The end of the world began not with a bang (well, there’s that too), but with an audience of thousands of Terminator fans rhythmically clapping in time with the familiar dun-dun-dun-dun-DUN of the franchise theme. These were the people here to get a glimpse of Terminator Zero, the new Netflix anime based on the action franchise, and one that drops, fittingly, on August 29th. The show, a new story set in Japan, is the latest example of an American franchise entering the anime realm, and based on the two episodes shown, the transition went smoothly. Showrunner Mattson Tomlin, director Masashi Kudō, and Design Coordinator Haruka Watanabe took the stage for a lively discussion about the series moderated by Khleo Thomas, while I also attended a roundtable discussion with Tomlin and Kudō prior to the panel itself. The discussion started out with the moderator asking all of them what their top 5 anime were. (Kudō said he was “actually a Disney animation fan” and included two of the company’s classics in his picks.) The panel premiered a new “NSFW” trailer for the series highlighting just how gory this new show would be.

When it was time to premiere the two episodes, Khleo revealed that Netflix had sent over both the English and Japanese versions and had the audience vote on which one they wanted to see. This being an anime convention, the crowd was immediately split, and it wasn’t long before competing cries of “Dubbed!” and “Subbed!” filled the air. Ultimately, it was decided to show it in Japanese. This seemed to satisfy the purists, up until the subtitles actually started appearing on screen. It turned out that the way they had set up the video screens in the auditorium, the subtitles were blocked by the heads of the crowd. (Those sitting in the front closest to the stage likely had a hard time reading as well, due to the angle involved.) The audience revolted, demanding it be shown in English. Others pointed out that this is what a lot of people asked for, with one particularly vocal audience member saying that they had to face the consequences of their actions. Eventually, the screen was shrunk to make the subtitles more readable, satisfying everybody. To say this was one of the more memorable moments at the con this year would be an understatement.

The discussion continued after the premiere, with Tomlin talking about how the first Terminator film “scared the shit out of him” as a kid, while Kudō was surprised at the offer to direct. In particular, Tomlin cited The Animatrix as a strong stylistic inspiration for both him and the series. (In the roundtable discussion I attended prior to the panel, Tomlin said he hoped to capture the “fuck yeah” feeling he got watching the anthology growing up.) One of the more interesting aspects of the series was how they transplanted the franchise into Japan. The idea was to utilize Japanese customs and designs, though ultimately the original Terminator designs were used to adapt the series. A big part of this was how in 1997, when the nuclear apocalypse began, the bombing of Hiroshima was still in the minds of a lot of people, with the horrors of that being history, but also at the point where it wasn’t quite there yet.

The animation in the series is great and makes full use of the medium, especially in the 1NNO robots and the Kokoro AI. The 1NNO designs were inspired by Honda’s real-life ASIMO robots, and were meant to be “cute, but creepy”, with the idea that something wasn’t right about them. The hologram for Kokoro, meanwhile, utilized a lot of anime and Japanese mythological influences, including the “three goddesses” – heart, mind, and spirit – and it looks spectacular realized onscreen. According to Tomlin, he started writing this series in 2021 when AI seemed like science fiction, but now…not so much. From his point of view, he felt he was late to the party on the technology, but at the same time is astounded and also scared. He believes we’re at a nexus point where it could be incredibly helpful….or start an apocalypse.

During our roundtable discussion, I asked whether or not shows like Terminator Zero meant the tide was turning on more Western non-comedy adult animated shows being made and accepted by audiences. Tomlin said that he has had a lot of conversations with people who still believe that cartoons are for kids and hopes that something like Terminator Zero will be a “gateway drug” into adult animation, if not watched as a result of something else. Kudō, meanwhile, said that since anime is already for adults in Japan, it was “business as usual”, which I thought was an interesting contrast. Finally, both of them said that they hope that Terminator fans, (which they admitted could be quite rabid at times) will warm up to the new series. Based on the reception at the panel of the first two episodes, I think that is a highly likely prospect. I definitely plan on checking out the rest of the series, and I hope you do too.

