Tag: Nickelodeon

Geekscape 484: Catching Up And Catching Gremlins With Cooper Barnes!

by Jonathan

‘Henry Danger’ star Cooper Barnes is a longtime Geekscapist and one of the only superheros that we can also call our friend (most are our enemies)! Before he suits up for a fifth season as Captain Man, Cooper drops by Geekscape to talk about whether or not this will be the show’s final season, how Nickelodeon broke it to him that Captain Man’s name won’t be in the title of the Henry Danger cartoon spin off and talk to us about Gremlins. Actually, about 80% of this episode is Cooper and I talking about Gremlins and working through the plotline of our proposed ‘Gremlins 3’ movie. And of course we talk some ‘Infinity War’ and a couple of other things. But yeah, it’s almost entirely Gremlins. Have fun.

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‘Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie’ Gets A Release Date & New Trailers!

by The_acz

It’s been over 20 years in the making, but we’re finally getting a proper sendoff to one of Nickelodeon’s most popular Nicktoons!

Nick has finally set a solid release date for the long-awaited Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie. The 2-part TV movie will air simultaneously on the Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, and  TeenNick channels on November 24th! The film will feature new voices for some of the main cast, including Arnold and Gerald, but there are also many returning voices such as Helga, Phoebe, Rhonda, and more!

Nick has been so kind to drop not one, but 2 whole trailers today! The first trailer can be found right here on Nick’s Youtube channel. The other trailer that can be found right below this article has a much different tone compared to the first.  Interested in seeing more of Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie before it releases? Check out our extensive coverage of the special from Comic-Con earlier this year!

 

 

SDCC 2017: Welcome To The Jungle! ‘Hey Arnold!’ Round-Table & Panel Recap!

by The_acz

Earlier last week at Comic-Con, not only did we see the return of Rocko’s Modern Life, but also Hey Arnold!  

After about 15 years, creator Craig Bartlett is finally being given the chance to make the ending to the show that he’s always wanted. Of course, before the big panel that was held on the 21st, I got the opportunity to sit down with some of the cast and crew of the film for a special Round-Table. I had the honor of talking to Craig Bartlett (Creator),Francesca Smith (Helga), and Anndi McAfee (Phoebe). All 3 were a joy to talk with and even had some fun things to say.

One of the first things I asked Craig was about a supposed leaked scene from the original Jungle Movie (which you can find right here). According to Craig, this “leaked scene” was actually one of the first animation tests they ever did for the film all the way back in the early 2000’s. “The scene never existed in any version of the film. It was just made as an animation test to present to Nick.” Bartlett said during the Round-Table. He went on to say that the current version of the film is not what the original version was 16 years ago. Bartlett told us that after having about 15 to think about it, he thinks he’s really cracked the story and feels very satisfied about the end product.

After that, I asked Francesca and Anndi about some of their favorite moments of the series.  They both agreed that some of their favorite moments were when both Helga and Phoebe’s friendships are tested to their breaking points. As for their favorite episodes, Anndi’s favorite is Preteen Screen, while Francesca & Craig really love Helga on the Couch.

After that, it was finally time for the main event! A giant crowd of eager fans walked into room 6A and were not disappointed during the following panel. Everyone from the old to new cast was there, including the original Arnold and Gerald (Toran Caudell & Jamil Walker Smith). The panel began with series composer Jim Lang taking to the stage and preforming a live rendition of the shows opening theme while everyone in the audience hummed and sang along to it. After that, they showed off some of the re-designed backgrounds including the boarding house at night and even Big Bob’s Beepers! (Yup!, still in the 90’s). They also talked to the new cast a bit as they didn’t know much about the series, but did understand how much it meant to a lot of people. After that, we finally got our first look at the film.

After everyone finished crying their eyes out, then came the Q&A and other fun facts. They talked about how the first table read for the film got everyone in one room and that it was a very emotional reunion as Francesca and Anndi finally got to read their lines together for the first time in almost 13 years. Craig was asked where he got the idea for Gerald’s 33 shirt. He responded: “I don’t know. It just seemed like a cool number.

Finally, the panel closed out with Craig finally hinting at the reveal of Arnold’s last name, and the mystery of the green eyed people. The biggest bombshell dropped was when he said that even though The Jungle Movie is set to wrap up the series, it also sets it up to continue to a new season of the show! The crowd went absolutely wild at the mention of this, and the cast told the audience that if we really want to see a new season, we’ll have to ask Nick and make sure the film get’s great ratings. Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie will release later this year on Nickelodeon.

SDCC 2017: Return To Earth! ‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ Round-Table & Panel Recap!

by The_acz

Late last year when Nick announced they were bringing back Rocko’s Modern Life with the original cast and crew including, fans were excited, but nervous about it. What would it look like in the age of digital and flash animation? Would the humor from the show remain in tact? While we wouldn’t know for sure, this week answered both of those questions with a resounding YES! 

Before the big panel that took place on Thursday July 20th, I was lucky enough to attend a round-table interview with some of the talent before-hand. This included Tom Kenny (Heffer), Mr. Lawrence (Filburt), and Cosmo Segurson the director. Lawrence and Kenny talked about how the past couple of years they didn’t really realize just how popular the internet made Rocko until they started doing small live reunion shows. Lawrence told us that they would constantly sell out the venue they were performing in, and realized that there was a big demand for Rocko to come back. They also commented on how the tone and humor will defintley be in tact. Kenny, Lawrence, and Segurson all said “It just wouldn’t be Rocko without any of those things.” (Let us never forget the Chokey Chicken.)

After that, it was finally time for the panel. All of the main cast and crew were there. Everyone from Joe Murray, the shows creator, to Charlie Adler, Ed and Bev Bighead themselves. This had to be the most adult panel Nick has ever hosted. Not surprising since this is Rocko, but still a bit odd after seeing how squeaky clean & friendly the network has been for about the past decade.  They began the panel by showing off updated character models and backgrounds. Everything was lively, sharp, and animated. They even joked about the fact the Joe wasn’t used to looking at the show in HD. 

