Toy Fair 2016: Hasbro Marvel Hero Mashers & Avengers Figures

Toy Fair 2016 coverage marches on with a look at some new releases from 2 lines that are said to be mostly geared toward kids...but occasionally ropes in a larger than normal child (i'm looking at you..and me, tbh.) Really all Hasbro needs to do is keep feeding my translucent figure addiction and i'll be down for a Marvel Masher or 3 yearly! As you see below, they've done just that. Sneaksy hobitses. Before we dive into Mashers, let's take a look at Hasbro's Avengers figures...

Ultimate Spider-Man Clip: When Spidey Meets Deadpool

Is it possible to make Deadpool MORE obnoxious? Yes. Yes it is. Ultimate Spider-Man continues the parade of Marvel Team-Ups with an episode pitting Spidey (and his amazing friends?) and Deadpool against The Taskmaster and, we can assume, a never ending stream of henchmen AKA cannon fodder.

Ultimate Heroes. Ultimate Villains. Ultimate Responsibility.

Spider-Man must lead his team of teen heroes against the greatest assembly of super villains the world has ever seen!  Season Two of the hit series ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN continues as Spider-Man comes face to face with the Marvel Universe’s most unhinged hero – Deadpool! Spider-Man envies Deadpool’s free-spirited life, but that all may change after one day in Deadpool’s madcap world!

Disney's Planes: Trailer 2

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theaters on Aug. 9, 2013.

The LEGO Star Wars The Yoda Chronicles Mystery Box

I LOVE MYSTERY BOXES!! ...Even thought my history with mystery boxes tells me not to expect much. Often, the mystery box contains some silly Hollywood movie viral. For "Let Me In", I was sent a funnel in an evidence bag with fake blood on it. For the last "Final Destination" movie, one of the items was a wrench. ..........A wrench. I kid you not. I own a Final Destination Wrench. Today's box should have had me lower my expectations, but the name "LEGO" on the address label raised an eyebrow. LEGO almost never sends anything to the Idle Hands offices! I slowly sliced along the tape, making the reveal move in artificial slow motion, like a mini Christmas morning circa 1984...but this time I've only got one present and I need to make the moment last.

Hello Kitty KISS Coming to The HUB

Yea....not an April Fools Joke. Amazing.

The Hub Network, the fastest growing children's cable network, has optioned the rights to a new series, "KISS Hello Kitty" (working title), based on the highly successful KISS x Hello Kitty line of products from Sanrio, maker of Hello Kitty, a pop icon since 1974.

KISS, an iconic rock band known for its creative merchandising, and Hello Kitty, one of the most unique and popular lifestyle brands, came together in 2010 for an unexpected collaboration — KISS x Hello Kitty. This global collection of hugely desirable co-branded products connects KISS and Hello Kitty followers all over the world with hundreds of licensed items across all categories, including apparel, toys, electronics, stationery, and back to school merchandise, among others.

Meet the Folks in Frankenweenie

When Tim Burton makes a stop motion animation (future) masterpiece, it isn't JUST about the main characters. Burton's canvas is filled with amusing sidekicks and rumple faced sour-pusses and all those individuals you'd meet on the street on any given day...Burtonized of course. Now Disney gives us a closer look at the cast of characters in Frankenweenie...


EDGAR “E” GORE (voiced by Atticus Shaffer)

Edgar “E” Gore is a needy misfit who doesn’t have friends but is desperate to be Victor’s partner for the science fair. In his attempts to be accepted ‘E’ tends to mess things up and often fails to think before he speaks. Even though ‘E’ promises not to tell Victor’s secret, he accidentally spills the beans.

Rise of the Guardians Plush Toys

This one just sneaked in, as we didn't even know Mezco had a license for Rise of the Guardians! Pre-orders are popping up all over the internet for a trio of 8 inch plush figures for the upcoming animated film including Jack Frost, North and Pitch. Not sure exactly what a "plush figure" is but I suppose we'll find out soon enough as San Diego Comic-Con is right around the corner.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 : War of the Worlds: Goliath Exclusive US Premiere

Tripod Entertainment officially announced the exclusive US premiere of their 3D stereoscopic animated epic “War of theposter Worlds: Goliath” at this year’s San Diego Comic Con.

Produced by Tripod Entertainment, "War of the Worlds: Goliath" is a 85-minute animated steampunk epic of war, comradeship and courage under fire.

