Toon Zone Talkback - CN Upfront 2008: McCracken and Renzetti to Head Cartoonstitute Programming Project

[John Dorian]

This is the talkback thread for CN Upfront 2008: McCracken and Renzetti to Head Cartoonstitute Programming Project (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=22701).

This is very interesting...

[macattack]

This is the biggest part of the Upfront that makes me happy. The two men in charge are positively brilliant and hopefully this means we're going to see a torrent of new (and hopefully excellent) cartoons over the next couple of years.

It sounds like a response to Fred Seibert's RANDOM! Cartoons to me at the same time, too. But it one-ups RANDOM! before it even starts.

[Matt Hazuda]

Finally CN makes a smart move and gets in the development game again. I have high hopes for this and hopefully they're able to find plenty of up and coming new talent from this.

[danreyes1]

Now that's what I like to hear. Sounds a lot like the olden days of World Premier Toons. This should have happened two years ago but better late than never.

[John Dorian]

I remember last year, when I posted "Big News At CN!", CN said they were making a series of shorts. I guess this is it.

[Dudley]

This is fantastic news. It gives other upcoming animators a chance to make new stuff, a few of which will undoubtedly be a hip.

[Sketch]

Very good news indeed. Hopefully some really great stuff comes out of this project.

[Pomegranate]

This sounds great:) ! It seems like CN is taking some steps in the right direction........... sort of. Hopefully, we'll get more intellegent, well-written and well-animated American cartoons much sooner. I wish Disney would craft something similar to the Cartoonstitute instead of more t(w)eencoms and Power Rangers cheapquels!

[CartoonOverlord]

Let's just hope this doesn't end up just like Sunday Pants.

[Mr. Manager]

This is really neat that they're doing shorts again and it seems like this time, they're actually trying to have it succeed.

[Racattack!Force]

This sounds great:) ! It seems like CN is taking some steps in the right direction........... sort of. Hopefully, we'll get more intellegent, well-written and well-animated American cartoons much sooner. I wish Disney would craft something similar to the Cartoonstitute instead of more t(w)eencoms and Power Rangers cheapquels!

Amen to that! :yawn:

[Mugen]

Well, this is good news to hear. CN isn't abandoning animation and they're allowing new talent to start up their own shorts. And they're artist-driven too, which is very important.

[John Dorian]

^^^^

I guess they were being jealous of Nick and Disney getting their butts on animation again, and decided to kick butt with a awesome project.

[The Irishman]

^^^^

I guess they were being jealous of Nick and Disney getting their butts on animation again, and decided to kick butt with a awesome project.

Yeah, like they finally woke up and smelled the coffee. This Cartoonistitute thingy sounds very interesting. I have great respect for Craig McCracken as an animator and innovator (correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he make Flash cool?). And Rob Renzetti too! That guy's is an animator down to the core. If My Life as a Teenage Robot is anything to go by, I think we can expect great things from him as well.

The only thing that I'm, well, not concerned about, but noticed was that they're talking about 150 shorts in just under two years. That sounds a little bit optimistic to me. I'm guessing that there will be a fair amount of flash or otherwise developed.

[Martianinvader]

Yeah, like they finally woke up and smelled the coffee. This Cartoonistitute thingy sounds very interesting. I have great respect for Craig McCracken as an animator and innovator (correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he make Flash cool?). And Rob Renzetti too! That guy's is an animator down to the core. If My Life as a Teenage Robot is anything to go by, I think we can expect great things from him as well.
Forget Robot--he was heavily involved in 2 Stupid Dogs.

These guys themselves came out of a talent hunt, and I'm thrilled somebody who knows how to spend their money is letting them conduct their own search.

[The Irishman]

Forget Robot--he was heavily involved in 2 Stupid Dogs.

Woops! Showing my inexperience yet again.:o

[Deadman]

great news. i expect good things out of this.

[stargirl]

Wow, no Dynamite plans mentioned, and now this! GROO-VY!:cool:

[danreyes1]

Anyone know if there's any way to join this Cartoonstitute?

[Matt Hazuda]

Anyone know if there's any way to join this Cartoonstitute?Well, going by the whois info (http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=Cartoonstitute&tld=com), Turner registered the cartoonstitute.com (http://cartoonstitute.com/) just a few days ago, so I imagine they plan on putting something up there, but I'll see if we can dig up anything else.

[Racattack!Force]

Well, going by the whois info (http://www.whois.net/whois_new.cgi?d=Cartoonstitute&tld=com), Turner registered the cartoonstitute.com (http://cartoonstitute.com/) just a few days ago, so I imagine they plan on putting something up there, but I'll see if we can dig up anything else.

