Toon Zone Talkback - "Firebreather," "Mice Templar," and "The Vanishers" Movies Coming to Cartoon Network

[John Dorian]

This is the talkback thread for "Firebreather," "Mice Templar," and "The Vanishers" Movies Coming to Cartoon Network (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=25109).

Uh....what? Out of the blue.

[peterg14]

Firebreather sounds like Juniper Lee, but up the ages a bit. I just hope it doesn't go off into the teenage angst/break-ups/high school issues and focuses more on the action.

Mice Templar and The Vanishers sound interesting, though.

[Dudley]

Firebreather sounds like Juniper Lee,

Sounds more like American Dragon: Jake Long too me.

[macattack]

Firebreather would look so much better with cels . . .

[peterg14]

Sounds more like American Dragon: Jake Long too me.

Aren't they kind of the same thing?

[warnerbroman]

Aren't they kind of the same thing?
NO!:anime:

[Raditz]

AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG will be based on A TELEVISION SHOW ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL by JEFF GOODE, about a half-human, half-dragon teenager trying to fit in at high school and fulfill his destiny to protect the Earth.

>_>

[The Wolverine]

Aren't they kind of the same thing?

Hardly.

[desi]

NO!:anime:
YES!
Fanboys and girls can deny all they want.
Even their initials are the same.

[Mr. Ralph]

i'm surprised no one's complaining about the one that's gonna be live action!!:p

i haven't heard of any of these but they sound like they have the potential to be pretty cool:cool::cool:

[Light Lucario]

Sounds more like American Dragon: Jake Long too me.

That's what I thought when I first read the article. It still sounded interesting to hear. Hopefully the CGI animation will work well for Firebreather and Mice Templar. I agree that this is out of the blue, but at least CN will be showing some really good and interesting movies like these.

Aren't they kind of the same thing?

Nope. There are obvious similarities between the shows, such as how they both involved a Chinese American kid to fight against evil magical forces and protect the magical world, but you could watch just an episode from each series and see how different the majority of the characters are and how they handle their stories differently. Personally, I prefer American Dragon for its characters and writing over Juniper Lee.

[Draft]

Firebreather sounds familiar, not to any Jake Long or anything, but I thought it was mentioned awhile back

[Movie06]

Hmm, isn't Firebreather based on a comic book? But overall, it's an interesting slate of films CN has.

But I'd rather see them 2-D animated.

[AntN]

I'm pretty sure this is CN's first take on CGI animated original movies and I hope the Live action one is good and worth watching

[Master Toon]

Aren't they kind of the same thing?

While they're both very different, they're both Chinese American kids, have magical powers that they have to keep secret and they protect the human and magical worlds. So I'd agree and say they are the same.

Hmm, isn't Firebreather based on a comic book?

All three are based on comic books.

Firebreather sounds good, I've been meaning to buy it but I got into Astonishing X-Men and forgot about it. :sweat:

[Dr.Pepper]

I think that Firebreather was annouced before
i'm surprised no one's complaining about the one that's gonna be live action!!
I'm so mad that there is live action:p

[veemonjosh]

High school teen Duncan Rosenblatt is the son of divorced parents -- a typical suburban soccer mom who wants him to get into a good college and a 300-foot firebreathing dragon who wants him to follow in the family business--conquering the Earth and inheriting the throne of King of Monsters; they share custody. Like every other teenager, he struggles to fit in with his peers. His being half-dragon further complicates matters. Duncan is completely resigned to his outcast status and has really stopped caring all that much. His awkward family arrangement forces him and his mother to move a lot.

This...actually sounds pretty interesting.

[Ed Liu]

The major difference between Firebreather and Jake Long/Juniper Lee is that being half-dragon means the lead character Duncan LOOKS half-dragon all the time. If I can quote myself (http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=866106&postcount=6):

- Firebreather (Image). There are "where are we going" books and there are "how are we getting there" books. Firebreather is one of the latter type (heck, so is Skinwalker), but with a great premise. Imagine that Godzilla falls in love with a human resident of a city he's trashing. Now imagine the kid that resulted as a teenager, trying to fit in amongst his peers despite orange skin, stubby wings, and the ability to breathe fire. As with all "how are we getting there" stories, the execution is everything, and the first mini was executed wonderfully well. Written by Phil Hester with art by Andy Kuhn. I think a second mini-series is in the works.

It's actually a lot like Spider-Man or Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that it uses super powers as an analogy for life as an awkward teenager. This is probably the one I'm most looking forward to. I'd have liked to have seen Kuhn's artwork turned into animation, though.

Mice Templar is good, but not as dazzlingly awesome as I'd have wanted it to be. Then again, I'm trying to read a monthly comic book that's been late and where I don't get it for long stretches, so I suspect that a lot of my confusion comes from not being able to remember what happened in the previous issue. Still, it's creative and very different from the similar-sounding Mouse Guard and Michael Avon Oeming is good people, so I'll still check this out. If Mouse Guard is Tolkien with mice, Mice Templar is more like Robert E. Howard Conan stories with mice.

Don't know anything about The Vanishers, since I'm not much of a fan of Chuck Dixon, and not too interested in a live-action movie on CN.

-- Ed

[Mickialla]

What on Earth??

This is truly the most random move CN has ever made. If they were planning on making movies based on comics, why not use familiar ones rather than mundane comics most of us have never heard of?? And The Vanishers is supposed to be in live action...:shrug: Sheesh, I thought CN had fulfilled its desires to make live action after they saw OOJH bomb. They've already experimented with live action movies twice (Re-Animated & Race Against Time), why not just make it CGI like the other two??? Well whatever, I guess CN is trying to use these movies to see if they're popular, then make them into series, seeing as how CN's originals are low in number currently.

[Silverstar]

What on Earth??

This is truly the most random move CN has ever made. If they were planning on making movies based on comics, why not use familiar ones rather than mundane comics most of us have never heard of?? And The Vanishers is supposed to be in live action...:shrug: Sheesh, I thought CN had fulfilled its desires to make live action after they saw OOJH bomb. They've already experimented with live action movies twice (Re-Animated & Race Against Time), why not just make it CGI like the other two??? Well whatever, I guess CN is trying to use these movies to see if they're popular, then make them into series, seeing as how CN's originals are low in number currently.

Well, both Re-Animated and Race Against Time did extremely well in the ratings, so it's hardly a surprise that CN is willing to give another live-action movie a go.

And we don't know for certain that Out of Jimmy's Head has tanked. For all we know it could just be off for the summer.

Seriously (and I never thought that I'd be the one to say this), we need to stop complaining about live-action on CN. It's clear that CN won't be abandoning live-action anytime soon. As long as the live-action doesn't overwhelm the network, and CN remains at least 95% animation, then I can tolerate it.

[FightingDreamer]

I had heard of Firebreather before (saw some art on another site), but it seems like the kind of project that'd be more suited to 2-D animation. Ah well; if the CGI isn't crappy, and we get some good writing and voice-acting, it should be fun.

[Blackstar]

This is truly the most random move CN has ever made. If they were planning on making movies based on comics, why not use familiar ones rather than mundane comics most of us have never heard of??

Come on now, you can't be reluctant to try out new things. I love the DC and Marvel comic adaptations, but it doesn't have be DC and Marvel all the time. How do you know the comics are bad if you haven't read them? I'm at least going to see these projects for myself before I pass judgment on them. Firebreather actually sound like it may be pretty good, but then, I've always liked dragons.

And yes, one of the films (The Vanishers) is going to be done in live action. Personally, I'd prefer live action to stay the heck off of CN, but I can't fault the network for being ratings conscious, and they think that airing live action programming will get them some of that sweet, sweet ratings candy. Besides, given the apparent success of Ben 10: Race Against Time, it hardly comes as a shock that CN would try it again.

And Out of Jimmy's Head isn't a thinking man's anything, but it at least did well enough to get a 2nd season, although I don't see OOJH getting a 3rd season; pretty soon the kids will get too old for their roles, and then it will be done, and that's not far off at all.

[Mickialla]

Come on now, you can't be reluctant to try out new things. I love the DC and Marvel comic adaptations, but it doesn't have be DC and Marvel all the time. How do you know the comics are bad if you haven't read them? I'm at least going to see these projects for myself before I pass judgment on them. Firebreather actually sound like it may be pretty good, but then, I've always liked dragons.