They then went on to talk about how hesitant they were to bring the show back. They didn’t just want to bring it back because that’s what’s currently happening in pop culture. They wanted to make sure of 2 things: That 1, they could get the original cast and crew on board, and 2, they’d be able to have creative control over the project since they wanted the characters to e able to say something about modern day culture and technology. They then confirmed that the special will be 100% hand drawn! Not only that, but the same for the backgrounds also as all of them were hand painted. After the crowd erupted into applause, it was time to finally show off a clip of the special in action!

Afterwards they got a bit serious. One of the most important topics brought up was that Really Really Big Man’s nipples will still remain in tact for the special! Phew, that was a close one. The cast also improved Rocko as a phone sex operator again. If you hadn’t put the kids to bed by now, this would be a good time to. Finally, to wrap things up, one of the last questions asked was what surprised Joe the most about working on the special. All he replied was: “The fact that I ended up really enjoying it.” The panel ended on surprisingly emotional level, and was an absolute blast! Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling will release in 2018.

 

 

 

Geekscape Reviews: ThinkGeek’s Reptar Back Buddy Backpack

by Natalie Kipper

I may have mainly grown up on Disney but that doesn’t mean I didn’t also occasionally enjoy other entertainment venues, like Nickelodeon, in my youth. And I know I am not alone. Those of us who watched the network’s cartoon Rugrats, in the 90’s are sure to be thrilled that the good people at ThinkGeek recently listed a store-exclusive Reptar Back Buddy Backpack ($39.99) on their site. Reptar the dinosaur was one of the the show’s made-up media icons, featured on cereal boxes and chocolate bars as well as in toy aisles and even his own ice skating show.

Here is the fantastic beast in all his backpack-y glory! Reptar measures 20 inches tall and 16 and a half inches long (including the tail). And there is no need for you to be concerned about the bag’s arm straps being too short. They are extendable enough to fit most adults, even larger ones.

Just in case you forgot which network was home to Reptar and his Rugrats friends, there was a colorful glossy tag attached to his left claw to remind you.

Here is a view of Reptar’s left side (the right side can be seen in the header image). This plush backpack is so downy soft that even the felt of his teeth are a tactile delight. Reptar’s “body” is ever-so-slightly under-stuffed, most likely to help accommodate the storage of more items. A bonus side effect of this is that he is super-squishy and a treat to hug. On the off chance you prefer your dinosaurs to be more tightly-stuffed, add some items into the zippered compartment in his back and you are good to go.

The blue spines on Reptar’s back are soft as well. I suspect that is why some of them have a tendency to flop over if left unattended. If you plan to wear this backpack in a busy place, like a con or a mall, be aware that the tail does extend outward and that is something that you should keep in mind when maneuvering down aisles or through crowds.

This is the position of the backpack’s straps. I didn’t have any problem with the straps getting twists while in use but after I have noticed it happening after a cuddling session or two. Thankfully, it can be easily remedied. The straps themselves are soft and non-abrasive – something I was concerned about when I saw the picture of them online.

A typical problem with plush backpacks are their lack of storage capacity. This issue is surprisingly nonexistent when it comes to the Reptar Backpack, however. The zippered compartment, found on the dinosaur’s back, opens wide and can hold a ton.

How much is “a ton?” Well, I successfully toted around an iPad Mini 2, wallet and keys, earbuds, infinity scarf, fingerless gloves, and sundries bag (which, as you can see, is about the same size as the iPad Mini 2 –  a smidgen bigger than 8 inches by five inches). Oh, and my iPhone S. That isn’t in the picture because I used it to take the photos for this review.

This backpack has only one flaw, albeit a minor one. After one day’s use, some of the paint on the zipper was already starting to wear off. This is purely cosmetic and hardly noticeable unless under intense scrutiny but still something that should be noted.

I had so much fun with this Reptar Back Buddy Backpack. I even received several compliments walking around with him (five in the span of one afternoon!). Plus, he is just a great travel buddy, even doubling as a cushion during waiting room visits. I award this wearable piece of nostalgia a 5 out of 5.

[This review is based on a sample provided by ThinkGeek. All opinions are my own.]

SDCC 2016: Past Meets Present At Nickelodeon’s ‘Happy Happy! Joy Joy!’ Panel

by Natalie Kipper

Nickelodeon’s panel, “Happy Happy! Joy Joy!” celebrated 25 years of original animation on the kids’ channel. And there were no better guest speakers to join moderator Hector Navarro than Craig Bartlett (creator of Hey Arnold!), Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly Oddparents), Arlene Klasky (co-creator of Rugrats), and Jhonen Vasquez (creator of Invader Zim).

To start the discussion off, the speakers on the panel were asked what were their favorite shows that they didn’t work on. Butch chose Spongebob Squarepants. Craig’s was Fairly Oddparents. And both Arlene and Jhonen named Ren and Stimpy as their choice.

The panel then went on to describe their favorite “fan moment.” For Craig, it was seeing fan art and comments. One particular moment was when Carolyn Franke wrote a Hey Arnold! piece for The AV Club. Butch’s favorite experience was seeing a Fairly Oddparents  merchandise question on a gameshow. He also enjoyed meeting fans. Arlene told a story about her doing a signing at Cal State Fullerton during which a fan told her, “Thank you for everything you have done.” Jhonen also told an anecdote. During a signing, he met a fan who watched Invader Zim as a child. He now had children of his own and watches the show with them. Jhonen liked being part of a family’s memories.

The discussion then transitioned to Arlene discussing her memories of Rugrats. When asked about her favorite moment from the show, Arlene replied that it would come from the future, “if” Rugrats was brought back.

The idea for Rugrats came from the time when Arlene was home with her young children. She had taken 14 months off of work and was considering not returning. However, she couldn’t “turn off” her creative thinking process.

SDCC 2016 Hey Arnold 1

Craig was then given the floor to talk about Hey Arnold! and the series’ upcoming movie, Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie. He never believed he would get a chance to create more Hey Arnold! material. But as fans who grew up watching the show became adults, they pushed for more Hey Arnold! on social media. Their online chatter allowed for the movie to be made.

SDCC 2016 Hey Arnold 2

The characters’ designs have received an update as they are a year older in the film. The Jungle Movie will answer a lot of questions fans had while watching the show. The storyline deals with Arnold searching for his missing parents. The movie will premiere around Thanksgiving 2017 as two-hour TV event. Fans can expect the next SDCC to have plenty of Hey Arnold! content.

SDCC 2016 bunsen

Butch’s next series is called Bunsen is a Beast. In the show, Bunsen is the first beast to attend a human school. There, he befriends a human boy named Mikey. The two learn about each others’ different worlds. The show focuses on the pair’s friendship. Bunsen lives in a Monster House, which is a living entity and provides gags of its own in the show. Within the house are doors to different worlds and anywhere the friends want to go. That mechanic offers a limitless supply of story idea. Bunsen is a Beast premiers in 2017.

Finally, the floor was given to Jhonen. Invader Zim was his first cartoon experience and he had no clue how “things went down.” He transitioned directly from the comic book world. When Jhonen first saw Zim’s walking animation, he had the feeling of “Oh my god, this is really happening.” It was a challenge to translate the art style from his comic book for animation. Eventually, he began change his style a bit and designed things with the animation process in mind. Jhonen felt that was the toughest part of the process. It was noted that Invader Zim comics are still being published today.

One of the big highlights of the panel was the premier of the Jhonen’s animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short, “Don vs. Raph.” He loved Ninja Turtles as a child. He felt that it had a “sense of person” behind the art. He loved the idea that there was a person whose life revolved around writing and drawing such material. That concept inspired his career path. Working on “Don vs. Raph” was a refreshing change of pace for him. The short can be viewed here.

SDCC 2016: Enter The Temple! Check Out The Trailer For ‘Legends Of The Hidden Temple!’

by The_acz

Just a couple of hours ago Nick finished up their panel for the hit 90’s game show Legends of the Hidden Temple, and with that, they premiered the trailer for it.

The trailer shows off a bit more of the story and will give some insight into the lore of the temple, and all of its inhabitants. The trailer also provides plenty of references to the original show (including a certain colored monkey statue that shall not be named.) Check it out below and tell us in the comments if you’re excited for it!

Good Smile Company Is Making A ‘The Legend of Korra’ Nendoroid!

by Natalie Kipper

Good Smile Company recently announced that they were releasing a Nendoroid Korra from Nickelodeon’s animated TV show The Legend of Korra. The reveal was a surprise but not without precedent. Other American licenses have had moments in the GSC spotlight. Captain America, Batman, Iron Man, and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have their own figures. Given The Legend of Korra‘s aesthetic, it seems a great fit for this style of figure. Now, let’s take a look at her.

NendoKorra1

For the most part, Korra is fairly simple figure. She comes with only one expression, unlike the majority of the other Nendoroids on the market. Her hair is jointed, according to the product listing. Korra comes with two bending effects parts that each have their own stands. She also has interchangeable parts to let her appear as though she is leaping into the air or posing on the ground.

NendoKorra2

Nendoroid Korra is currently only available to pre-order in the United States. She can be found at the Good Smile Company online store as well as partnering retailers. She costs ￥4,444 before tax and is scheduled to ship this November.

SDCC 2016: Nickelodeon is Bringing the 90’s to San Diego Comic-Con!

by J.C. Marquez

Children of the 90’s, if you’re headed to the San Diego Comic-Con, prepare to scream!

Earlier today, Nickelodeon revealed their plans to transform over 1,800 square feet of the convention floor at Comic-Con into an interactive monument to many of their beloved 90’s shows such as Ren & Stimpy, Hey Arnold!, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, CatDog, Rocco’s Modern Life, and ‘Double Dare along with games, activities, giveaways, talent signings, and other surprise guests! Ever dreamed of hanging out on the stoop from Hey Aronold!? Did you ever fantasize about picking a red flag out of the giant nose from Double Dare? Next month, fans will be able to do all that plus more. Additionally, King Olmec will act as Keeper of Nickelodeon’s booth over the course of Comic-Con and has this special message to all attendees taken from today’s press release:

“Those who dare to pass through the sacred gates of Comic-Con will enter a world of nostalgic treasure, artifacts and trivia from Nickelodeon’s treasured archive. The choice to enter is your and your alone.”

The booth will also host talent from a bevy of Nickelodeon shows (past and present) to sign throughout Comic-Con. Scheduled to appear are the All That cast, Legends of the Hidden Temple cast, SpongeBob Squarepants voice talent, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles voice talent, and various artists from The Wild Thronberrys, Hey Arnold!, Invader Zim, Rugrats, Rocket Power, The Fairly Odd Parents!

Aside from the booth, here is a full listing of the panels Nickelodeon will be hosting at the convention:

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!: 25 Years of Nickelodeon Original Animation

Thursday, July 21, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (Room: 6A) – For 25 years Nickelodeon has produced some of the most innovative and memorable animation in the history of television. Nick Animation Podcast host Hector Navarro finds out how and why four of the network’s most influential creators did what they did: Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Jhonen Vasquez(Invader Zim), Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom) and Arlene Klasky, who along with Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain, created Rugrats. Don’t miss the chance to see production art from the upcoming TV movie Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie; animation from Hartman’s new Bunsen is a Beast!; and the world premiere of Don vs Raph, a TMNT animated short written and produced by Jhonen Vasquez.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Return to New York

Friday, July 22, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (Room: 6A) – They travelled time and space to save planet Earth, and now the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return home!  Executive producers Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman share sneak peeks of the epic adventures and new characters that await the Turtles when they return to the streets of NY in season four.  On hand will be the extraordinary voice actors of the TMNT world: Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Gwendoline Yeo(Shinigami) and Eric Bauza (Tiger Claw). Also, witness the world premiere of two never-before-seen TMNT animated shorts presented by TMNT co-creator, Kevin Eastman.  The panel will be moderated by Andre Meadows (Black Nerd Comedy).

