The Bravest Warriors | Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation

brewmasters
JERRY BECK bio & contact view posts by jerry		AMID AMIDI bio & contact view posts by amid

The Bravest Warriors

February 14, 2009 1:00 pm

Most people who view Pen Ward’s Adventure Time either passionately love it - or don’t get it at all. I’m in the camp that loves it, and I’m delighted Cartoon Network has gotten behind it. It’s practically the only animated series on the horizon I’m excited about (admittedly, I’m not that aware of most series currently in production). In fact, I think Invader Zim was the last show I felt had the potential to shake up the TV cartoon landscape as this does.

Adventure Time could be considered a perfectly skewed update/reimagining of Tom Terrific crossed with references to several early anime features… though Pen told me he hadn’t ever seen Tom Terrific nor any vintage anime for inspiration. Wherever he gets it from, Pen has the freshest vision in TV animation today — and it’ll be fascinatining to see how his cartoons fare with the general public.

His other short for the Random Cartoon series hasn’t gotten as much attention, but I think it’s equally good. The Bravest Warriors (co-directed with Randy Myers) proves (to me) that creator Ward isn’t a one-shot wonder. Warriors plays like his take on the Johnny Cypher-Captain Scarlet-Space Angel school of space cadet adventures (with a heart-felt dose of teen angst), but I bet he hasn’t seen those old cartoons either.

It’s all coming from somewhere inside his soul — and that’s where the best cartoons come from.

I, for one, would like to see more Bravest Warriors cartoons. Click here to read the brief production blog.

Related Cartoon Brew Posts

Adventure Time T-Shirts

Cartoon Network Acquires Adventure Time

Fox Launches Inkubator Shorts Program

Work For Free on a “Cartoon Network Pilot”

AFRO SAMURAI

14 comments posted in Shorts, TV

« « It Hugs Back | Sita Sings the Blues in the NY Times » »

02/14/09 1:30pm	Dave says:
	I have to say that I enjoyed “Adventure Time” about 86% more than “Bravest Warriors” ..but I still enjoyed it.
02/14/09 1:41pm	Charles Brubaker says:
	I’m very excited about “Adventure Time” as well. Cartoon Network’s been having good track record with their comedic shows lately, with the last two being the most imaginative that I’ve ever seen (ironically, Pen Ward was a writer on one of them: “Flapjack”) Thanks for uploading the video. And I wish Ward nothing but success.
02/14/09 1:55pm	Chris Sobieniak says:
	This is the kind of talent that needs to be deeply encouraged and accurately funded.
02/14/09 2:12pm	Carlos says:
	Go Pen! Adventure time can’t come any sooner. One of the only genuinely funny cartoons to come in a while.
02/14/09 2:29pm	Nic Kramer says:
	I thought this was from the same guy who did “Adenture Time” when I first saw the short.
02/14/09 2:45pm	Nina Paley says:
	LORD OF EMOTIONS! TEACH US HOW TO CRY! That is genius. ….Pen told me he hadn’t ever seen Tom Terrific nor any vintage anime for inspiration. It all goes into the zeitgeist. There are so many cultural influences flying around today, it’s impossible to identify each one. That’s a good thing. It’s all coming from somewhere inside his soul which is channeling, processing, and remixing our shared culture. That’s why we enjoy his work!
02/14/09 5:57pm	Theodore says:
	A massive improvement on “Adventure Time”. Were that all new cartoons so playfully absurd.
02/14/09 10:39pm	vince bayless says:
	You’re right Jerry, this cartoon is great. I would like to see more too.
02/14/09 11:55pm	epidicus says:
	why no love for the “Venture Bros.”? It’s brilliant and the crown jewel of CN creativity
02/15/09 7:04am	Ryan says:
	That’s my new favourite theme tune, right there. Good luck?
02/15/09 7:00pm	Doug Drown says:
	I got it — and I loved it. Wonderfully creative, and funny to boot. Thanks for sharing it.
02/15/09 8:33pm	Cassidy says:
	Looks like the video’s been taken down from YouTube. Anyone have a mirror?
02/16/09 8:52am	mike r baker says:
	I’ve been a fan of Pen Ward ever since I found his funny little cartoons on his crappy website when he was still in school. His humor is so fresh, like a child making a little world with funny toys, a silly story line, and adult humor. Charming, sweet, and not always safe for work. :) I agree with Nina Paley. All part of the zeitgeist. Whether you know the original or not, we have a collective cultural connection.
02/16/09 8:23pm	Tommy Day says:
	I could almost swear there was a voice from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon I grew up on. The red Bravest Warrior maybe? If not it was pretty dead on. UPDATE: Yeah, it was Rob Paulsen, who played Raphael in TMNT. Pendleton Ward just got so much cooler in my book.

Write a comment.
Name: (required) Email: (required) (will not be shared) Website:
Comment: