It comes as a total shock to me to find out that there is a 3 1/2-minute pilot on YouTube of an animated Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show.
It comes as a further shock that I have not thought of this in my dreams. It is a natural progression, considering the fact that there has been the movie, TV series, comics, and more. And the worst shock of all is that the series was apparently turned down by every TV studio that Joss Whedon and co-creator Jeph Loeb took it too.
However, since it has been leaked to YouTube, there is an online petition (that you have to sign up to sign) that, as of writing this, stands at just 1,184 signatures. But given the popularity of Buffy, especially among the internet community, this is sure to climb.
Watch it here below while it lasts.
I obviously watched the 3 1/2 minutes of Buffy Animated, and”¦ seriously, it’s awesome! The voices are done by the original TV show cast members, and is apparently set halfway into season 1.
“We liked to call it episode seven-and-a-half,”
Loeb joked. “It was a much simpler time. Angel had been introduced, but he was not yet Angelus. We could retrofit Dawn as a ten-year-old, so you can really play the older sister gag. Their mom is alive.” And because it was animated, “no one has to grow up.”
I love this idea. It would be such a good idea to retcon Dawn in, and it would make perfect sense, because when she is introduced, she has been there all along. I would love to see some more of this, because it opens up a massive door for a whole heap of more story.
Either way, let’s hope that some studio picks it up, given the popularity of such shows as Family Guy and Robot Chicken.
Video
a bit heavey on the cheese.
Comment by KOROLLOCKE — August 26, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
Hmm, not too bad, but Buffy was always a show aimed at teens, and part of the charm was the slightly serrated edge to it. The cartoon seems predicatably kiddy-fied.
Because of that you can’t really compare it to adult animations like Family Guy and Robot chicken. It would be a lot cooler if it was that kind of show, but the trailer shows it is clearly not. Perhaps that’s why it was turned down; channels didn’t want an obviously occult-themed show aimed at kids.
It’s by the animated Batman studio, right? The art style and direction looks like it anyway.
I don’t think that is Michelle-Gellers voice either; if I remember correctly she is the only one of the cast replaced by a sound-alike.
Comment by DanJW — August 27, 2008 @ 9:38 am
i’d love to see this on TV or DVD…been waiting years now…
Comment by jay — August 27, 2008 @ 11:58 am
i’d love to see this on TV or DVD…been waiting years now…
Comment by jay — August 27, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Seems like its a bit on the kiddy side. It needs more drama … Blood … realism … Less corny jokes. The live series had better jokes to set the moods and moments. Although animation opens a new door that can make anything possible, The show seems to lack something. Dont get me wrong. I love the live series, But they would need to improve the animated one (not by much).
Comment by JoJo — August 27, 2008 @ 6:13 pm