She Made That?: Nickelodeon Hosts Women in Animation

Friday, July 22, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Room: 24ABC) – Join this group of innovative and pioneering female cartoon creators for a discussion on their careers and the opportunities for women in animation today.  Panelists include women responsible for the original Nicktoons from the 1990s and others who are making some of today’s best animation for TV and the web.  The panel will include Lauren Faust (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic), Mary Harrington (Invader Zim, Hey Arnold!),Vanessa Coffey (The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rugrats), Rikke Asbjoern (Pinky Malinky), Margaret Dean (Women in Animation) and Maija Burnett (California Institute of the Arts).

Back to the 90’s: Nickelodeon’s All That Reunion and Legends of the Hidden Temple!

Saturday, July 23, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (Room: 6A) – Join Nickelodeon’s throwback programming block, The Splat, for a reunion of the trailblazing sketch comedy series’ major players, Josh Server, Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg and Kel Mitchell, discussing all things All That, with a few added surprises.  Plus, get the first look at Nick’s new TV movie based onLegends of the Hidden Temple and hear about it from returning cast members Kirk Fogg and Dee Bradley Baker, along with Isabela Moner (Transformers 5).  The panel will be moderated by Entertainment Weekly staff writer, Marc Snetiker.

Rocco’s Modern Life and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters were my absolute favorite cartoon as a kid, and if the artists and voice talent make an appearance, I will lose my mind. Geekscapists, what panel are you most excited about? Sound off in the comments below!

The Next ‘Splatoon’ Splatfest Theme Is. . . .Spongebob?

by The_acz

Today, Nintendo announced the new theme for this month’s splatfest, and the result may just surprise you. Turns out, this month’s splatfest will be based off. . . . .Spongebob Squarepants?!? That’s right, all of those miiverse joke posts are now paying off. Who do you prefer more: Spongebob or Patrick? No specific dates on when the actual splatfest will be held, but we do know that voting starts tomorrow. Which side are YOU on? Let us know in the comments below!

Nickelodeon Is Releasing A ‘Legends Of The Hidden Temple’ Live Action Movie!

by Shane O'Hare

File this under 100% pure nostalgia pleasing. Nickelodeon, the network that helped sculpt 90’s kids into the ironic hipsters that we are, is going back to it’s roots. They have green-lit a live action Legends of The Hidden Temple movie based off of the hit game show!

Production begins in March on the film. Unfortunately we aren’t going to be seeing the Purple Parrots failing to get across the water in the opening games. This is a high stakes action adventure movie based on the show. Three kids are after an ancient Mayan treasure as they embark on a journey into a…Mayan hidden temple.

The TV movie Legends of the Hidden Temple will follow three siblings who break away from a lackluster temple tour in a jungle, finding themselves immersed in a real-life mission comprised of obstacles that they must complete in order to escape alive. The TV movie will feature elements from the original game show including: Olmec, a talking head who knows the secrets behind the temple; The Steps of Knowledge, the entrance to the temple and launching pad for the mission; and cameos from a green monkey, red jaguar, and silver snakes, among others.  Legends of the Hidden Temple is executive produced by Scott McAboy and Jessica Rhoades, and produced by Amy Sydorick. The TV movie is directed by Joe Menendez (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) and written by Jonny Umansky & Zach Hyatt, and Alex Reid.

This announcement is on the heels of a push for Nickelodeon to bring their 90’s programming to the 10’s.

I cannot wait to see this movie. Yeah it will be for a much younger audience, but Legends of The Hidden Temple was one of my favorite shows growing up. One thing I love about seeing properties from my youth redone, is getting all the different references to the original work.

No release date has been announced.

Geekscape 398: Camping Out With ‘Gravity Falls’ Composer Brad Breeck!

by Jonathan

Brad Breeck is a musician and composer with some of our favorite TV credits, including Disney shows ‘Gravity Falls’, ‘Star vs The Forces of Evil’, Nickelodeon’s ‘Fanboy and Chumchum’ and MTV’s ‘Awkward’! He drops by to talk about how he got his start in TV composing and where he gets his inspiration… and maybe why it’s not always a plus to be first in school! I also profess my love for MTV’s ‘The Shannara Chronicles’ and we try and give Brad the perfect nickname! Enjoy!

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Check Out The Official Trailer For ‘TMNT: Out Of The Shadows’!

by The_acz

Even though it wasn’t due to release until tomorrow, Paramount has decided to stop teasing fans and finally give them the first official trailer for the sequel to Jonathan Liebesman’s 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Directed by Dave Green this time around, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows continues the 2014 reboot story while also finally adding fan favorite characters such as Casey Jones, Bebop and Rocksteady, and Baxter Stockman (now played by Tyler Perry.) While the first film wasn’t received well by both fans and critics, the sequel seems to be much more faithful to its more comedic roots. Bebop and Rocksteady look pretty cool as well. Check out the trailer (as well as a picture of the infamous duo) below!

TMNT 2

Linda Ellerbee, ‘Nick News’ Journalist, Retires After 44 Years

by Eric Francisco

After four decades as a television journalist, Linda Ellerbee is signing off, according to Variety. She will finish up on December 15, where Nickelodeon will air a retrospective on her 25-year career on Nick News.