Directed by animation veteran Joe Pearson (Epoch Ink Animation), written by accomplished wordsmith, David Abramowitz (Highlander), and executive produced by Heavy Metal CEO Kevin Eastman. Featuring the voice talents of Adrian Paul (Highlander), Peter Wingfield (Highlander, X-Men 2), Adam Baldwin (Serenity, Firefly, Chuck), Mark Sheppard, (Battlestar Galactica,Sanctuary), Elizabeth Gracen (Highlander), Jim Byrnes (Highlander), Beau Billingslea, (Cowboy Bebop) and many others.

Three Teasers for Monsters University

After seeing Brave tonight (which is so much fun you'll laugh til watered down movie theater soda shoots out your nose), I am assured of one astounding fact...

Not only is Disney taking over all media, they are doing it with such excellent projects that I am inclined to let them. Don't get me wrong...I'm still a little pissed over this Avengers cartoon boondoggle...but I'm ready to forgive and forget at this point! Now Disney wants to cement that love with 3 teasers for the much anticipated Monsters University...

Rise of the Guardians Taking Shape

With new eye candy and a trailer for animation fans to devour, Rise of the Guardians is starting its slow crawl toward a November 21st release date. It's nice to have a diversion from Batmen and Spider-Men, huh? Here's the skinny...

Rise of the Guardians is an epic adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes - each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.

Teen Titans Go! Joins DC Nation in 2013

DC Nation, Cartoon Network’s home for action-packed animated series and original shorts based on characters from DC Comics (Saturdays 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET/PT), will soon be joined by a new generation of superheroes as Teen Titans Go!, a brand-new half-hour comedy-action series inspired by Warner Bros. Animation’s original fan-favorite series Teen Titans, shows the humorous side of being a teenage hero.

Teen Titans Go! features the return of Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg in all-new, comedic adventures. Character-driven comedy is the order of the day as this new take on the super hero series focuses on the funny business that happens between saving the world and living together as teenagers without adult supervision. They may be super heroes who save the world every day … but somebody still has to do the laundry! With the ability to turn into any animal or detach their robotic limbs, teenage pranks reach a whole new level. And even super heroes have to take Driver’s Ed. to get a license – especially after wrecking the Batmobile on an unauthorized joy ride to impress a girl!

Featuring the principal voice cast from the original series – Greg Cipes as Beast Boy, Scott Menville as Robin, Khary Payton as Cyborg, Tara Strong as Raven and Hynden Walch as Starfire – Teen Titans Go! recaptures everything audiences loved about the original show, while adding laughter at the lighter side of being a super hero. Executive produced by Sam Register (Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, Teen Titans), with Michael Jelenic (ThunderCats, Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and Aaron Horvath (MAD, El Tigre) as producers, this side-splitting series will premiere on Cartoon Network in 2013 as part of the DC Nation programming block.

Wreck-It Ralph Details & Trailer

These days, when we call on all Disney fans to pay attention, we figure a good 90% of our readers will be looking up! Disney has gone from a company cranking out cheery musical tales of folks overcoming adversity to find love to being a powerhouse producer of media we will be talking about for all time. Now their saga of 8 bit baddie who wants to be seen as more is starting it's roll out and we've got some new bits of info to share.

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore (TV’s “The Simpsons,” “Futurama”) take moviegoers on a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in “Wreck-It Ralph.” Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “Step Brothers”) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock”), the “good guy” star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing andseeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he’s tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero.

On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch, TV’s “Glee”) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty. But it’s the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman, “The Sarah Silverman Program”) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and save the day before it’s too late?



We got some face-in-book time with The Art of Wreck-It Ralph and brought back the following extra details...

When it came to designing Ralph, Director Rich Moore explains, "We were always calling Ralph a brutish lout. The challenge was figuring out what this brutish lout looked like. That proved no easy task. The creative team started with what they knew about him. Until he was uprooted by the development of the Niceland Apartments, Ralph lived a simple mountain life and slept under a tree stump in the woods. There were some early versions where Ralph was a troll. Then he was a monster, then an ogre, then a shambling caveman. He had wrecking balls for hands, then a horn on his head, then bunny ears. He was a Sasquatch, a gorilla, and for about a week he was even a bulldozer. Screenwriter Phil Johnston imagined Ralph as; "part cat, part baboon, part dog, part skunk, part weasel, tapir, pig, wild boar, 1/43rd ape."

Rich met with John Lasseter to discuss which animal would make the most sense for a middle-aged, down-on-his-luck, angst-ridden character such as Ralph. Only one animal really fit; Human.

Dig the eye candy!





