-= Check out more of our AnimeNYC 2024 Coverage =-

Originally posted on GeekNation.com, on May 24, 2013

With his biopic on Liberace “Behind the Candelabra” airing this weekend on HBO, director Steven Soderbergh announced that he’s “retiring” from directing movies. Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t direct anything else… namely television. Deadline reports that Soderberg has teamed with pay-tv channel Cinemax to bring a new series to the small screen titled “The Knick,” which stars Clive Owen (Sin City, Shoot ‘em Up) and takes place in the early 1900s.

Will this new series be successful under an acclaimed movie director? Let’s see who’s been keeping track of current television…first off, there’s a little show on AMC called “The Walking Dead,” which was adapted for television by writer/director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). While Darabont was removed as showrunner, he’s adapting yet another show for TV. Directors like Darabont, and writers like Alan Ball (American Beauty, “True Blood”) have proven that making the jump from movies to TV is very possible.

Will Soderberg’s “The Knick” be successful as he transfers from the Silver Screen to the HD screen? Only time will tell… but considering his track record of movies like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the Ocean’s movies, expect great things on Cinemax soon enough.

“It’s better to burn out than fade away.” – Neil Young

With the news of the final season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, I wanted to take this time to write some reflections. First and foremost, I’d like to say unlike most other shows I enjoy that stop production, I’m actually okay with this. ATHF has certainly been a journey for me, both as a show and also growing into the online personality I’ve become.

I’m sure I’ve told the story many times before, but December 30th, 2000 is when it began. I would spend my weekends with my grandparents out in Brooklyn (at the time, the only place that carried Cartoon Network). I’ve always been a night owl, so I would watch late night CN programming like Space Ghost, Oh Canada, the Banana Splits, etc. But what was this new show with rude, talking food creatures? It was hilarious, and I wanted more.

Fast forward to September 2001, it was a rough time for the world, and different for me. I was in the midst of college and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life (which for the most part, in a semi-unfortunate way, included copious amounts of lounging on the internet). I’d moved so many times I had minimal real life friends, so I’d take to the internet and chat with other people who had shared interest. I’d been involved with a group dedicated to the cult series Mystery Science Theater 3000, and had even started my own fansite (among which there were countless ones already). When Aqua Teen Hunger Force finally hit the airwaves on Adult Swim, I was front and center every Thursday night. With everything going on in real life, it was kind of therapeutic to escape with Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad, and the rest.

In 2002, I started Aqua Teen Central (the fansite that would later grow into the news-based Adult Swim Central) which, at the time I feel was my most successful contribution to the internet. The site, while not the only one in existence at the time, garnered much praise from fans as well as from the creators, Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro (among other Williams Street staffers). For someone who has had as troubled a life as I have (and that’s putting it lightly), it was very redeeming and even a bit touching that there was a mutual respect from the people who put the show together (especially the unsung heroes such as the editors, animators, etc. for which I gained even more of a respect for in terms of how an animated show is developed).

Shortly after, I decided I was going to dedicate my online life to spreading the word of Aqua Teen. This eventually, culminated at 2006’s San Diego Comic-Con, where I met many of the people who not only put ATHF together, but many of the other Adult Swim shows. I discovered that many of the creators of the other shows (save for one who will remain nameless) were rather gracious and appreciative of their fans. This was definitely the basis for what eventually became Adult Swim Central.

From 2006 until about 2009, Aqua Teen Central was where it all was. Different parts of the ATHF staff would contact me from time to time. Letting me know about events they were doing (conventions, etc.) or giving me tid-bits of behind the scenes info on the show. Quite possibly the only time up until now that I can say I attended a real-life movie premiere, having been invited to the NYC premiere of the ATHF movie (which I missed a super important math test in college in order to see) as well as the after party.

Eventually ATC expanded into other Adult Swim territory, including the Swimcast (which we still do today, just not as often). I think part of the reason I’m fast to come to terms with the end of the show is the fact that things have changed, both on Adult Swim as well as with my dedication towards the network proper. Swim’s been moving into a different direction than it had been in. Instead of relying heavily on their in-house/Williams Street programming, they’ve welcomed Hollywood into the fold with shows like Rick and Morty, Mike Tyson, Childrens Hospital, and others.

Sure, there’s still a bit of a “classic Swim” feel with the remaining WS shows in Squidbillies and Your Pretty Face is Going To Hell as well as “experimental” programming like Too Many Cooks and Fish Center. It has become obvious Swim is catering less to the crowd that brought it a cult following and more the coveted 18-35 year old demographic that drives most of the popular networks. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, however. Change is inevitable with everything in life. People move onward and upward into different (and sometimes better) things.