“I’m a lucky woman,” said Ellerbee to Variety. “I saw the world, met many of the world’s most interesting people and was well paid to do so. Now I choose to go, and I go smiling. I’ve had a great time. And thank you for asking, but, no, I don’t intend to mellow.”

A native Texan known for her humor and style, Ellerbee began as a TV news correspondent in the ’70s before she landed the gig of co-anchor with Lloyd Dobyns for NBC News Overnight in 1982. She started hosting and producing for Nickelodeon in 1991 with Nick News, which helped kids such as myself better understand harrowing world events like the AIDS crisis, the racial motivations of the 1995 Oklahoma bombings, 9/11, the Kuwait invasion, and the Iraq War.

We ’90s kids like to wear rose glasses when it comes to pop culture nostalgia, but the ’90s were also a pretty shitty time, and it got even worse when we came of age at the turn of the century. But there was Linda Ellerbee, calm as a summer breeze, who walked through us the danger that lurked outside our door. But with intelligence and grace, she treated us like adults and taught us to not be afraid. For young bloggers and journalists like myself, Ellerbee represents one of the first known figures in reporting, and we couldn’t have had a better role model.

And so it goes. Thank you, Linda Ellerbee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgyGfqFm7a4

‘Power Rangers Dino Charge’ Returning to TV Sooner Than Previously Announced

by Eric Francisco

I’m currently away for my sister’s wedding and planned on not writing anything, but I was called back to action when I was given the news: Power Rangers Dino Charge will return on Nickelodeon on August 22, at 12 pm ET. That’s a whole week earlier than what we were told at Comic-Con.

And along with this announcement is a brand-new trailer for your eyeballs.

I remember how great sports the Dino Charge cast were in San Diego. They repeated “August 29th, at 11 am” like drones, slyly letting us know how important but tiresome promotion can be. I’m trying to speculate what caused the bump. Are they trying to burn off the episodes quicker to keep the show’s ratings going? Would a week later really kill buzz?

SDCC 2015: The Cast of ‘Power Rangers Dino Charge’ Want Lightsabers, a Team Up With Khaleesi and ‘Arrow’

by Eric Francisco

Power Rangers Dino Charge has been kicking butt.

Under the leadership and direction of Chip Lynn and its charismatic, electric cast to captivate you, Power Rangers is finally a show worth getting excited about again. It’s smart, compelling, riveting, and most of all, entertaining. If I had a son, daughter, or even a little nephew (Actually I do, but he’s too into Call of Duty to care) we would easily bond over Dino Charge. It’s been a true return to form of what makes Power Rangers great without cheaply aping Mighty Morphin’ or anything that came before it.

At the “Power Lounge,” a luxurious space across the San Diego Convention Center decorated to the brim with Power Rangers merchandise and collectibles, the cast of Power Rangers Dino Charge were hanging out and having the time of their lives. The whole gang was there: Brennan Meija (Tyler, the Red Ranger), Camille Hyde (Shelby, the Pink Ranger and the franchise’s first African-American girl to wear pink), Yoshi Sudarso (Koda, the Blue Ranger and dyed-in-the-wool Power Rangers fan), Michael Tarber (Riley, the Green Ranger), James Davies (Chase, the Black Ranger) and Claire Blackwelder (Kendall, the Rangers’ aide, like Alpha 5 but way cuter).

While sipping on a “super charged” lemonade sorbet… thing… that the lounge staff were serving, I sat down with the cast of Dino Charge to get the scoop on some curious happenings on the show and to find out, once and for all, is Kendall going to finally morph? She totally will. Right?

Credit: Paula Gaetos of The Tokusatsu Network.
Credit: Paula Gaetos of The Tokusatsu Network.

First of all, welcome to Comic-Con. How has it been for you guys so far?

James Davies: It’s been great, so much fun.

Camille Hyde: It’s been really fun. It’s our first time here, so it’s pretty overwhelming, but in the best way. It’s kind of like an adult Disneyland. All of the people here, all of the fans, are kind of like young kids again, seeing all of their superheroes.

About that, because geek culture has just gotten so big, everyone’s really into it. Are you surprised by how older the audience could skew for Power Rangers even though it’s still a kids’ show?

Brennan Meija: We’re still fans, so, not really. We grew up watching it, and still watch it.

Yoshi Sudarso: I can see that it’s been more accepted recently because I used to watch Super Sentai and all that other stuff, but I never knew, although my friends that did, but now as it’s coming out, it’s like, “Oh, bro, you’re a Ranger!” Then he’s like, “I love Super Sentai” I was like, “Me too!” We have to talking about it. So many of my friends are into Super Sentai but none of us talk about it. Except for *FBR, obviously. It’s really interesting to see all of that.”

*(FBR is “Facebook Rangers,” the largest community of Power Rangers fans on Facebook.)

How much have your expectations changed from when you started the show to now?

Camille Hyde: I think going in, for us, at first, in the beginning of the season there was a lot of heart, it was very action filled, but going towards the end of the first season and going into Dino Super Charge, it gets pretty intense. So it’s very appealing to not only young kids, but also older adults too, because it’s gotten kind of gritty, and that’s awesome because it’s so much more real.

Michael Tarber: Yeah, the exposition’s been laid out, so now it’s time for the bang bang bang finish, see what happens.

Talk to me about your characters guys, individually. What kind of changes can we expect through their return this season?

Yoshi Sudarso: Koda’s going to eat more burgers and speak a little faster. [laughs]

Camille Hyde: He starts speaking, yeah. [laughs] He gets a little more fluent. He does. Shelby in the beginning she was a little insecure about knowing how smart she was and how she was competent and could keep up with the guys, like in episode one, she didn’t know if she could go off and fight monsters. Towards the end, she starts helping Tyler lead the team, and she starts to feel more grounded with her abilities.

