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A few months back, DC started its rebirth by announcing they were revamping some classic Hanna Barbera characters for the new millennium. I'll just be honest here and say that I didn't think this was the best of DC's recent revamping efforts–do we really need a gritty Scooby Doo?–but this thing exists, or will soon, and it's going to be pretty funny either way. I believe there have been some artist announcements and more so here's where this is all at.

The classic Hanna-Barbera TV series will get new life as a live-action feature film franchise.

A film that’s been in development hell for a number of years may have finally found its ticket to the screen. Sin City and Desperado helmer Robert Rodriguez has signed on-board the long gestating live action adaptation of Jonny Quest for Warner Bros per THR.

Rodriguez will be teaming with Terry Rossio (The Pirates of the Carribean series) on the script, and will also direct in his first outing since the poorly received Sin City: A Dame To Kill For.

Jonny Quest, the 1964 Hanna-Barbera adventure series, centered on the title character and his globe-trotting missions with his father, side-kick Hadji, and bodyguard Race Bannon, lasted only one season, but it made a big mark on pop-culture via syndication and a few revival attempts.

Without Jonny Quest, we’d have no Venture Brothers, and what a sad, sad world that would be.

Previous attempts to adapt Quest for the big screen included a Zac Efron-Dwayne Johnson starring film, directed by Peter Segal. So, at the very least, one massive bullet was dodged. We’ll see what Rodriguez, who is needs a bounce-back in a big way, can bring to the table. Given that his Spy Kids series was a big hit, this may be just what the doctor ordered.

This thing’s gone viral in the past week. Amid first posted about it back in November, and I have been getting flooded with readers sending me the link to the final product. So, here it is – a superb stop-motion recreation of the opening titles to Hanna Barbera’s Jonny Quest by filmmaker Roger Evans. Bravo, sir! Excellent job!

Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation | Permalink | No comment | Post tags: Hanna Barbera, Jonny Quest, Roger Evans

Morning, everyone!  While exploring various French children’s literature blogs earlier this week I stumbled across this remarkable little book trailer for a pop-up book.  Love the children’s literature references, though I admit to being baffled by the inclusion of Madame Butterfly.  Ah well.

I did also notice a movie trailer of some sort coming out this week.  Perhaps you are familiar with it?

Two interesting things about it.  First, that voiceover appears to be Lenny Kravitz.  That means that this is a pep talk from Cinna, which I think is very interesting indeed.  It sort of telegraphs his importance later in the series.  Second, those four notes played at the end.  That’s got to be the mockingjay song, yes?  Suddenly I’m very excited about Danny Elfman doing the soundtrack.

Speaking of music, here’s a good old-fashioned library protest song.

Just like mother used to make.  Thanks to Playing By the Book for the link!

While on vacation I posted a review of Atinuke’s The No. 1 Car Spotter.  Little did I know that there was a video of her reciting the beginning out there.  Fantastic!  Kinda makes you want to read the book (or in some cases reread the book), yes?

And for our final off-topic video, there’s just nothing finer than seeing true dedication to a craft.  Take this stop-animated version of the classic Jonny Quest opening titles.  Now, parts of it are done on a computer, yes indeed.  But if you go here you’ll see that the bulk of the work is good old-fashioned stop animation.  Epic.

Roger Evans, a Western artist who lives in Utopia, Texas (population: 241), also happens to be an obsessive fan of Jonny Quest. He’s given himself the challenge of reanimating the 1960s opening titles of the Hanna-Barbera series using stop motion animation. You can follow its scene by scene completion—currently more than two-thirds finished—on Roger’s website. [...]