CLICK HERE to read Steve Sievers rundown of Wreck-It Ralph from D23!

“Wreck-It Ralph” crashes onto the big screen on November 2, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax on DVD/Blu August 7th

The colorful and captivating world of Dr. Seuss bursts onto the screen as never before on August 7, 2012 in the hilarious and captivating adventure, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Available on Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray™ Combo Pack -- both featuring DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet™ so you can watch it anytime, anywhere -- Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is non-stop family fun that includes three delightfully entertaining mini movies not shown in theaters,available only on the Blu-ray™ Combo Packs. The film will also be available on DVD and Digital Download.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax transports viewers into a fantastical landscape imagined by Dr. Seuss and vividly brought to life by Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team at Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me). Directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me) from a screenplay adapted by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Despicable Me, HOP, Horton Hears a Who) from the 1971 children’s classic, the film is an imaginative journey that begins in the town of Thneedville, where a boy searches for the one thing he knows will win the heart of his dream girl. But in order find it, he must discover the story of the Lorax, the often grumpy but loveable protector of Truffula Valley, in an exciting adventure filled with comedy and heart that USA Today’s Claudia Puig calls, “The right blend of funny, silly, and sweet.”

Danny DeVito (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Twins, L.A. Confidential) lends his unmistakable voice to the Lorax, the remarkable creature who “speaks for the trees,” with Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Hangover Part II, “The Office”) as his enigmatic nemesis, the Once-ler. The all-star cast also includes Zac Efron (High School Musical, The Lucky One, 17 Again) as Ted, an idealistic 12-year-old searching for the Lorax; Grammy® Award winner Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day) as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams; Rob Riggle (The Hangover, Big Miracle) as the villainous O’Hare; Jenny Slate (Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, “SNL”) as Ted’s protective mother; and five-time Emmy® Award winner Betty White (The Proposal, “Hot in Cleveland”) as Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.

One of the best-selling children’s book authors of all time, Theodor “Dr. Seuss”

Geisel created more than 40 cherished books that have been published in 95 countries and 17 different languages, selling more than half a billion books worldwide. The Lorax, which Geisel named his favorite work, is included on the “Educator’s All Time Top 20 List of Children’s Books.”



Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Combo Packs contain a Blu-ray™, DVD and a Digital Copy of the film compatible with iTunes®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod™, Android (or select online retailers), as well as UltraViolet™. UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows in the cloud to instantly stream and download to computers, tablets and smart phones. Consumers can now truly enjoy their movies anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.

BLU-RAY 3D COMBO PACK AND BLU-RAYTM COMBO PACK BONUS FEATURE EXCLUSIVES

MINI MOVIES

• Serenade -- Two Bar-ba-loots -- one love shy and the other suave and confident -- battle for the heart of their would-be sweetheart with the help of a colorful cast of characters, including the Humming-Fish and Swomme-Swans.
• Wagon-Ho—Two Bar-ba-loots take The Once-ler’s wagon on a ride they won’t soon forget.
• Forces of Nature—Determined to scare The Once-ler out of Truffula Valley, The Lorax decides to create the illusion of ominous forces of nature.

• MAKING OF THE MINI MOVIES—Go behind the scenes at Illumination Mac Guff to see the joys and challenges of continuing the characters’ stories in the dynamic format of the mini movie.
• DELETED SCENE
• SEUSS TO SCREEN—A fascinating look into the translation of Seuss’ iconic style from book into the big feature film canvas.
• SEUSS IT UP!— A great tutorial on how to draw the Lorax, a Humming-Fish and a Bar-ba-loot in the unique Seuss style.
• TRUFFULA RUN—The player moves left and right to avoid obstacles while attempting to pick up berries with modes for easy, medium and hard. As difficulty increases, the player will have more obstacles to avoid.
• “LET IT GROW” SING ALONG— Karaoke-style sing along to the end credit version of Let It Grow.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH CO-DIRECTORS CHRIS RENAUD & KYLE BALDA
• ONCE-LER’S WAGON— While the Once-ler is away peddling his wares, the curious forest creatures have fun with his belongings. Users can select an item for the creatures to mimic or play with and then watch the adorable antics of all the forest friends.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON THE BLU-RAY:

• GET OUT OF TOWN—In this game, the player must help Ted navigate through town on his scooter in order to make it to the Lerkim and meet the Once-ler. At the end of each level, Ted must solve an obstacle puzzle to advance to the next section. There are three levels and three puzzles to complete to win the game.
• O’HARE TV— Watch the Lorax with hilarious commercial interruptions courtesy of O’Hare TV.
• EXPEDITION TO TRUFFULA VALLEY—Explore and navigate within the Truffula Valley to learn more about how the characters and creatures come to life.

ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVE COMBO PACK FEATURES

· ULTRAVIOLET™—The revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, store them in the cloud, and download and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smartphones. Currently available in the United States only.

· DIGITAL COPY—Viewerscan redeem a digital version of the full-length movie from a choice of retail partners to watch on an array of electronic and portable devices.

uHEAR™: Never miss another line of dialogue with this innovative feature that instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles to highlight what you missed.

· pocket BLU™ APP—The popular free pocket BLU™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad®, Android™ tablets, PC and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of the devices’ larger screens and high resolution displays.

Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.

CLICK HERE to pre-order Dr. Seuss' The Lorax at a 31% discount!

G.I.Joe: Retaliation Trailer #2

Time for another dose of potential awesome with super soldiers of a more traditional sort...if you think men and women with killer high tech gear, weapons and armament is traditional! Sadly, this trailer is NOT the reveal for Shipwreck and his snarky parrot companion. I hold out hope.

In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Jon M. Chu, and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner, from a screenplay by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick based on Hasbro's G.I. Joe® characters.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express will arrive on DVD on February 28, 2012, from Shout! Factory in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Featuring 5 pony-riffic episodes, Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express will also offer bonus features such as Meet the Ponies, sing-a-longs and coloring sheets. It will also include “Yipper Caper,” the very first episode of the new Pound Puppies series.

In My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express, the benevolent Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, selects unicorn Twilight Sparkle for a very important assignment - to learn about the most important magic of all: friendship. With her new friends, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, Twilight sets out on amazing adventures, and they all learn what it means to be true friends. The My Little Pony Friendship is Magic series is currently airing on The HUB.









CLICK HERE to check out our My Little Pony toy pics from Toy Fair 2012!

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express is priced at $14.97 and is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere

"Oh My Glob!" Cartoon Network's breakout hit animated comedy series, Adventure Time, is coming back to DVD with the release of Adventure Time "It Came From the Nightosphere" on March 6th! This sophomore release from the Emmy® Award-nominated series includes 16 fun-filled episodes from the series' three magical seasons, headlined by the "It Came From the Nightosphere" episode, plus a "Little Did You Know" character profile bonus feature.

The full list of 16 episodes featured in the Adventure Time "It Came From the Nightosphere" DVD is:

• It Came From the Nightosphere
• Rainy Day Daydream
• Wizard
• Power Animal
• Enchiridion
• Slumber Party Panic
• The Real You
• Memory of a Memory
• Prisoners of Love
• Crystals Have Power
• Business Time
• Mystery Train
• Guardians of Sunshine
• The Monster
• Hit Man
• The Creeps

Created by Pendleton Ward and produced in partnership with Frederator Studios, Adventure Time leads viewers on the fantastical adventures of unlikely heroes, Finn & Jake, buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants. Teeming with imposing mountains, lush green plains, accessible forests, ubiquitous prairies and winding rivers, the cities and towns in the Land of Ooo are filled with bizarre characters in need of unique assistance. Follow unlikely heroes, buddies Finn & Jake, as they traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants. Fans and critics alike have found their place on the Adventure Time bandwagon. Since its third season debut in July 2011, almost 10 million kids have tuned in to watch the latest season of the series so far and it consistently ranks as the #1 show on Monday nights in its time slot with both kids and boys 6-11, according to Nielsen Media Research. Fans can catch new episodes of Adventure Time on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Cartoon Network.

CLICK HERE to pre-order Adventure Time: It Came from the Nightosphere for $13.99!

I'm Captain Planet, M'er F'er

Sure, I curse in my articles, but you don't have to do it in the titles. It's just crass! Fuck, yea. That is an example of just one of the lessons taught to me by Captain Planet, whom I credit for all my writing skills. As my generation emerge from their cocoons as hairy, awkward, horrifically anti-social adults, it seems the image of Captain Planet we have kept in our brains has been rotting...distorting...warping into some vile thing worthy of mockery. LIES I TELL YOU!! When our planet is ready to shake us off like so many ticks on the back of a wet dog, we will finally remember what the Captain could have done for us..and you know what...he'll be someplace in that other dimension..laughing...probably drinking a Tab... Because YOU didn't recycle Pete Caballero. I hope you're happy. Here are two prime examples of how modern society is disgracing the spotless image of the Captain. Please address your concerns about further parody to your local congressperson.

