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2001 TV News Archives

July 23, 2001: Justice League Clip Description

A friend of The World's Finest News website reported on the Justice League discussion panel at this year's San Diego Comic Con, and got to the see the preview that Bruce Timm and crew brought along. Here's the description:

Bruce Timm, Rich Fogel, James Tucker, Glen Murakami, and Shane Glines were there. After a few introductions they played a short clip from the second episode. The background is at some cliffs containg some vegetation. It's night and the sky is a blue-purple. The detail of the background is very different than BTAS and STAS. It's much more detailed, less stylized, and far more realistic looking. The first shot shows the Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Hawkgirl all flying through the air.

Immediately the Green Lantern rushes an alien craft and strikes it with his power ring. (The crafts look as if they're creatures possibly organic, but they explode like robots). Superman grabs an alien by its behind, spins once and then tosses it into a cliff. The alien detonates into the cliff and then explodes outward filling the screen with light. We see a shot of the back of Batman standing at a cliff. Batman turns to face the screen and his expression turns to alarm as he sees an alien about to crash into him. He pulls an amazingly fast forward handspring and dodges the alien which explodes into the cliff. In the next shot Hawkgirl smashes an alien with her electrical mace. She flies from right to left pass the screen. An alien follows from behind and clips her in the back. Hawkgirl falls onto a cliff. Wonder Woman decends from the sky next to her as another alien begins an attack on them. Wonder Woman says "I'll handle this" (or something similar). They show a close-up of her face as she concentrates. The alien fires at her and with amazing speed (beautifully animated) she deflects all the blasts with her metal wrist cuffs.

Next we see the Martian Manhunter in midair. His entire body is somewhat transparent (he's altered his density). Several aliens attempt to shoot him but the blasts harmlessly pass through and the aliens destroy each other instead. Finally, we see a shot of Superman extremely close up. It's primarily his cape that fills the screen. He zooms down past the screen and then forward to face yet another alien.

The short clip contained nearly no dialouge, but it showed the excellent action timing that Bruce Timm and Co. have created. The musical score was excellent, and the animation was superb. Far more detailed then the STAS, BB stuff we have seen recently. The animation was not only smooth but the angles they chose were very cinematic and much more appealing than the shots I am used to seeing by this team.

After the clip there was a slide show, where primarily Bruce Timm and Rich Fogel explained the characters in the show as well as some of the locations.

Slide show:

Superman: As a character more boyscout than in STAS. Because of the team dynamic they felt that they could make him more boyscout. Costume is essentially the same. However, he no longer has black underwear with a red stripe. It's just red underwear.

Batman: Less dark, more of a detective. However he is still the loner of the group. He's essentially the TNBA design. However, he is slimmer, has the highlights back on his suit. The suit has a slight purple tinge and his ears are much longer. The cape is two colors again. The outside is black while the inside is the grey purple. Also, even though Bruce Timm didn't mention it I noticed the difference in his stomach. TNBA Batman's stomach was flat. While STAS Superman had lines to indicate his abs. The new Batman has those same lines to indicate his abs.

Wonder Woman: She's the princess and expects people to treat her that way. She's not spoiled, but she is confused when people don't regard her in the same way that she is accustomed to. She is royalty and feels and is treated a little set apart from the rest of the group.

Hawkgirl: She's more of the girl next door. Far more approachable then Wonder Woman. The two do not have the buddy relationship that Batgirl and Supergirl had. Also, while she is fun and innocent, when she goes into "battle she turns into Wolverine". (Bruce Timm quote.)

Flash: He's Wally West. Practically the same design as in STAS. He's the young, arrogant, immature one of the group. Believes he is a ladies man though he has little skill.

Green Lantern: Similar design as Kyle Rayner. Except he has no mask, and he has green boots. He is the straight arrow. Almost militaristic in his actions. A very stark constrast to Flash and as a result they will be paired up several times.

Martian Manhunter: Similar design to that of the comics. He has most of the powers assigned in the comics. He is psychic, he can fly, and he can alter his density. He does have super strength but it does not compare to Superman's.

Aquaman: His design is with the long blond hair and hook for a hand. It looks real good! Again he is going to be the angry man trying to protect Atlantis. His wife will be present as well, though I can't remember her name.

Joker: Looks like his version in ROTJ. Truly spectacular.

Luthor: They went back to the Super Powers outfit, though, its not quite gaudy as it could be. The color scheme is still real tacky though green yellow, purple. It's some sort of robotic suit with a clear helmet. They also had a shot of him in some regular clothes though he was still wearing a purple shirt. Supposedly he's much more of a mad scientist character now.

Ultra-humanite: He's a big monkey or ape. You decide. He's white with an oversized brain.

The Manhunters: They're big.

Solomon Grundy: He's big and white. Has a similar frame to Clayface. Wears tattered black clothing. He's voiced by Mark Hammil!

The Shade: Kinda looks like Jack (Nightmare Before Christmas) in a purple suit with top hat and cane. He has the power to shoot dark...

Locations:

Several shots of Metropolis during the day and night. One shot has the Daily Planet with half of the prop planet destroyed. Most likely due to alien invasion.

Atlantis: Very pretty. Bruce Timm called it Paris meets Disneyland.

Their headquarters is in low orbit in space. Looks like a tower. They also have a space ship instead of teleporters to make it seem more believable. Unfortunately, the only villains from previous series so far are Joker and Luthor. There was no mention of Ra's Al Ghul or Darkseid.

2001 Television News

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2001 TV News Archives

July 23, 2001: Justice League Clip Description

2001 Television News

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