Money or Creativity leading to an Animated Spin-Off to Animated Film

As an animation buff, I was wondering of spin-off series from animated films and seeing why they chose those films and not others. In many cases, it was because of money or popularity.

Disney's The Little Mermaid
During its original 1989 theatrical release, Mermaid earned $84,355,863 at the North American box office. In 1992, an animated series was developed that aired on CBS on saturday mornings from 1992 to 1994 (three seasons, 31 episodes). Some of the voice actors of the film reprise their roles in the series, among them Jodi Benson as Ariel, Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian, Kenneth Mars as King Triton, and Pat Carroll as Ursula. The animation was not the same as the original film but just as good, it wasn't bad.

Disney's Aladdin
Aladdin was the most successful film of 1992 grossing $217 million in the United States and over $504 million worldwide. As of 2010, it is the eighteenth highest grossing animated film and the third highest grossing traditionally animated feature worldwide, behind The Lion King and The Simpsons Movie. From the 1994 direct-to-video sequel came the animated series that lasted 86 episodes (2 seasons, 1994-1995). Many of the films' stars provided the voices of their TV counterparts, with the notable exception of Dan Castellaneta filling in for Robin Williams in the Genie role (like in The Return of Jafar). Unlike the Little Mermaid spinoff series, this series does not feature any musical numbers. It aired weekdays on syndication originally. It was part of the 'Disney Afternoon.' The animation was much like the second movie, low-grade compared to the original.

Timon & Pumbaa
The Lion King earned $422,783,777 in North America and an estimated $528,800,000 in other territories for a worldwide total of $951,583,777. It is the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time worldwide and the highest-grossing film of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa is an American animated television series made by the Walt Disney Company. It centers on Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog from the Disney film franchise The Lion King, without most of the other characters in the franchise. The show ran for three seasons from September 16, 1995 to 1999 (5 seasons, 85 episodes on CBS). By the fall of 1995, 13 episodes premiered on Friday afternoons on the syndicated Disney Afternoon block, and 12 more episodes aired on Saturday mornings on CBS at the same time.  By the fall of 1996, 13 new episodes aired on The Disney Afternoon and Family Channel, with 8 more premiering on CBS and in. 1998, 39 new episodes were produced due to overseas demand. These episodes began airing on Toon Disney on January 1, 1999. From episode 47 onwards, the show was produced by Studio B Productions for Walt Disney Television Animation. The animation was considerably low-grade compared to the film.

The Penguins of Madagascar
 In the United States, the film Madagascar grossed $193,595,521, and in foreign areas grossed $339,085,150 with a summative worldwide gross of $532,680,671. As of July 2010, the film is the eighth highest-grossing DreamWorks animated feature. The Penguins of Madagascar is an American CGI animated television series airing on Nickelodeon since 2008. So far it has 138 episodes. Although the series occasionally alludes to the rest of the franchise, The Penguins of Madagascar does not take place at a precise time within it. McGrath, who is also the co-creator of the film characters, has said that the series takes place "not specifically before or after the movie, I just wanted them all back at the zoo. I think of it as taking place in a parallel universe." The animation is noticeably low-graded from the films but it has its own quirks.

The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a 2001 American computer-animated film based on a few three-minute animated shorts shown on Nickelodeon between the years 1999-2002, and a pilot in 1998. The film was financially successful, bringing in $13,832,786 on its opening weekend for an average of $4,407 from 3,139 theaters, and ended up with a total of $80,865,848 domestically, but the film did not do nearly as well outside of the US where it only made $22,056,304 which made a total of $102,992,536 worldwide. It had a budget of roughly $30 million. It originally aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons from July 20, 2002, to November 25, 2006. The shows ended in 2006, when its parent company, DNA Productions, became defunct. he movie's second spin-off series Planet Sheen premiered on October 2nd, 2010 on Nickelodeon. The series was originally produced by C.O.R.E. in Toronto, but production moved to Bardel Entertainment in Vancouver after C.O.R.E shut its doors. Nicktoons aired new episodes starting on May 4, 2012.

Back at the Barnyard
Barnyard is a 2006 computer-animated film, produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures was released on August 4, 2006. The film is the second Nickelodeon movie spun-off into a TV series, the first being Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Barnyard grossed $16 million on its opening weekend and made $73 million in its domestic theatrical release. It has made $108 million in its worldwide theatrical release. On January 22, 2010, Nickelodeon ordered 16 more episodes extending it to a third season. In March 2011, the show was in hiatus, due to the more recent Omation show "Planet Sheen" pausing production of "Back at the Barnyard" episodes. The hiatus stopped in August 2011 when they announced the remaining episodes will air on Nicktoons starting on September 12, 2011. This is Steve Oedekerk's second animated series for Nickelodeon, as he was one of the executive producers (but not the creator) of The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. The show ended on November 12, 2011, with 52 full episodes aired.

Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda topped the box office in its opening weekend, grossing $60,239,130 for a $14,642 average from 4,114 theaters and performing much better than analysts had been expecting. It also was the highest-grossing opening for a non-sequel DreamWorks Animation film at the time. Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness has a total 52 episodes have been produced in 2011 and so far with 27 episodes have aired. None of the original cast voice the animated series except for Lucy Liu. The animation is obviously low-graded from the films.

Dragons: Riders of Berk
How to Train Your Dragon topped the North American box office with $43.7 million in its first weekend of release. The film grossed $217,581,231 in the United States and Canada and $277,297,528 in foreign countries with a worldwide total of $494,878,759. Unlike the other Dreamworks film spin-offs, HTTYD series airs on Cartoon Network.  Dragons: Riders of Berk is an American computer-animated television series airing on Cartoon Network. The series is based on the 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon. One hour preview consisting of two episodes aired on August 7, 2012, with the official premiere of the series on September 4, 2012. A total of 20 episodes will air during the first season, and a second season has already been confirmed. The series features some of the original voice cast of the How to Train Your Dragon film, including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and T. J. Miller. The animation is not as vivid as the ones from the original film but not bad. The newer dragons look more low grade.

Monsters Vs. Aliens

Not that popular with fans and failed with critics. On its opening weekend, the film opened at No. 1, grossing $59.3 million in 4,104 theaters. The movie made $198,351,526 in the United States and Canada making it the second-highest grossing animated movie behind Up. Beside the main film, Monsters vs. Aliens franchise also includes a short film B.O.B.'s Big Break, Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space and Monsters vs. Aliens: Night of the Living Carrots. A TV series based on the film will air on Nickelodeon. Despite its success in the United States market, DreamWorks Animation's CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg was quoted in the Los Angeles Times that a sequel would not be made because of the film's weak performance in some key international markets. "There was enough of a consensus from our distribution and marketing folks in certain parts of the world that 'doing a sequel' would be pushing a boulder up a hill." Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that Nickelodeon has ordered a pilot for a Monsters vs. Aliens cartoon series. Eventually, the series was announced at the 2012 annual Nickelodeon upfront, being green-lit for 26 episodes.

There was a Top Cat movie?

Top Cat was an animated series by Hanna-Barbara that aired from September 27, 1961 to April 18, 1962 for a run of 30 episodes on the ABC network. A frequent plot-line revolved around the local beat policeman, Charles "Charlie" Dibble, NYPD and his ineffective attempts to evict the gang from the alley. The only reason that he wanted to be rid of them was that Top Cat and his gang were constantly attempting to earn a quick dollar—usually through an illegal scam.

 But there was a movie? And only released in Mexico and the UK?! Top Cat: The Movie is a 2011 3D Mexican flash-animated action-comedy film. The original Spanish dub was released throughout Mexico and Latin America in 2D and 3D selected theaters on September 16, 2011 and it was a critical and box office success, and the English version released in the United Kingdom in June 2012. It is also to be released in Australia and already released in Spain. Maybe the creators didn't think Americans would remember it but it is surprising that they chose Mexico. It is almost unheard of for a major American animation studio to make a film exclusively for Mexico.

Actors who age badly

 Sean Connery

Women might still find him sexy but I don't. I am 30 and growing up I just saw the old Indiana Jones' dad, I didn't see James Bond. He's 81. It wasn't drugs, fat or plastic surgery, just age.

 Marlon Brando

He was born in 1924 and passed on in 2004. I only saw him as the old fat coot. But was surprised when I first saw him in Rebel Without a Cause. He was damn sexy. But I can't get that old man image out of my head.

 Nick Nolte

He is 71. I have nothing against white hair but I can't keep that mugshot image out of my head. Some people might not agree that he used to be handsome, but he was in the movies wasn't he? He played leading men didn't he?

 Clint Eastwood

He's 82. People say how hot he was back in the day but I can't get the image of the crusty skeleton he has become these days. He is now a director and more touted for that these days. It was just age, no drugs or fat or anything like that.

Jack Nicholson

I know very few people that found him attractive. I see him more in a comedic sense. He just got old and fat, no drugs or plastic surgery. He has always been a big star. He's 75.

Mickey Rourke

I was so surprised how hot he was in that Harley Davidson movie, but plastic surgery and drugs and so many other factors played into his current appearance. But after Sin City and The Wrestler, he has had a 'comeback.' He's only 59, my dad is 56 and looks so much better!

Actors who don't seem to age

I thought I'd make a list of actors and celebrities who look forever young.