Don Cheadle is Captain Planet from Don Cheadle

Remember kids, Captain Planet does NOT kick people in the balls...but he will drop you out the window of a 30 story building if you don't cut the plastic rings that hold bottles of soda together before disposing of them. Save those turtles, y'all!

M.A.S.K. The Complete Original Series Coming to DVD

From the same era that brought you Robots in Disguise we present M.A.S.K. (M.obile A.rmored S.trike K.....ommand?)!! You like cars that turn into battling, screaming robots, right? Well you're going to love cars that turn into...flying...cars...that shoot stuff. Pew Pew. GO MASK!!

Illusion is the Ultimate Weapon!

This Summer, loyal fans and collectors can finally bring home one of the most enduring animated adventures from the 80’s when the long-awaited M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series DVD box set debuts nationwide on August 9, 2011 from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with FremantleMedia Enterprises. Poised to attract an audience of kids, young adults and parents who grew up with this animated series, this 12-DVD box set contains all 65 action-packed episodes – known to fans as the original series aired in 1985, as well as insightful bonus features. A must-have for collectors to complete their pop culture video library, M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series is available for pre-order now from Amazon.com and major retailers.

Led by multimillionaire Matt Trakker, the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand — better known simply as M.A.S.K. — defends the world against Miles Mayhem and his nefarious international criminal organization V.E.N.O.M., the very same group responsible for the death of Trakker’s teenage brother. With his own son, Scott, and a secret strike force including his friends — engineer Bruce Sato, courageous historian Hondo MacLean, mechanic Buddy Hawks, rocker Brad Turner, computer expert Alex Sector, stunt driver Dusty Hayes and beautiful martial artist Gloria Baker — it’s up to Trakker, equipped with special power-granting masks and a garage of special militarized vehicles, to keep the world safe from Mayhem and the villainy of V.E.N.O.M (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem).

Throughout the years, M.A.S.K. boasts a large fan following and spawned a series of toyline, comic books and video games. The complete original series of M.A.S.K. has been sub-licensed to home video distribution to Shout! Factory by FremantleMedia Enterprises.

M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series DVD Bonus Content:
Unmasking M.A.S.K.: retrospective interview with show writers on this hit animated series
Saturday Morning Krusaders: entertaining look back with loyal fans

Pre-Order this massive set RIGHT HERE for a measly 60 bucks! That's 40 bucks off!

Voltron Force Landing June 16th

Nicktoons, the fastest growing kids’ network, brings the iconic franchise Voltron™ to a new generation with the brand new animated series, Voltron Force™. The series will launch as a commercial-free presentationof the 90-minute movie, “Voltron Force: New Defenders Trilogy,” Thursday, June 16, at 8:30 p.m. (ET). The half-hour series, which features an all-new theme song produced and recorded by Grammy Award®-winning producer and artist Swizz Beatz, follows the adventures of a new class of recruits as they join forces with the original team to fight evil by forming Voltron, the legendary super robot. The first original Voltron content in 10 years, this new iteration from World Events Productions in association with Classic Media and Kickstart Productions will feature never-before-seen Voltron configurations when the team’s Lions unite. The series will regularly air Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Nicktoons.

“Voltron Force stays true to the concepts that made the original such a success, but also takes the action, adventure and fantastical robotic creations to the next level,” said Keith Dawkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nicktoons and TeenNick. “As a fan myself, it’s exciting to see the saga continue and for our network to be part of the brand’s legacy.”

“I’m truly excited to be involved in the re-emergence of this classic cartoon,” said Swizz Beatz. “I enjoyed watching Voltronas a child and now can enjoy it with my own kids.”

The original robot-action show, Voltron: Defender of the Universe, has become a massive pop-culture success since its launch in 1984. The series’ signature maneuver of combining forces to attain a common goal has resonated with many, earning references on television shows (such as South Park, The Fairly OddParents and Lost), by hip-hop artists (Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes, Eminem, Wu Tang Clan, among others) and by athletes (like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Laurence Maroney and Chris Paul). The series also has a loyal Hollywood following of celebrities such as Jonah Hill, Megan Fox, Seth Green and Zach Galifianakis, to name a few.