Hope this is one of those things that stick around, cause I would really like to join when I'm older. :D

[Master Toon]

This is some pretty good news. I can't wait to see what crazy shorts they make.

[Racattack!Force]

I'm wondering how many new shows may come from this. Will a popular short from each season be chosen to be green-lighted for a series? Or would it work in a different way? :confused:

[lemonhead75]

I would be happy if they made a few shorts with different plots and give the Cartoonstitute Show a time slot every Friday. Have 2 shorts per Friday and have viewers give their opinions online. But, thats just me...

[Racattack!Force]

I would be happy if they made a few shorts with different plots and give the Cartoonstitute Show a time slot every Friday. Have 2 shorts per Friday and have viewers give their opinions online. But, thats just me...
I'd rather wait for them to let viewers give opinions after half a season or so. Wow, 150 shorts in 20 month. Can Cartoon Network do it? Yes they can! :) I can't wait. But I'm not sure where this will end up, with Thursday for comedy and Friday for action. Maybe a Saturday or Sunday airing. :shrug:

[Darklordavaitor]

Can CN air 150 cartoon shorts in 20 months? Well, assuming these are 6-9 minute long shorts like the WAC!'s were, and 3 were aired per half-hour per week, then yes, I'd say it's likely we'd be able to low through 150 shorts in 20 months.

[Racattack!Force]

Can CN air 150 cartoon shorts in 20 months? Well, assuming these are 6-9 minute long shorts like the WAC!'s were, and 3 were aired per half-hour per week, then yes, I'd say it's likely we'd be able to low through 150 shorts in 20 months.

No, my question was if they can make 150 shorts in 20 months, which is what the article said. :shrug: And I think they can. 150 divided by 3 is 50, so we'll end up with 50 half-hours of cartoons for next year with this alone. :)

[desi]

A while back the same kind of news broke out but the result was a bit diffferent: Sunday Pants. Here is hoping this will be better.

[Daikun]

Expect it to be cancelled a few weeks after its premiere like Sunday Pants.

Come on, you know CN's management has the gall to do it.

[Racattack!Force]

Expect it to be cancelled a few weeks after its premiere like Sunday Pants.

Come on, you know CN's management has the gall to do it.

There seems to be more sprit in this than Sunday Pants. If I remember, Sunday Pants was just a bunch of shorts like the Adrenaline Brothers and other European shorts.

[The Irishman]

It seems that the Cartoon Network has apparently shut down it's development department, i.e. they're doing more of the initial idea-bouncing steps in-house. It will be interesting to see what the balance between their own ideas and those pitched from outside are.

[Racattack!Force]

It seems that the Cartoon Network has apparently shut down it's development department, i.e. they're doing more of the initial idea-bouncing steps in-house. It will be interesting to see what the balance between their own ideas and those pitched from outside are.

I think more of it will be in-house now, with a few coming from outside studios.

[Kevin]

This is wonderful news! Given these two's previous experience, I have confidence in them. This is certainly something I'm looking forward to!

[Master Toon]

Expect it to be cancelled a few weeks after its premiere like Sunday Pants.

Come on, you know CN's management has the gall to do it.

I don't know, it has that "Big Event" feeling to it, like it'll be something that'll be unforgettable and huge, something that will make an impact.

Oh and one more thing.. Sunday Pants, Sunday Pants, Sunday Pants! I always say that when I see or hear Sunday Pants.

[Dudley]

Was Sunday Pants the one where they showed Adrenalini Brothers?

Because if so, there's a logical reason that it was canceled, mainly because it isn't anything the Cartoonstitute is trying to be.

[One Radical Dude]

Expect it to be cancelled a few weeks after its premiere like Sunday Pants.

Come on, you know CN's management has the gall to do it.

I think you're being way too pessimistic on this, Daikun. Have some faith in the project. I don't think it's fair to throw in SP as a comparison.

[Racattack!Force]

Was Sunday Pants the one where they showed Adrenalini Brothers?

Because if so, there's a logical reason that it was canceled, mainly because it isn't anything the Cartoonstitute is trying to be.

Yeah that's the one. That was what I was saying. It wasn't made in the way Cartoonstitute is being made. :shrug: "Sunday Pants" was like what "Shorts in a Bunch" was for Nicktoons Network. A repacking of United Kingdom animated shorts.

[Lutochris]

So is this going to be strictly comedy stuff? I'd like to think they'd open this up to action/serious stuff as well. I'd love to have something like Liquid Television around again.