The end of Aqua Teen Hunger Force marks the final nail in the coffin for the original five Adult Swim shows (along with Harvey Birdman, Space Ghost, Sealab 2021, and The Brak Show). The show has had a robust and interesting run: 15 years of over 100 episodes, a feature length movie, a sub-par Playstation game, various merchandise, and the adoration of countless fans (some even celebrities) worldwide.

In closing and to summarize, Aqua Teen Hunger Force has directly (and indirectly) helped shape parts of my life. I’ve met many people in my travels, even more that I call friends. I’ve learned plenty about comedy, animation, and even classic rock. Traveled to pretty cool locations like SDCC, Dragon Con, and more. Even had the chance to chat with celebrity-types, which I never would have before.

My thanks to go out to Dave Willis, Matt Maiellaro, Dana Snyder, Carey Means, the unsung heroes like Todd Redner, Ned Hastings, Jay Edwards, Nick Gibbons, Craig Hartin, and dozens of other people that deserve to be namedropped (which I will probably do throughout the remainder of the year). For me, Aqua Teen Hunger Force will truly be Forever. I await the beginning of the ending of the series, this coming June 21 at midnight on Adult Swim.

Fast forward to today, [adult swim] like many other networks has become corporate-driven and relies heavily on “marketable” programming like Family Guy, Robot Chicken, and other poop joke-laden shows set to entice the 15-20 year olds. I’ve seen many of the friends I made online (either through my Swim fansites or the adultswim.com Message Boards) turn their backs on the network, claiming it’s not like it used to be. Even going so far as to point out on Twitter, the fact that the programming on the network now isn’t what it once was.  With that being said, there’s always something that comes across that makes you remember the feeling of how things used to be.

A few short years ago, the 4:30am timeslot on [adult swim] was designed for not only classic Swim programs such as Mouse, but also more of their “experimental” pilots and programming. Shows like “Off the Air” which showcase trippy art and animation along with hip music. Underground-type mini-series such as The Rising Son and The Restless Bell. There have also been numerous pilots such as Icelandic Ultrablue and Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects, and Cutlery.

On October 27^th, Swim aired its latest “experiment” called Too Many Cooks. Written and Directed by Chris “Casper” Kelly, who is no stranger to classic [adult swim], having written for Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, Squidbillies, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Kelly also co-created another classic program in Stroker & Hoop, an animated spoof on 1980’s action shows like Knight Rider and Magnum P.I. as well as freshman program Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell along with Aqua Teen’s Dave Willis. Interesting to note that Your Pretty Face was also originally a 4:30am “experiment” that was successful enough to garner a full series (as well as an upcoming second season).

At any rate, it’s safe to assume that Too Many Cooks took a viral leap as of last night when YouTube user, tortoise5210 threw it online. As of writing, the video has over 1 million views! I personally had the show recorded on DVR, but like much of the current Swim programming was in no rush to watch. However, after watching social networking explode with Twitter trending “Too Many Cooks” as well as the various celebrities commenting…

@shannonandswift too many cooks. Too many cooks. Too many cooks. Too many cooks. Toomanycooks. Toomanycooks. Toomanycookstoomanycookstoomany

— Stay Puft (@staypuft) November 6, 2014

I was not only enticed severely but was not disappointed. The whole 11.5 minutes is a wonderful live-action romp through 1980’s sitcom introductions, which take a rather warped turn or three. It has elements of everything from Family Ties to ALF, to G.I. Joe, to Wonder Woman, to Law and Order,  and even Battlestar Galactica. The theme song will even make you beg that Swim put it on iTunes.

It’s THAT insanely hilarious, and for me personally, makes me remember what [adult swim] used to be. I long for the days of Space Ghost and Perfect Hair Forever. At this point, it’s probably best if you just watch the video (the one below is Swim’s official hi-res version) and hope that [adult swim] brings us more Williams Street-based programs… and not at 4am either.

Thank you, Casper Kelly, Paul Painter, Nick Gibbons, and everyone else responsible for restoring my faith in [adult swim].

Want to know more about Too Many Cooks? Casper Kelly and Paul Painter will be doing a Reddit AMA today (November 7th) at 5pm Eastern