Set five years after Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Voltron Force follows three new recruits – Daniel, Vince and Larmina – as they get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to train alongside their heroes – Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge and Allura – and learn to fly incredible robot lions. The series will journey to new planets, discover new powers and unearth ancient secrets. Voltron will be needed once again to combat a rising evil in the galaxy and a tyrant from within. Bonds will be formed, friendships will be tested and plenty of laughs will be had as the Voltron Force gels together as a team in an epic battle of good versus evil.

In the 90-minute movie premiere, “Voltron Force: New Defenders Trilogy,” Daniel and Vince are recruited into an underground resistance movement led by former members of the Voltron Force to recover the keys to the lions. They soon meet fellow classmate Larmina, and the three cadets are introduced to their Voltcoms, an advanced wrist device that acts as an activation key to the lions. Their Voltcoms are also capable of generating unique weapons and powers based on personality and fighting styles. As the new cadets explore the Castle of Lions and uncover clues to Voltron’s origins, the original Force gets their groove back to form Voltron once more, determined to take on the duel-threat of King Lotor’s Robeast and Sky Marshal Wade’s war machine.

Voltron Force
Tags: Voltron Force Episodes,Voltron Force,Voltron Force Games

On Nicktoons.com, a dedicated Voltron Force show page will feature video clips, full episodes, flipbooks, characters profiles, a dedicated message board and exclusive weekly printables. A new printable, featuring exclusive character art, will become available every Thursday during premiere episodes. Additionally, on May 27, Nicktoons.com will launch a new game, “Voltron Force: Ultimate Victory,” which will allow users to play as all five Lions and transform into Voltron. During the on-air premiere of Voltron Force on June 16, the network will also offer a Game Code that unlocks the bonus and unlimited “blazing sword” in the game.

It's An Adventure Timepiece!!

My favorite cartoon of the moment doesn't have much merchandising, but it seems people are noticing its popularity and lack of doodads for the kiddies to scoop up with their ill gotten funds, so plans are in motion to change all that. I hear SOMEONE is even making Adventure Time action figures!! Until this glorious reveal, our friends at Cartoon Network send word of a new watch that has me scratching my head..sort of like the 3 shells in Demolition Man.

What time is it? Beginning this month, NYC-based fashion design lab Nooka is your hook up for the answer. The highly-creative and innovative maker of watches has partnered with Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE), the global licensing and merchandising arm of the network, to create a limited-edition timepiece based on
Adventure Time, the fun, irreverent new series from creator Pendleton Ward that has people everywhere saying things like “algebraic,” “mathemagical” and “rhombus!” With the limited edition watch set to launch in April and available for the suggested retail price of $120, the Adventure Time with Finn and Jake watch from Nooka features graphics and colors inspired by Jake, human Finn’s loveable canine companion and best friend.

“One of the most defining and charming qualities of Adventure Time is its unique tone and quirky sense of humor that has resonated with a wide range of audiences across all ages,” said Pete Yoder, vice president of Cartoon Network Enterprises. “Building on the original style, we have partnered with Nooka to create a product that is truly unique and captures the fun and creativity of the brand for our older, fashion-forward fans.”

“I am in full awe of Pendleton’s talents – Adventure Time is a breath of fresh air that is inspiring to me as a creative genius – making this opportunity incredibly exciting on a personal and professional level,” said Matthew Waldman, C.C.C. [chief creative czar] of Nooka.

About the Nooka watch, Adventure Time creator Ward added, “I think they’re math.”

Nooka’s innovative approach to representing time has become synonymous with its line of watches. The popular Zot presents a truly unique yet intuitive way of reading time. The 12 dots represents the current hour, while the horizontal bar displays the minutes, with a small window displaying seconds underneath. Set on top of a polyurethane band, the Zot features an alarm and chronograph mode.

From the mind of Pendleton Ward, Adventure Time is produced in partnership with Frederator Studios with Fred Seibert serving as an executive producer on the series. Ooo is a land built for adventure. Teeming with imposing mountains, lush green plains, accessible forests, ubiquitous prairies and winding rivers, the cities and towns are filled with bizarre characters in need of unique assistance. Whether it’s saving Princess Bubblegum, defeating zombie candy, mocking the “oxy-moronic” Ice King, or rocking out with undead music wiz Marceline the Vampire Queen, with Finn & Jake it’s always Adventure Time.

Since its debut on Cartoon Network in April 2010, Adventure Time has quickly become a Cartoon Network fan favorite, with more than 17.2 million kids – not to mention 20 million adults – tuning in to catch the series’ first season, according to Nielsen Media Research. New episodes from the second season currently air on Cartoon Network Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT). Highly popular apparel and accessories can also be found at select retailers nationwide.