More SHS animated information!

From the Omelete site comes this Google Translated page that doesn't say much (at least not much in translation) about the series, but does offer some handy promo art featuring... Ms. Marvel! First image, top corner, below Hulk and Thor.

SHS animated first looks

And straight from the Incredible Hulk DVD... the Super Hero Squad screen caps.  Captain America,Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor and Colossus!  Also, the last three shots are the announced Marvel Anime series.  Not much was shown, but not much was expected, right?

Mitch Schauer, SHS Producer

As a follow-up to the Mitch Schauer post yesterday, here's his website with samples of his work and his IMDB portfolio.

Long story short, the guy's got some comic/cartoon history! Most importantly, he was a producer for Freakazoid which, although a little dated now, was the greatest superhero parody of its time, he was a story editor for Super Powers Galactic Guardians, and Super Friends the Legendary Super Powers Show, and most recently character designer for the Next Avengers direct-to-DVD film.

One reason to buy the Incredible Hulk on DVD...

Well, Marvel Animation Age has a little article about all the cool previews coming with the upcoming Incredible Hulk DVD release and best among them? Super Hero Squad!

In related news, the upcoming DVD release of the live-action The Incredible Hulk feature film contains a trailer for Marvel Animation Studios. The trailer contains new footage from Iron Man: Armored Adventures, as well as new footage from Wolverine and The X-Men, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Hulk Versus, Black Panther Animated, Marvel Anime, and a look at designs from Marvel Super Hero Squad.

Ok, so it's a look at designs and not full footage but still, cool enough. Footage of Marvel Anime sounds interesting too... presumably it's going to show off at least one of the Anime initiatives talked about way back when

The Super Hero Squad producer

Comics Continuum has a piece up talking about the upcoming Hulk vs. DVD, along with a bit about the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon and they follow it up with a brief piece on the Super Hero Squad cartoon:

"Mitch Schauer, who created Nickelodeon's Angry Beavers, is producing the Marvel Super Hero Squad series. Look for a more humorous approach than other Marvel shows."

Super Hero Squad: The Animated Series

Animated Superheroes is posting a few other pictures from Licensing Expo 2008, including a big poster for the Super Hero Squad products. While I disagree with some of the assertions (latest in a line of toy-based cartoons, unless they're talking about toy-based cartoons in general) but they do bring up some of the points we've been bringing up for a while (like for instance the licensing of most heroes mentioned to be in the series, including Spider-Man who gets mentioned in some press releases but not others as we discussed here and here.)

Worth noting however, is that the promotional materials we've seen so far have all been generically Super Hero Squad and while everyone (ourselves included I suppose) attribute each piece of licensing to the cartoon when they could simply be referring to the licensing efforts for the entire toy line.

They also bring up how Marvel Extreme: Wolverine is not an animated project, something that we haven't really mentioned here since we're more focused on the Squad than on the animated properties. Here is the original debunking of that rumor for those curious.

And just to hammer my point home, the article is further proof that while fans of the toy line think the line is selling poorly and in constant danger of cancellation (see our near monthly The Line Is Doomed! rumors), it's the ones that aren't fans that think, as Animated Superheroes article points out, the line is "has been super popular."

And finally, Captain America and the Invisible Woman riding in a monster truck with various other heroes flying alongside them. Now THAT is marketing.

Marvel Animation (well, most of it) at SDCC

Hulk vs. Wolverine? Iron Man Armored Adventures? Wolverine and the X-Men? Spectacular Spider-Man? Next Avengers Heroes of Tomorrow? Black Panther? Wow... that's like all of Marvel's upcoming animation slate being screened and discussed in San Diego in a couple days.

Well, almost everything. Both Hulk's new cartoon and Super Hero Squad (both properties that, to the best of our knowledge are still looking for a network to air them) are left out of the promotion, but congratulations to all other fans of Marvel animation. Previews and discussion of 3 new series, one returning series and 2 upcoming DVD releases is still great.

Super Hero Squad in Wizard 201

Apparently the Super Hero Squad cartoon is mentioned in Wizard 201. No real news (it's Wizard after all) just a run-down saying it "may be the closest thing we've seen to an Avengers cartoon in a while" and comparing it to Marvel Team-Up for the 10 and under set. They don't even have promotional artwork, just a shot of the first Thor SHS figure. In other words, if you were thinking of picking up the magazine to see if there was anything exclusive, new or interesting, you'd be disappointed.