[Racattack!Force]

So is this going to be strictly comedy stuff? I'd like to think they'd open this up to action/serious stuff as well. I'd love to have something like Liquid Television around again.
I would think so. Also, I re-read it and it turns out they will be of various lengths. We could see some "shorts" being 22 minutes (perfect for action). :D

[toneloak]

This is great news. It's really nice to see CN putting there money in the right direction, finally they seem to understand they are dealing with a creative medium. I mean, not to get all single-minded, but if they expect to be continuously profitable in animation. They'll need to reach out to the many skilled unknown artist out here(Should have been in works. IMHO) working to break into the industry. The animation industry is competitive enough somebody has to through out some olive branches.

[DrTooth]

No here's the question. how the heck do you sign up to work on these? Even as an intern or something? I'd love to work with someone in the feild and actually get experiance, and a project like this sounds like it could be a nice spring board, or foot in the door. Are they going to recruit people, or are they working with existing talent to create these?

[Racattack!Force]

No here's the question. how the heck do you sign up to work on these? Even as an intern or something? I'd love to work with someone in the feild and actually get experiance, and a project like this sounds like it could be a nice spring board, or foot in the door. Are they going to recruit people, or are they working with existing talent to create these?
They will be starting with existing talent first, and then later on, they will bring in new artists and animators. :shrug: Not my kind of thing, but oh well. :yawn:

[desi]

There seems to be more sprit in this than Sunday Pants. If I remember, Sunday Pants was just a bunch of shorts like the Adrenaline Brothers and other European shorts.
It was more of sketch show. Atleast that's what i thought of them as. I hope they get Genndy Tartakovsky to do a short. Perhaps Dexter's Lab. If they get Genndy and other Cartoon Cartoons creators (Dave Feiss, Van Partible, etc) to do some shorts, I would have to say, this is a first thing in long time that is dedicated CN's older fans rather than kids.

[Racattack!Force]

It was more of sketch show. Atleast that's what i thought of them as. I hope they get Genndy Tartakovsky to do a short. Perhaps Dexter's Lab. If they get Genndy and other Cartoon Cartoons creators (Dave Feiss, Van Partible, etc) to do some shorts, I would have to say, this is a first thing in long time that is dedicated CN's older fans rather than kids.

Someone told me that Van was dead...:confused:

[lemonhead75]

It was more of sketch show. Atleast that's what i thought of them as. I hope they get Genndy Tartakovsky to do a short. Perhaps Dexter's Lab. If they get Genndy and other Cartoon Cartoons creators (Dave Feiss, Van Partible, etc) to do some shorts, I would have to say, this is a first thing in long time that is dedicated CN's older fans rather than kids.

I just can't wait to see what comes out of this. Several brilliant minds. Working together. I wonder if any shorts will be turned into series'...

[Racattack!Force]

Well, I really hope "The Dungeonhood (http://hurtermonkey.blogspot.com/2008/04/playing-rough.html)" actually gets even a short in this. Maxwell Atoms is pretty talented. I totally love the look of it. :D

[John Dorian]

Someone told me that Van was dead...:confused:

No, he isn't.

[Racattack!Force]

No, he isn't.

Well, that's good to hear! :D

[The Irishman]

Well, I really hope "The Dungeonhood (http://hurtermonkey.blogspot.com/2008/04/playing-rough.html)" actually gets even a short in this. Maxwell Atoms is pretty talented. I totally love the look of it. :D

Yes, that does look pretty cool.

[Lavenderpaw]

^^^^

I guess they were being jealous of Nick and Disney getting their butts on animation again, and decided to kick butt with a awesome project.

The only "kick butt" or "awesome" show Disney has had in the last ten years or so is American Dragon,IMHO.

[Darklordavaitor]

The only "kick butt" or "awesome" show Disney has had in the last ten years or so is American Dragon,IMHO.
Besides that, we got The Weekenders, Fillmore!, and W.I.T.C.H., three equally inventive series that get nearly as overlooked as AD does.

[Mickialla]

Someone told me that Van was dead...:confused:

Yea, poor Vanny. Johnny Bravo was one of the best Cartoon Cartoons, well all of the Cartoon Cartoons were pretty good, but I really like Vans style. But it would be pretty easy to assume Van is dead, he hasn't done anything in a while and I miss him and David Feiss, both of which seem to be gone from the animation world. I hope they end up doing something on the Cartoonstitute.

