Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Big Hero 6 Animated TV Series Coming in 2017

Back in August, Idle Hands dug up some pre-order images for a whole new wave of Big Hero 6 action figures, suggesting the heroes of San Fransokyo would be returning in the not-so-distant future! When we bugged Bandai for more information...we got tight lips...but with a wink. It's still not clear if the stealth repaint versions of the Big Hero 6 crew were made specifically for a new TV project...or if Bandai was just asked by foreign retailers to refresh the line in the simplest way possible...but we now know there is a new show on the horizon... albeit a horizon we won't get to until 2017...

"Big Hero 6," an animated television series for kids, tweens and families based on Walt Disney Animation Studios' Academy Award-winning feature film inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, has begun production for a 2017 premiere on Disney XD platforms around the world. Emmy Award-winning producers Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley, creators and executive producers of the global hit Disney Channel series "Kim Possible," are the executive producers. The series was announced today by Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Marsh said, "Our colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios have created a brilliant new world, inspired by Marvel, with vivid, unique characters. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to further develop these characters into a world class animated series -- full of fun, action and the kind of endearing storytelling that only Mark, Bob -- and  Baymax -- can deliver." 

Reuniting with McCorkle and Schooley on the creative team is their "Kim Possible" colleague, Emmy Award-winning Nick Filippi, who serves as executive producer and supervising director.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series picks up immediately following the events in the feature film, and continues the adventures and friendship of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his compassionate, cutting-edge robot Baymax. Alongside Hiro and Baymax on their journey are control freak Wasabi, scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred and no-nonsense Go Go, who together form the legendary superhero team, Big Hero 6. As the new prodigy at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro now faces daunting academic challenges and the social trials of being the little man on campus. Off campus, the stakes are raised for the high-tech heroes as they must protect their city from an array of scientifically enhanced villains.

Well before our stealth suit discovery, Stan Lee dropped word (back in April of 2015) that Big Hero 6 would return. Rumors had the story line centering around the return of Tadashi who survived the university explosion with the help of tech on hand. Tadashi is said to resurface as Sunfire; known to Marvel Comics fans as an X-Man and member of the comic book version of BH6. Tadashi returns without his memory and battles the team before they know who this new super powered foe really is. Looking at the wording of this new press release where they say the world is "inspired by Marvel", it is unlikely Disney is moving forward with incorporating a full blown, known comic book hero into their animated story. It's even more unlikely that they would put into play a story that mirror's that of the first film, even if those resemblances are slight. My guess would be that ideas for a second film were being kicked around, but now this TV series seems to be the best way to move forward for the company. Those waiting for the world of Big Hero 6 to be folded into the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be waiting a very long time.

No comments :

Post a Comment