 

 Elijah Wood

He was born in 1981 and he is 31. Conan O' Brien even commented on how he doesn't age and asked if his secret was something like eels or babies. Elijah just has a baby face.

Dylan McDermott

He was born in 1961 and is 50, he doesn't look like it. And he looks EXACTLY the same he did in the 90's!

 Rider Strong
Best known for Boy Meets World, he says he hates that he is recognizable and looks exactly the same as back then.  was born in 1979 and is 33.

Johnny Depp

He is also said to look young. He is 43.

James Marsters

He's 49 and best known as Spike in Buffy. He didn't even look 40 when he was on Buffy!

Chris O'Donnell

42 years old and has five kids and hasn't aged a day over 30!

Dark Knight Rises Review

I didn't read any spoilers before seeing the movie so this article is only for those who say the movie.

SPOILERS
See this movie!

 I might be morbid but I can't help but think that this is the last movie that the victims of the shooting saw or were going to watch. So many issues of gun use ran through my head while watching the movie. Even Selena Kyle (Anne Hathaway) comments to Batman that she doesn't get his non-gun use. So if you saw the movie you know the basic plot: Bruce is disillusioned and a broken shell of a man until robbed by Kyle. He slowly starts 'getting back in the game' only to loose all his money in the stock market thanks to Bane, pupil of Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson, who made a cameo) and crazy motherfucker. He gets terrorists and take over the city after beating up Batman. Bruce is sent to a prison where he heard tale of a child who climbed up the well-like prison and assumes it is Bane. With a three times is a charm in a long spiraling story, Bruce goes through his own spiritual and physical journey and somewhat metamorphosis.

 I cried in the scene where Alfred is saying goodbye to Bruce, pleading for him to leave the Bat Cowl but Bruce refuses. Alfred talks about raising Bruce and hearing his baby cries at night echoing in the halls. Joseph Gordon Levitt is also a delight as hot shot police officer that figured out Bruce's identity because of his own orphaned past and close-up encounters with both Bruce and Batman. The only mistake (and I don't notice that many when I watch movies) I noticed in the movie was a minor glitch where Bruce's hand moves on his cane when first talking to Fox (Morgan Freeman) about the company. There were plenty of 'duh' moments and 'I expected that' but it is sort of excusable. Hathaway and Bale have electric chemistry and great banter. Some great one-liners. The 'challenge of soul and body' is a bit trite and overplayed and is manipulative but the harsh realism is what gets to me. C. Murphy also makes a cameo, marking his appearance in all three movies. 

I didn't get the title of the movie until I saw it. Dark Knight was the name of the last movie so 'Rises' felt like a redundant add-on but after seeing the movie, I get it. You can't top Heath Ledger's Joker but Tom Hardy's Bane is smart and lethal (even though he sounds like Patrick Stewart on helium on times or hard to understand). Joseph Gordon Levitt does a great job and half way through the movie, I already figured out the ending. As for Bruce Wayne's 'death,' the woman next to me was crying loudly and I was like... 'really?' Anyway, the movie had that awesome pay-back with Alfred spotting a familiar couple at the end of the movie. I didn't like much the actress who played Miranda (Marion Cotillard), she can play damsel in distress but not evil seductress. Matthew Modine as Foley look a bit like Harvey Dent from far away that it got confusing at times. Anyway, awesome end to the trilogy!

iCarly Headscratcher Spin-Offs

 http://www.nickandmore.com/2012/08/02/nickelodeon-picks-up-two-icarly-victorious-spin-offs-created-by-dan-schneider/

Dan Schneider’s new pilots at Nickelodeon – both are spinoffs of iCarly!

Sam and Cat would star Jennette McCurdy (as Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande (as Cat Valentine from VICTORiOUS) moving in together and starting a babysitting service to fund their adventures.

Gibby, starring Noah Munck as the title character, gets a job at a local recreational center and ends up as a mentor to four offbeat middle-school students.

Gibby sounds like Joey spin-off from Friends. Also, I have plenty of jokes about Sam and Cat.

My tweets:

Pairing Sam and Cat is like pairing Luna Lovegood with Betallrix Lastrange. 

Pairing Sam and Cat was like pairing Bender (Futurama) and Giselle (Enchanted). 

Sam Puckett babysitting? Worse idea ever! I smell a retcon in a spin-off.

 Sam Puckett is selfish, negative, violent and not a good role model for kids. I understand, oh let's pair two people who will have conflict all the time. But what would compel Sam to become a babysitter? I know Sam would probably not be going to college. I think the only way it would work would be if it is for like court appointed or part of some service because of a crime she did or something. Cat is an adorable space-cadet, I am sure Sam would want to punch her. I so see them getting rid of the babysitting plot by episode 3 like Aqua Team Hunger Squad.