics conundrum!

Thanks, morna.

How can that dog have a goatee?

Johann, haven't you noticed in all really bad cartoons the token pet always resembles it's owner? He had to have a goatee. Like evil Spock.

[el seth]

Awesome, Conundrum.

This cartoon needs more collectible monsters, though. You know, you could breed a tentacle type with a hellfire type and uh... get something... really awesome? And then evolve it. The kids love that stuff. It's money in the bank I tells ya.

[Maija]

By the way, when will we get to see some concept art for the Extreme BPRD vehicles? Now that we know the first movie will be set in Japan, I'm all the more excited about the potential designs. Ninja scooters!

[THE REAL kirk]

Tad...sniff...you had me at Helldog.

[morna]

heh heh ... and I (we) thought I (we) was so clever.

the joke was on me (us) after all!

I love it

[Tad]

CRAP!

This is the second time this date has bit me on the ass. I just updated my blog with something that I KNOW is going to be controversial (trust me, it'll be sweet) and I wouldn't have if I had checked here first or maybe looked at the calendar which is RIGHT NEXT TO MY COMPUTER SCREEN! D'oh!

Damn. Anyway, the joke announcement at the top of this thread came near to ruining my chances for the animated movies. People have less of a sense of humor when billable hours are being charged by lawyers hunting down the details of a totally fabricated press release. Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but this was right when IDT was considering a deal with Revolution Studios for the animated Hellboy rights. Things got settled quickly enough but when my name came up as someone to head up the show -- well, one of the lawyers at the table was they guy who billed those hours. He remembered my name. Obviously I got the job but it didn't get me off on the right foot with my new bosses!

[morna]

heh heh good one Tad!... you even got yourself!

[hellboyone]

:D :D :D

[kid cthulhu]

Very, very cool, Tad!

Looking forward to all of this HB animated goodness.

[el seth]

Uhm. I still don't know if Tad is joking about the singing thing. I mean, it is April 1st, and it is singing in the Hellboy movie. But you don't get to go and tell people it's not a joke, right? I mean, that's cheating right? So it's true right?

:confused:

But I like Sweeny Todd. And if it's a mythology based storyline I guess I could think of reasons why people might be forced to sing under certain conditions. If people just start singing about how they feel, though, I dunno. This is going to be a whole lot differenterer than I though.

Still, I have a feeling it is a joke after all and I'm a big dork for even entertaining the idea.

[Sparky]

Can't wait to audition for the part of Liz in the San Francisco touring company of Hellboy: The Musical Based On A Comic By Mike Mignola With Music From The Animated Films (they're going to have to shorten the title, as that won't fit on the posters)...I used to twirl fire baton in junior high, so I've got an advantage over those other chicks who can, you know, sing and dance.

Knowing my luck, I'll end up cast as "Frog Chorus Member #37".

[el seth]

Hey guys I also found out yesterday that gullible is not in the dictionary. I haven't had a chance to check that out yet, but I'm setting aside some time after lunch.

[Tad]

Yes, it was an April Fool's gag. I thought it would be blown too soon when ruta resurrected this thread on March 31! :evilsmile But it inspired me to defuse it with my April 1 message above.

Yes, that was made up too. So I guess I got you after all, morna. I got in no trouble with management. Don't know how I could possibly pull off another one next year if I'm lucky enough to still be working on Hellboy. Sorry for the emotional turmoil, El Seth. But you never confess until April 2!



And Sparky - Don't Dis the Frog Parts

And thank you for the wonderful song lyrics on the blog! This board should record an album... er, CD... download. whatever.

[el seth]

Well... as long as some leprechauns sentence HB to the Wearin' of the Green Hooves I'll be happy. DANCE SEQUENCE!!!