Since its cancellation in 2003, science fiction television series Firefly has achieved a powerful cult status. Interest from the show's loyal fanbase has helped launch a feature film and comic books as means of continuing the series. Fans express continued interest in a series revival, although 13 years out that looks increasingly unlikely.
Animator Stephen Byrne offers a glimpse of what could be: a short teaser trailer for an animated Firefly . There's no dialogue, but all the characters are there doing many of the things you would expect and hope for. Could this lead to an animated Firefly revival? Or is it too late?
Personally, I'd be more likely to shell out for yet another exclusive streaming service for this than for the new Star Trek series...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bradley13 on Wednesday August 17 2016, @06:40AM
Much as I like Firefly, I'll pass on an animation. I was a Trekkie in the day, and couldn't stand those animations either. I don't get the attraction...
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 2) by Bogsnoticus on Wednesday August 17 2016, @06:50AM
It all comes down to how it's done. Done right it could be very good. The original actors can reprise their roles without having to all be together to shoot scenes, and can allow for greater interpretation of the script as it's only voice recordings.
If done like Star Trek Animated Series - No thanks
But if done like Starship Troopers: Roughnecks - Hell yes.
Genius by birth. Evil by choice.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 17 2016, @06:53AM
Star Trek TAS had the same actors and writers and script quality as TOS. If you close your eyes, you'd never know it was animated. Unless you're one of those bigots who says, "I heard this is animated, so it must be crap."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 17 2016, @07:03AM
"if you close your eyes" ...
do you even know what the point of WATCHING tv is?
I'm sorry if my yelling is shocking, but I think it's called for.
I'm not qualified to comment on the quality of expressions and other things that cannot be translated from live-action to animation properly, but I can certainly understand that a lot of VISUAL information is lost when doing an animated series. maybe that's exactly what the GP liked about the original series.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 17 2016, @07:22AM
The acting was so hammy in TOS, I really didn't notice a difference. Yes, I WATCHED the animated series. I saw the raised eyebrows, so shocking. I saw KIRK IS A JERK, how jovial. There were effects in TAS that were easier to do in animation at the time, too. There were more non-humanoid aliens. Arex had three arms and three legs. Bem dismembered himself. There were giant tribbles and the the glommer that hunted them. There were the life-support belts that were so simple to depict in animation that they were never actually used in any live action series or film. The important thing is the animated series was NOT DUMBED DOWN in any way.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 17 2016, @07:37AM
I tried to emphasize that I'm not judging the quality of the acting. I think in general there was a lot of over-acting or just plain bad acting on all the Star Treks. I was just pointing out that maybe that's what the OP liked (whether they know it or not), since that is a clear difference. and we can't blame anyone for liking something, since taste is purely subjective.
also, as you point out, writers were no longer restricted by what special effects could be achieved reasonably in a live-action picture. maybe that also introduced noticeable differences in the story lines, losing the stuff that was interesting for the OP.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday August 17 2016, @07:47AM
Me too.
Look, the actors made that show. (Even the bad actors were good in that production.
(Ok the writing wasn't bad either).
Not sure you can slip some animated people into a video and recreate the magic. Its never worked for me.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by fubari on Wednesday August 17 2016, @06:35PM
What if... they get the original cast to do the voice acting?
One of the things I prefer about Japanese anime is often the voice actors (original) will be in the same studio at the same time, interacting with each other which is great for group chemistry.
Most (all?) english dubs record voice actors in isolation, which kill group chemistry.
(Score: 1) by jonathan on Wednesday August 17 2016, @02:11PM
You're really going to compare a series done today to one done by a studio in the mid 70s to decide that it's not worth watching? Sure there were decent quality shows back then too but this is Filmation we're talking about.