And yes, one of the films (The Vanishers) is going to be done in live action. Personally, I'd prefer live action to stay the heck off of CN, but I can't fault the network for being ratings conscious, and they think that airing live action programming will get them some of that sweet, sweet ratings candy. Besides, given the apparent success of Ben 10: Race Against Time, it hardly comes as a shock that CN would try it again.

And Out of Jimmy's Head isn't a thinking man's anything, but it at least did well enough to get a 2nd season, although I don't see OOJH getting a 3rd season; pretty soon the kids will get too old for their roles, and then it will be done, and that's not far off at all.

I know that the DC and Marvel comics have been done tons and times; I'm not saying I'm not up for new stuff. I was just thinking that having a familiar face might end up attracting more viewers.

As for OOJH getting a second season, I think all of CN's shows have gotten 2 seasons. The only series not to get a second season was Robot Jones if I remember correctly.

I know live-action is going to stay on the network. The abundance of it in The Flicks is a sure sign of it. No matter how many fan complaints or slaps across the faces execs get, live-action is here to stay because it brings in the ratings. I understand that concept. All I ask is that the live action film being aired have something to do with cartoons. For example, airing a movie oh, like, The Flintstones (live-action) or Scooby-Doo (live-action) or Alvin and The Chipmunks would be fine, because those are all based on cartoon characters. The other issue I have is that CN is making this film themselves. A film that could be done animated is instead being done in LA. With the other 2 live action films they had excuses. Re-Animated is about a real boy who interacts with cartoons in his brain. You can't have that be animated because then the boy would be a cartoon too, which would be hard to follow. And with Race Against Time they kinda used the excuse that they wanted to show us what the Ben 10 characters would look like if they were real. But with The Vanishers, they have no excuse. Simply put.

[Ed Liu]

If they were planning on making movies based on comics, why not use familiar ones rather than mundane comics most of us have never heard of??

They're doing that too (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=22700).

I also think that licensing those familiar faces means they're going to pay more for them up front, which reduces the profitability of the show. I don't think Time-Warner-owned Cartoon Network is going to cut a deal with Marvel, either. Using new and relatively untested properties lets them take a crack at creating new franchises rather than recycling the ones we've seen before.

That's something I prefer, but I also happen to be reading 2 of the 3 books named and I think comfort zones are for wimps. As much as I like Spectacular Spider-Man and as cool as Batman: The Brave & the Bold looks, I'm glad that they're trying new things, too.

BTW, Firebreather trade paperbacks should be available at larger bookstores or via Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Firebreather-1-Phil-Hester/dp/8496172848/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216912445&sr=1-1), and the new monthly series and trades should be at your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Book Shop (http://csls.diamondcomics.com/). Mice Templar is getting a hardcover collection soon, but those single issues should be available at shops, too.

And The Vanishers is supposed to be in live action...:shrug: Sheesh, I thought CN had fulfilled its desires to make live action after they saw OOJH bomb.In addition to what the others have already said, OOJH was a show that got put on hold due to the Writer's Guild strike (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=19668). I'd probably say that production got suspended for that and was just late in restarting. There's lots of shows that ended up in limbo like that (like all of the few network shows I happened to watch...).

EDIT: Comic creators Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn talk about the Firebreather movie (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=25125). Includes some artwork to demonstrate that this is not a Jake Long ripoff.

-- Ed

[RonDrakenfan17]

So these are movies getting turned into a series? Or are they just movies airing on CN? Eh I'll check out the website for myself.

Edit;

Oh, no's Firebreather sounds like American Dragon Jake Long, booh. I wish they'd come up with some ing orginal these days there just copy cats off another.

[creativerealms]

I'm always up for new things and it's always good to take risks. Sure I would wish they would stay away from live action (Though I don't have a problem with them airing live action movies from time to time I prefer Cartoon Network originals to remain cartoons.) but hey at least their main focus seems to be animation.

[Sparticus]

So these are movies getting turned into a series? Or are they just movies airing on CN? Eh I'll check out the website for myself.

Edit;

Oh, no's Firebreather sounds like American Dragon Jake Long, booh. I wish they'd come up with some ing orginal these days there just copy cats off another.