Licensing International Expo 2008

A few sites are lucky enough to know people going to Licensing International Expo 2008 (including Marvelous News who have this glimpse of the Hulk Gamma Corps) but unfortunately nobody has put up any news about the Super Hero Squad.

The Licensemag reported that Marvel, at Licensing International Expo 2008 will be discussing:

"Marvel Entertainment will continue to focus on building integrated licensing programs worldwide. For 2009, a key focus will be the theatrical release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, (20th Century Fox). Marvel is also developing a major licensing initiative to support its new TV animation launching in 2009, including "Iron Man: Armored Adventures" and "Wolverine and the X-Men," airing on Nicktoons, as well as series for Incredible Hulk and Super Hero Squad. Another key focus will be its successful Spider-Man Classic character licensing business, with fresh new art to update the brand, and further emphasis on its brand segmentation strategy, including Marvel Heroes and a new approach targeting females."

So now that we've seen Hulk, can someone grab some information on the Super Hero Squad for the rest of us?

Will the Super Hero Squad begin in London?

Toytalk has this article about the Brand Licensing Europe exhibition and lists "Ice Age 3, Avatar, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Iron Man 2, Wolverine, Spectacular Spider-Man, Super Hero Squad, Thor, Captain America, New Avengers, Scooby-Doo, Batman, Harry Potter and Tom and Jerry" as some of the properties being shown in the October show. If the animated Super Hero Squad is really being pumped for a Spring 2009 start, then October would be a great time to break out a trailer of the cartoon. At this point, it's not a guarantee, just a hope, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

The Brand Licensing Europe site itself has Marvel Entertainment International Ltd. at booth 455. Companies like Lego, Cartoon Network and TV-Loonland will also be there. TV-Loonland may not sound familiar, but as you can read here they were the fine folks onto numerous Hasbro properties like Transformers, thus making DVDs that much more problematic. TV-Loonland's website is here.

First look at the Squad Cartoon?

I'm hesitant to post a link to an article that basically says everything the other articles are already saying, but Animation Magazine gets a pass for having what may be an early look into the cartoon's world. The art is small, but mostly recognizable. I see Captain America's shield, Ultimate Nick Fury, Wolverine, Cyclops (Jim Lee version), Iron Man, Hulk, and a white arm that could be anyone from Iceman to a member of the Fantastic Four.

On the bad guy side, Loki, Magneto, Doctor Doom, Abomination (the movie style, of course), and a white hand holding a gun. Mystique? Punisher? Hopefully someone will point to a larger version of this animated artwork soon.

And still no Spider-Man.

Hollywood Reporter on Super Hero Squad, the Cartoon

Hollywood Reporter is the first to bring us actual news about the Super Hero Squad cartoon. (Go on, you can read the link... it's quick.)

Highlights? 26 episodes. No network yet. Film Roman (known for the Simpsons) handling the project.

"It will feature such well-known heroes as Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Fantastic Four and Captain America; all occupy a caricatured Super Hero City and are thrust into humorous adventures as they thwart the villainous plans of Doctor Doom, Magneto, Loki, the Abomination and others."

And also of note:

"Marvel also is developing a multimedia and merchandising campaign for the show, with Hasbro handling the toy line. Marvel Comics is introducing a "Squad" book series in the fall, and a direct-to-video animated feature is in development for 2010."

What kind of book? A direct to video feature coming one year after the TV series? Gah! So many questions, so little information. It's interesting to me at least that the rights to animated Iron Man, Hulk, and Wolverine aren't locked up by the producers of their individual cartoons. It's also interesting that Spider-Man wasn't mentioned despite being the star of the toy line.

Corrections, both internal and external

In yesterday's post about Marvel's upcoming movies, I goofed in my way too quick translation of Comicbox's article and as they pointed out to me, their article does NOT say a third Hulk is coming. They are pointing out that a third Hulk is absent from Marvel's plans. So I added the correction to the page so future readers will be corrected.

It also gives me a chance to point out that Idle in Transaction is DEFINITELY saying that Super Hero Squad cartoon is coming to Nicktoons along with Marvel's other properties, and that definitely has not been verified by any report I've heard (and from the looks of things, Marvel's press release is certainly making the rounds online.) They also suggest that Hulk Gamma Corps is going the Nicktoons way as well, but once again, they're the only people to be suggesting that. Would it make sense for Marvel to have 4 of its 5 animated properties on one network? I suppose so, but lets wait till we have some more official information.