Marvel's 2009 Toons On Nicktoons!

[crimsonquill]

Apparently, Marvel and Nickelodeon/Paramount have worked out a deal to distrubute their animated shows post the loss of KidsWB!

Snipped from a ToonZone article here: http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=22337

NEW YORK, March 18, 2008 - Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon's 24-hour animation channel, has joined forces with Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), to bring iconic heroes Wolverine and Iron Man from the page and big screen to television in two brand-new animated series, "Iron Man: The Animated Series" (a co-production with French based Method Films) and "Wolverine and the X-Men" (a co-production with Toonz Entertainment Pte Ltd., Singapore and First Serve International Ltd.). Debuting exclusively on Nicktoons Network in first quarter 2009, Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man each feature 26 action-packed, half-hour episodes that follow the respective heroes through dynamic action, adventure and drama as they face foes both familiar and new to their fans.

"Nicktoons Network is first and foremost about showcasing the most creative and unique animation there is, and this partnership with Marvel is another crucial way to super-serve our audiences with something fresh and new," said Keith Dawkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nicktoons Network. "The fact that these Marvel characters span books, feature films and TV speaks to their massive appeal. We hope this deal signals to the marketplace and our audience, particularly boys, that we are the home for big hits and exciting, adrenaline-fueled animation."

"Nicktoons has a reputation for delivering some of the highest quality animation programming to the youth entertainment market, and Marvel is thrilled to be joining hands with such a dynamic channel," said Eric Rollman, Executive Vice President, Animation & Television for Marvel Studios. "Marvel is uniquely positioned to bring two shows with incredible brand momentum and awareness to this partnership, and we look forward to being in business with Nicktoons to launch this programming."

Wolverine and the X-Men (26 half-hour eps):
The story begins as an explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, Professor X. The beaten heroes, including Beast, Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler, walk away from it all but then they are given a rare glimpse into the future, where they see a world in utter ruin ... ruled by giant destructive robots. They discover the world has spiraled out of control because the X-Men have given up. So now the most legendary of all X-Men, Wolverine, must take the lead on the ultimate mission -- to prevent the world's destruction -- while fending off enemies Magneto and The Brotherhood.

Iron Man: The Animated Series (26 half-hour eps):
Tony Stark, heir to a billion-dollar corporation, lives a life of luxury, free to pursue his chief interests -- seeking extreme thrills, solving scientific mysteries and creating mind-boggling inventions. But everything goes horribly wrong when a tragic accident robs Tony of his father and nearly costs him his own life. Now dependent on his own impressive technology for survival and dedicated to battling corruption, Tony must reconcile the pressure of teenage life with the duties of a Super Hero. Inside his remarkable invention, Tony Stark is geared for high-speed flight, high-tech battles and high-octane adventure! He is Iron Man.

Iron Man and Wolverine are two of the most popular Super Heroes in the Marvel universe, with over forty years of story telling between the two characters. Reflecting this popularity, two new major motion pictures featuring these characters are being readied for the big screen, Iron Man on May 2, 2008, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine on May 1, 2009.

Marvel Studios' big screen adaptation of Marvel's legendary Super Hero Iron Man will launch into theaters on May 2, 2008. Oscar(R)-nominee Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. The film also stars Oscar(R)-winner Gwyneth Paltrow and Oscar(R)-nominees Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges and is directed by Jon Favreau. The movie is being distributed by Paramount Pictures.

We already have seen what "Wolverine And The X-Men" looks like from that trailer which has been circulating and I'm pretty sure that Spectacular Spider-Man will be having its second season on Nicktoons as well. But the information on Iron Man: Animated really has my doubts up because how they can work his origin into a teenage character is beyond me unless they are pulling from the Ultimate Iron Man origin story or his teenage self in Heroes Reborn.

Welp, what do you folks think?

- CrimsonQuill

[Talavar]

Teenage Iron Man makes me throw up in my mouth a little.  I really don't know why studios feel that they absolutely must pander to children like this.  "Oh, Tony Stark's an adult, let's make him a kid, so kids'll watch."  I was 12 when Batman TAS first started airing, and I loved it from the get-go, but even that venerable series started having Robin stuffed down its throat by the powers that be, and then younger-Robin.  Even as a 12 year old I identified with Batman, not his sidekicks, & thought Robin was a bit of a tool, so I'm calling shenanigans on that line of thinking.

I hold out hope for some quality from Wolverine & the X-men however.  Time will tell.