Brennan Meija: Tyler starts off pretty goofy in the beginning. There’s still that element there, of course, as the season goes on, and we enter the second season, as well. I think there’s a level of a serious tone that starts to play within him as the fight gets more real, the stakes get higher, he’s still searching for his dad, as well. All those elements make for a more overall rounded and serious character who is there, not only to find his dad but to lead a team to save the world.

I’m  hearing this a lot. We may not get a full-blown “serious” Power Rangers, but are we really going to see a hard-hitting show. Is that really true?

Camille Hyde: Yeah, it is.

Michael Tarber: We wanted to swing from the fences from the very beginning. That’s been all of our goals, including our EP, Chip, and we from the beginning have always wanted to take a chance and go for as great of a show as we could possibly get. I didn’t want to say good, because we want to go great. Totally.

Claire, if you don’t mind me digging in a little bit, will we see Kendall morph in the future at all?

Claire Blackwelder: Kendall has a lot of things coming up for her that are very exciting, but she has a lot on her plate with the Ranger base, right now. As far as changes that you can see with Kendall, she’s going to lighten up in some ways and toughen up in others, and you just got to be excited to see what happens with her.

Yoshi Sudarso: Like I said yesterday in the panel, she’s not Cam. She’s not going to just make a duplicate of herself. [laughs] We need someone to hold the base down!

It’s funny you mention that. Yoshi, you’re kind of like the David Tennant of Power Rangers.  You were the super fan who ended up living his wildest dreams. Have the fans treated you any differently since you’ve been on the show?

Yoshi Sudarso: Since I knew a lot of the fans before a lot of this started, most of them are still my friends. It’s not like I’m going to treat them any differently. We still hang out, we still talk Ranger stuff, I’m still on FBR talking about the things, so I just do my own thing. I think it’s really cool that they are treating me as a Ranger, and it’s less jealousy, more admiration and wanting to push them a little bit harder. I was afraid that it would be [bad]. Sometimes that is how the world is with fandoms, but I think it was received very well and I’m super happy about it.

So, what do you guys nerd over? Did you see it here at Comic-Con?

Brennan Meija: The CW [shows]! The Flash and Arrow. Oh my God. I want to get on those shows so badly! We should do a crossover.

Michael Tarber: Star Wars. I’m so obsessed!

Camille Hyde: Yeah, I love Star Wars.

Michael Tarber: I am so excited! People were hating on the new lightsaber. I actually think it’s pretty cool.

I think it’s badass.

Michael Tarber: I think it’s totally cool. I’m so happy that J.J. Abrams is taking over the franchise, and they’re filming with film, so it’s a real gritty look. I love everything that I’ve seen so far. I’m disappointed I had to miss the Lucasfilm panel this afternoon. I’m sure I can watch it somewhere online. Definitely Star Wars.

James Davies: Like Brandon, I’ve just gotten into the Arrow TV series. I’m a little bit late into it, but it’s seriously inspiring. Obviously The Flash is great as well. His [Grant Gustin’s] acting as well is just so natural and it’s really inspiring to people so I love it.

Claire Blackwelder: Well, the things that I nerd out over are Tolstoy, classical piano, and Shakespeare. I don’t think I’m going to see that here. [laughs]

If you look hard enough, you can.

Claire Blackwelder: Really? We’re going to have to talk after this because I got to find some of that! [laughs]

Camille Hyde: I’m a huge Star Wars fan as well, so I can’t wait to see Episode 7! I think it’s going to be amazing. I’m also a huge Hunger Games fan, so today when I was hearing about some of the fans coming to get our autographs, [they were] talking about going to see the Hunger Games people, I freaked out. I was like, “Where are they?” [laughs] I’m going to take someone out to go find them!

Michael Tarber: It was a crazy thought to think that an Oscar winner, Jennifer Lawrence, was signing autographs ten feet behind us.

Camille Hyde: I was like, “Excuse me, do you mind if I slip away to go to the bathroom?”

Claire Blackwelder: Oh! Game of Thrones!

(At this point there is massive crosstalk among the cast due to their fandom and love for Game of Thrones, making it difficult to transcribe. It was hard to tell who was saying what.)

Can we talk about how crazy this last season was?

Yoshi Sudarso: Wait wait wait! I haven’t seen the last season.

OK, then. Without spoiling or mentioning you-know-what, what did you guys think? What was your emotional feeling? Loss, anger…

Michael Tarber: I don’t know if I’ve accepted it. I’m in denial. It’s the first step of the grieving process, that’s what I’ll say.

So going off of that and the whole Comic-Con experience: In a world of possibilities, if Power Rangers can cross over with anything, what would you want to cross over with?

Brennan Meija: DC. Justice League. All the way.

Really?

Brennan Meija: Yeah, going against Darkseid? Are you kidding me? That’d be great!

Camille Hyde: Yeah, it’d be pretty epic.

Michael Tarber: I’m just saying, if Riley could trade in his Dino Saber for a Jedi lightsaber…

Camille Hyde: Ohhh!

Michael Tarber: That would be pretty cool! Maybe a Darth Maul-like double-sided green saber.

Yoshi Sudarso: It ain’t too far fetched to go into Marvel. I mean, we already got Leopardon on there, we might as well get the Rangers on there. Stan Lee, if you’re listening, we need to get on this and bring Leopardon back in, you know what I’m saying? [laughs] We could have the Megazord on there.

James Davies: Arrow all the way, man.

Michael Tarber: Yeah, like a cool “Ranger Arrow,” or something like that.

And Claire, I assume you’re with Game of Thrones?

Claire Blackwelder: Oh yeah.

Yoshi Sudarso: Oh, that’d be tight!

Brennan Meija: Fighting the dragons?

Michael Tarber: If Khaleesi could somehow come and become a Power Ranger, I would not… A dragon zord? I wouldn’t complain if she was part of our team.