[Racattack!Force]

Yea, poor Vanny. Johnny Bravo was one of the best Cartoon Cartoons, well all of the Cartoon Cartoons were pretty good, but I really like Vans style. But it would be pretty easy to assume Van is dead, he hasn't done anything in a while and I miss him and David Feiss, both of which seem to be gone from the animation world. I hope they end up doing something on the Cartoonstitute.
Yeah, both of them have been pretty much missing from the animation scene. :shrug: I hope for their return.

[Mickialla]

This is kind of a long shot, but I hope they end up showing some shorts that were aired during the Big Pick and Big Pick 2 in the summers of 2000 and 2001 On the Cartoonstitute. It's a reeeeally big long shot, but I'd really like to see some shorts like Lost Cat (David Feiss) and Longhair and Doubledome (Gavrilo Gnatovich). They could also show the shorts from the summerfest in 2003, but I personally wasn't too fond of those shorts.

[Wanted]

That is definitely a long shot... because, we all know that Cartoon Network (and most other networks) like to bury things for eternity.

[Racattack!Force]

That is definitely a long shot... because, we all know that Cartoon Network (and most other networks) like to bury things for eternity.
It also looks like they are heading for new.

[Wanted]

It's the same thing... stop parakeeting, please.

[Racattack!Force]

It's the same thing... stop parakeeting, please.
Okay, sorry. I will stop being a parrot...or parakeet. :sweat:

[desi]

Yeah, both of them have been pretty much missing from the animation scene. :shrug: I hope for their return.
Well, I checked out wikipedia, and he was the head of story for Open Season. Van Parible didn't do much recently but he made a short for "Shorty Mcshort Shorts" named "Phabulizers"

[Mickialla]

Well, I checked out wikipedia, and he was the head of story for Open Season. Van Parible didn't do much recently but he made a short for "Shorty Mcshort Shorts" named "Phabulizers"

Yea I also heard that Feiss did Open Season and that he's also doing something with a movie called Hotel Transylvania. But I don't consider that taking a major role in the animation scene. It's strange what you said about Partible and the Phabulizers. I did have the misfortune to see that short. I don't remember too much about it, but I'm trying to compare Johnny Bravo to the Phabulizers and it's not connecting.

[Racattack!Force]

Does an artist (or animator) have to stick to one style? :shrug:

[Mickialla]

Does an artist (or animator) have to stick to one style? :shrug:

Personally, I hope so. I definitely don't want to see anymore CGI on CN, or worse, Claymation :eek:

[Racattack!Force]

Personally, I hope so. I definitely don't want to see anymore CGI on CN, or worse, Claymation :eek:
So you don't like any other type of animation...why? I would like to see Clay animation on the channel, if only because it seems like a vanishing art form. :shrug:

[Mickialla]

So you don't like any other type of animation...why? I would like to see Clay animation on the channel, if only because it seems like a vanishing art form. :shrug:

Don't get me wrong, I like other types of animation. I liked CGI stuff like Jimmy Neutron; Plus who couldn't love the Pixar movies or the Dreamworks animated movies?? Nightmare before Christmas was claymation and I liked that too. The thing is that I'm a traditional Cartoon Network fan. And the traditional Cartoon Network didn't air claymation or CGI, they stuck to classic 2D cartoons. And seeing as how the network is becoming more and more deviant from its original concept, I resent anything that I wouldn't have seen on the old CN. It's a weird way to look at it, I know, but it's my way to look at it. Maybe sometime in the future when CN is better there'll be room for some deviation such as claymation or CGI, and then maybe I'd tune in.

[desi]

Actually, the original concept was to recycle HB cartoons and other already made-and-seen toons from other companies. Cartoonstitute or any original show wasn't part of the concept. [as], Toonami, Cartoon Cartoons, anime, were not part of the original concept either. These things are major differences from the original concept and really change(d) what CN is or was.

[lemonhead75]

I would like to see a little variety come out of this...

I think 2D animation is the prime still. What CN has been lacking is variety. It has that homey feel, but it's just not a home. You know what I mean?

I hope they just can the live action, and add a little variety. CN also needs to realize new is good. But old shows are good too. They don't seem to let their shows pass 78 episodes, no matter how popular.

[Wanted]

Does an artist (or animator) have to stick to one style?McCracken didn't. But, it was still 2D, so idk if you'd consider that much of a change.

[Mickialla]

Personally, as long as the style is 2D, I don't care what style it is.

[Racattack!Force]

McCracken didn't. But, it was still 2D, so idk if you'd consider that much of a change.

It's still a different art and animation style. :p

[Mickialla]

Was there a date given as to when this'll be airing???