I think Firebreather predates Jake Long. And, I feel Disney could have done a lot more than they did with Jake Long anyway. :P

I'm glad they're poking around for stuff outside of the DC/Marvel universes - there's more to American comics than just superhero's. :B

Although I wouldn't mind another Tick series... >.>

[RonDrakenfan17]

I think Firebreather predates Jake Long. And, I feel Disney could have done a lot more than they did with Jake Long anyway. :P

I'm glad they're poking around for stuff outside of the DC/Marvel universes - there's more to American comics than just superhero's. :B

Although I wouldn't mind another Tick series... >.>

I'm with you on the whole Disney thing, with American Dragon was ordered a third season but what are you going to do?

[HEATXZ]

I think that Firebreather should be in 2D,Mice Templar is fine,The Vanishers should be animated

[Sparticus]

I'm with you on the whole Disney thing, with American Dragon was ordered a third season but what are you going to do?

Admitably, I've only ever seen maybe a dozen episodes of Jake Long but I was generaly disapointed by what I saw. They barely scratched the surface of what could have been a really fun, really clever mythology based show with some tween stuff thrown into the mix; instead they kept it more of a tween sitcom with dragons and things. :/

From the looks of it, Firebreather is a lot darker and quirker. I'd rather see it in 2D animation buuut there's no stopping "progress". I'll probably hunt down the comics at some point. :)

[Light Lucario]

While they're both very different, they're both Chinese American kids, have magical powers that they have to keep secret and they protect the human and magical worlds. So I'd agree and say they are the same.

They have similar traits, such as how both series are about a Chinese American kid with magical powers and are in charge of protecting the magical world, but that does not mean that the shows are the same. Similar doesn't mean the same.

From the info veemonjosh found online, Firebreather definitely sounds the most interesting and promising out of the three movies. I also agree with Ed that after reading that info, Firebreather sounds a bit more like Spider-Man and possibly Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even though I've only heard of that show. The fact that the teenager in this movie actually has physical traits of a dragon that he can't change, like Jake Long did, makes me look foreword to see how it turns out in CGI.

[Master Toon]

Oh, no's Firebreather sounds like American Dragon Jake Long, booh. I wish they'd come up with some ing orginal these days there just copy cats off another.

Firebreather came out before American Dragon: Jake Long.

[John Dorian]

For the people who want the movies to be in 2D, I agree fully.

[StellaMagic]

Firebreather seems like your typical "teen mixed up due to divorce" story with a touch of fairy tale.

[Racattack!Force]

I like that Cartoon Network is making these movies, and how the Firebreather movie is will a backdoor pilot. In regards to the art style, nothing against the creator, but I'm kinda happy that's it's in CGI. Mice Templar might also turn out well, but I have to see the artwork first. I'm kinda split on The Vanishers though.

[buttah]

Definately looking foward to Firebreather the most and Mice Templar seems cool too but The Vanishers? Eh I'm still having a hard time accepting live action on CN

[Ackar]

I like that Cartoon Network is making these movies, and how the Firebreather movie is will a backdoor pilot. In regards to the art style, nothing against the creator, but I'm kinda happy that's it's in CGI. Mice Templar might also turn out well, but I have to see the artwork first. I'm kinda split on The Vanishers though.

I'm not sure single movies will give the stories enough time to grow.

I liked how the Redwall animated series was done. They gave each book a full season to develop.

[Mugen]

TZ News has a link to an article that interviews the Mice Templar creators. (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=25250)

Its a fairly interesting article. We learn that CN was looking for something to aim at mature audiences and that the earliest the movie will premiere is 2010.

[Crash]

I'm totally there fore Mice Templar! I've been a fan of mice with swords ever since I read my first Redwall book. I'll give Vanishers a chance, since I've liked Chuck Dixon's stuff in the past. Firebreather, though...meh.

[Mickialla]

TZ News has a link to an article that interviews the Mice Templar creators. (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=25250)

Its a fairly interesting article. We learn that CN was looking for something to aim at mature audiences and that the earliest the movie will premiere is 2010.

The idea for Mice Templar sounds interesting and fresh. I'd still like it to be 2D though. CN has never done any in-house CGI stuff (Besides "Strange Things" that one short done in WAC!), so I'm not sure how it may turn out.

Is there anywhere we can find pictures about Mice Templar??