Credit: Paula Gaetos of The Tokusatsu Network.
Credit: Paula Gaetos of The Tokusatsu Network.

On Instagram, there was a post from the Power Rangers account saying, “The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers will crossover with the Power Rangers Dino Charge!” We didn’t hear anything else. What’s the story behind that?

Camille Hyde: I don’t know.

Yoshi Sudarso: I think it’s just talking about how people want the three dinosaur teams to meet up, just like the Sentai. I guess you guys will have to find out if that’ll happen or not.

Camille Hyde: Yeah. If fans want it, you may never know!

Michael Tarber: Part of the magic of the creativity that the fans bring to the franchise.

Any last words about Power Rangers and what we can expect this season?

Camille Hyde: You’re going to see some new Rangers, you’re going to see some new villains, and new powers. You’re going to have to tune in.

Michael Tarber: The stakes are raised…

Brennan, Camille, Yoshi, James, Michael, and Claire: On August 29th at noon on Nickelodeon!

Wait, August 28th at 11 am?

[group laugh]

Is that it?

Brennan Meija: Yes! Yes!

Yoshi Sudarso: Yes, that’s perfect. You got it.

Power Rangers Dino Charge returns on August 29th at noon on Nickelodeon. I think. Special thanks to Paula Gaetos of The Tokusatsu Network for taking the photos!

‘Rugrats’ & ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’ Voice Actress Christine Cavanaugh Passes Away (1963-2014)

by Eric Francisco

From Indiewire: Christine Cavanaugh, iconic voice actress from ’90s cartoons Rugrats, Dexter’s Laboratory, and many others, sadly passed away today in Los Angeles. She was 51.

Christine Cavanaugh was best known for voicing Chuckie in Rugrats, the titular Dexter of Dexter’s Laboratory, Gosalyn in Darkwing Duck, and piglet Babe in the 1995 Oscar-nominated movie Babe. In addition to voice acting, she guest starred in several TV dramas such as The X-Files, sitcoms Cheers and Everybody Loves Raymond, and even had a small role in Jerry Maguire (1996).

The current state of click-bait culture contains hyperbolic speech such as “ruined my childhood” or “gut punch right in the childhood.” For once, this one actually feels like a total sucker punch. Her most well-known roles were the lovable loser Chuckie in Rugrats and the adorably villainous Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory, pop culture staples in all millennials’ memories.

Dexter was a unique cartoon anti-hero. He had all the makings of a villain, but he still had the heart and want to do good. It was exactly the kind of entry-level character for kids at the time to understand the nuances of good, evil, and the shades of grey in between.

Yet, I believe it was her role as Chuckie from Rugrats that will make most 20-somethings well with tears. Chuckie was the best friend of the brave, fearless protagonist Tommy Pickles, and he was in every way different from him. He was a coward, he had asthma, he was awkward, and he didn’t really fit in. I suspect a lot of kids channeled their insecurities with Chuckie. Furthermore, Chuckie had some of the best story arcs in the entire show. (I realize I’m talking about a children’s cartoon here, but this was also the era that gave us Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series. What did your era of cartoons have?) Chuckie was raised by a single, also-awkward dad, and in several key episodes (and the 2000 movie Rugrats in Paris) they addressed his mother’s absence. She more than likely passed away from an illness, but it was never made explicit.

All kids have to deal with death at unfairly early points in their lives, but for many children in the late-’90s Rugrats was likely the first cartoon to talk to them pretty frankly about it. There is no magic or alien planet where the deceased are metaphorically “gone,” there’s no spell to try to bring them back. Rugrats was a cartoon grounded in a tangible reality not unlike our own through the point-of-view of children whose active imaginations haven’t been ruined by the pessimism of the world.

In the closing moments of the episode “Mother’s Day” where they confront Chuckie’s deceased mother full-on, there is a touching, heart-warming moment in the show where Chuckie realizes his mother isn’t truly gone but always with him “in all good things.” (He realizes this at the age of 2, he’ll have some pretty healthy emotional intelligence as an adult.)

It’s a sweet poem regardless of its cartoon-y origins, and felt it was appropriate for the departure of Christine Cavanaugh. Below is the poem, courtesy of Rugrats Wiki:

My sweet, little Chuckie, though I must leave you behind me

This poem will tell you where you always can find me.

When a gentle wind blows, that’s my hand on your face.

And when the tree gives you shade, that’s my sheltering embrace.

When the sun gives you freckles, that’s me tickeling my boy.

When the rain wets your hair, those are my tears of joy.

When the long grass enfolds you, that’s me holding you tight.

When the Whippoorwill sings, that’s me whispering, “Night, night.”

In 2001, Christine Cavanaugh retired from the industry to be with her family.

RIP, Christine Cavanaugh. You can read her obituary in The Los Angeles Times here.

Brand New ‘Power Rangers Dino Charge’ Teaser Has Almost Entirely New Footage

by Eric Francisco

Power Rangers Super Megaforce mercifully came to an end today. Two years a “Legendary War” was hyped that lasted just under four minutes and was predominantly recycled Gokaiger scenes. There’s supposed to be an extended cut airing this Monday night, but safe to say fans have moved on to greener pastures. Those pastures being 2015’s Power Rangers Dino Charge.

After the abysmal finale to the abysmal Super Megaforce, Nickelodeon aired a brand-new teaser to Power Rangers Dino Charge, different than what was shown at this year’s Power MorphiCon and Licensing Expo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebu9oPWZ7WE

It’s almost entirely new footage! And we get a great look at the villain, the first original villain in Power Rangers since the Disney era. But the teaser itself is really just okay, and not too different from what a Megaforce promo looked like.

