It’s the perfect storm of fandom this year, as Batman is celebrating eighty years in pop culture, while “Batman Beyond” is celebrating its twenty year anniversary. For 2019, Warner finally unleashes their fantastic follow up “Batman Beyond” on Blu-Ray in a stellar Limited Edition box set that is also conveniently in time for Halloween and the impending holiday season. With the Limited Edition featuring an exclusive Batman Beyond Funko Pop, and the inevitably regular set coming down line, Warner will cash in for sure. “Batman Beyond” is still the juggernaut follow up to the classic Bruce Timm “Batman” series that hasn’t aged a bit, despite being conceived during a period where everything had to be futuristic, and darker.
Tag Archives: Animation
Disney After Walt: 1966-1985
Following Walt Disney’s death in 1966, his namesake company entered a tumultuous period that showed great achievements in film, TV and theme parks, as well as a harrowing time when the company faced a hostile corporate takeover. On this episode of “The Online Movie Show,” the guest is Mark Arnold, author of “Frozen in Ice: The Story of Walt Disney Productions, 1966-1985.”
“The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy” Remains a Treat for Horror Buffs Young and Old
Few people actually recall that Maxwell Atoms’ iconic characters, Billy and Mandy, were first introduced as part of Cartoon Network’s “Grim & Evil” where they shared a series with the cast of Evil Con Carne. Though “Grim & Evil” only lasted 30 episodes, the pint-sized hell-raisers would soon live on in one of the most successful spin-offs of all time from Cartoon Network’s golden age: “Billy & Mandy” (as I’ll refer to it from here on out) is one of the last really great series from the CN’s “Cartoon Cartoon” era.
Looking Back at “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters” 25 Years Later
1994 was the year to really tune into Nickelodeon. It was a time where they’d hit their stride with programming blocks like SNICK and excellent series like Rugrats, and The Secret World of Alex Mack. It was also the year that “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters” premiered (October 30, 1994). Another of the many Klasky Csupo produced animated shows, “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters” focused on the world of monsters that hide in our closets, under our beds, and in our toilets. It is one of the few genuinely horror-oriented animated shows that Nickelodeon has aired.
The Haunted Pumpkin of Sleepy Hollow (2003)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of my all time favorite folklore tales. It’s a creepy, weird, and unusual tale about a man who loses all the way through the end to supernatural forces. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has gotten its massive share of adaptations ever since releasing, and it’s managed to appeal to many generations that can appreciate a good mystery
Follow that Goblin! (1992)
This extremely rare Halloween special may deliver varying results depending on how lenient you are willing to be in production quality. The claymation here isn’t exactly top notch and the producers of “Follow That Goblin!” fill the gap with ancient computer animation that pops up every now and then. Deep down though, it’s a unique Halloween movie with a fun premise that deserves to be seen by folks that love this kind of entertainment.
The Unsung Genius of “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo!”
No matter how classic or profitable a series or franchise is, studios are always in the market of appealing to a younger audience with a new version of the property. With the success of shows like Muppet Babies and The Flintstone Kids, Hanna-Barbera decided to revisit the formula in 1988 for Scooby-Doo. It was their attempt to win over a new generation of fans while dusting the cobwebs off of the franchise that’d begun to show its age thanks to misguided spin offs and introductions of grating additions like Scrappy Doo and Flim Flam.