But it’s Dino Charge! There are legitimate reasons to be excited. Beloved producer Judd Lynn has returned to helm the series, and the characters just look great. For those unfamiliar with showrunner Judd Lynn, it’s the rough equivalent of having Bruce Timm (showrunner of the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series) work on Gotham. But the standout is actress Camille Hyde, who will be playing the Pink Ranger. While unfortunate she’s the only woman on the team (for now), she is breaking ground as the first black Pink Ranger, which is a first in the twenty-plus years that Power Rangers has been on air. Twenty years. Better late than never. And hey, not even the Marvel movies have a black female superhero.

Also of note is Yoshua Sudarso, playing the Blue Ranger. On the surface he’s a pretty boy model and extremely athletic stuntman, but if you catch him on social media you will see just how dyed-in-the-wool nerd he is of the franchise. He’s constantly on the closed (but not secret) Facebook Rangers group — the largest network of Power Rangers fans on Facebook — gushing about Super Sentai and working with the stunt crew. He reminds me of David Tennant, who was obsessed with Doctor Who as a child and grew up to become a powerhouse of a Doctor himself. He even has cool hair like Tennant.

For me, it’s just nice to be excited about Power Rangers again, because Super Megaforce left me a vegetable.

Power Rangers Dino Charge will air in early 2015 on Nickelodeon. Will you be watching?

SDCC 2014: Nickelodeon Blows Up At Comic Con!

by Shane O'Hare

With Comic Con only 10 days away, the excite/hype train is just leaving the station. A long time exhibitor at the convention is the awesome folks at Nickelodeon, and this year they plan to bring it big.

Their booth (#4113, just near Geekscape!) this year is a whopping 1,800 square feet and promises to be one of the big ones.

We’re going to showcase our hit animated shows through an innovative booth design, fan activations, talent-driven panels and more. Our 1800-square-foot booth (#4113), inspired by the excitement and imagination streaming out of our Burbank Animation Studio, features a bold spiraling collage showcasing beloved hits like Rugrats, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Invader Zim, SpongeBob SquarePants and more, extending down to the floor from the ceiling of the convention center.

 

Nickelodeon’s booth will also feature fan activations that include a voice-record room where fans can lend their own vocal talents to select scenes from their favorite Nick TV shows; a GIF Booth; a fan-art competition; and autograph signings with Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Sean Astin (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra) and more.

The network will also present four panels: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Sanjay and Craig; The Legend of Korra; and Nickelodeon’s New Animation Pipeline, which will give fans a sneak preview of the network’s new series,Breadwinners, Bad Seeds (working title) and Pig Goat Banana Cricket.

Sounds like it is going to be a doozy of a booth, and a must see for any cartoon fan. Makes me miss the old Sci Fi channel booth.

They’re also bringing the big guns as far as talent, artists, voice actors and directors abound this year.

The Legend of Korra’s Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (co-creators/executive producers); Janet Varney (Korra); David Faustino (Mako); Seychelle Gabrielle (Asami Sato); Mindy Sterling (Lin Beifong) and John Michael Higgins (Varrick).

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Seth Green (Leonardo); Sean Astin (Raphael); Greg Cipes (Michelangelo); Rob Paulsen (Donatello); Josh Peck (Casey Jones); Mae Whitman (April O’Neil); Kelly Hu (Karai); Ciro Nieli (executive producer) and Brandon Auman (executive producer).

 

Sanjay and Craig’s Jim Dirschberger and Jay Howell (co-creators/executive producers); Maulik Pancholy (Sanjay); Chris Hardwick (Craig); Matt Jones (Hector); Tony Hale (Mr. Noodman); John DiMaggio (Penny) and Nika Futterman (Belle Pepper).

 

SpongeBob SquarePants’ Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants).

 

Breadwinners’ Steve Borst and Gary “Doodles” Di Raffaele (creators/executive producers).

 

Bad Seeds’ (working title) C.H. Greenblatt (creator).

 

Pig Goat Banana Cricket’s J. Ryan and Dave Cooper (co-creators) and David Stacks (executive producer).

 

Check Out The US Announce Trailer For ‘TMNT: Out Of The Shadows’

by Shane O'Hare

Just the other day we posted up the newest trailer for the upcoming TMNT game “Out of The Shadows”.

 

WELL! Today we at Geekscape just got a you another Turtle Treat! We have ourselves the US AKA American trailer for the upcoming  downloadable title from Activision. Take a peak with me below!

 

 

 

You can grab TMNT: Out of The Shadows on PSN and XBLA this summer!

Activision Announces ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows’

by Derek Kraneveldt

It sure has been a long time since I’ve played a good TMNT game. With Activision’s announcement today however, I’m hoping that changes in just a few months!

 

Activision today revealed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. It’s a new downloadable brawler that will hit PS3, Xbox, and Steam this Summer (no Wii U? Lame!). Featuring four-player online co-op and hyper-realistic styling, could Out of the Shadows end the terrible TMNT game rut we’ve been in for the last few years?

 

Watch the announcement trailer for the game below, and let us know what you think!

 

Of course, it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so we’ll keep you posted as we learn more about the title.

Source: DigitalSpy

Geekscape 275: Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo’s Regina Carpinelli and Lisa Foiles!

by Jonathan

Super Geekscape friend Regina Carpinelli, founder of Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo, finally visits Geekscape to talk conventions and Magic the Gathering! Joining Reggie is Lisa Foiles, who many of you might remember from Nickelodeon’s ‘All That’, but who is also one of the best gamers we’ve ever had on the show! We talk the new Devil May Cry, JJ Abrams doing Star Wars and internet stalkers! Plus! Jon Schnepp calls in to talk about his new Kickstarter for ‘The Death of Superman Lives! What Happened?’ and we get his take on the Justice League movie!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:52 — 22.4MB)

Trailer For Nickelodeon’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’

by Shawn Madden

Nickelodeon has a new ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ series coming soon and it’s like you would expect. It definitely has a very “kid-friendly” vibe to it and that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be bad but I still await the day when I get a gritty TMNT series. Check out the trailer below.