New Teen Titans Animated
>> Hanna-Barbera New Teen Titans Series Plans
>> New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Commercial
Hanna-Barbera New Teen Titans Series Plans
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Character Designs for the Proposed New Teen Titans Series [click on image to enlarge] |
In 1983, Hanna-Barbera was developing a New Teen Titans cartoon series. The
series would have featured Wonder Girl, Raven, Starfire, Cyborg, Changeling
and Kid Flash. Robin would not be in the series, presumably because he was
busy as a member of the Super Friends. Wonder Girl would be leader in the
series and villains would include Trigon and Blackfire.
The Proposed Series [from Comic Scene Magazine #11, 1983]
[The networks announced] schedules for the fall season, beginning September
17 [1983], and for the second year in a row, adventure shows were replaced
by programming favoring 'cute' characters. A glance at the three different
schedules shows the 10 new shows are predominantly filled with loveable people
- a move to counter the phenomenal success of NBC's The Smurfs.
Correspondent Darrell McNeil reports; "The Teen Titans series would have
been produced by Hanna-Barbera for ABC but was aced out in favor of the continuing
search for a Smurf-like success story. A shame too, because the series' story
proposals promised a real treat for Titans fans, Basically, all the Titans
would be present, except for Terra and Robin (who's on detached service to
Super Friends). Wonder Girl would have been group leader and storylines would
have promised appearances from Trigon and Blackfire.
The proposed X-Men show from Marvel almost made NBC's schedule and would
have featured Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Cyclops. Ariel, Lady Lightning
(an animated version of Ms. Marvel which has been kicking around for years),
Thunderbird (back from the dead and able to change into any animal-form) and
Videoman(???). Also, the action would have them as students at Professor X's
high school."
Marv Wolfman on New Teen Titans Animated
posted 09-20-2002
from http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com
Marv on the status of the proposed New Teen Titans animated series by
Hanna Barbera in 1983: I don't know how far the 80s Titans show went.
What I remember was I went to H&B with Len Wein and Jenette Khan and I
pitched both Titans and Dial 'H' For hero. I pitched the concepts and characters
and then I went home. I THINK it was later developed by Jeff Scott and, possibly,
Alan Burnett. I wasn't consulted after the original pitch.
Marv on the New Teen Titans animated anti-drug commercial in 1983: As far as the drug spot goes, I wrote that. I assume it was on the air somewhere
because I'd seen the finished animation - although I don't have a copy. I
had never seen it on TV but did up at DC.
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These cel mock-ups
were created to pitch the New Teen Titans Animated Series. Modified
comic book art was used to simulate an animation feel
[click on image to enlarge] |
The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Commercial
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Character
design for
the animated Protector |
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An ultra-rare cel from the New Teen Titans commercial.
The character designs for the proposed animated series
would have looked something like this.
[click on image to enlarge] |
1983 saw the publication of a very special Teen Titans book. It made its
debut, not on newsstands, but as part of a kit distributed to schools around
the country. The kit was co-produced by DC Comics, Inc., and the Keebler Company
for use in President Reagan's drug awareness campaign. Its goal was to inform
schoolchildren (in particular, fourth graders) about the dangers of drug abuse.
Originally, the head of the White House drug program approached DC because
he had wanted to use one of their better-known characters such as Superman,
Batman, or Wonder Woman. But those characters were tied up in other projects
at the time. Instead, DC recommended The New Teen Titans, the company's best-selling
title. The program heads were shown Wolfman's two-issue story dealing with
runaway children and were impressed. Best of all, they realized The Titans
would appeal most strongly to the age group they wished to reach.
One problem cropped up with the book as Wolfman and Titans artist George
Pérez began work on it: Robin, the leader of The Teen Titans, couldn't be
used. "This book was being sponsored by Keebler, and Robin was already
licensed by Nabisco. So I came up with a new character, The Protector. We
already had the art done, so Dave Manak did all the corrections to turn Robin
into The Protector. He looks pretty much as I envisioned him, except where
his costume is purple, I had originally wanted black."
Hanna Barbera produced a 60-second anti-drug spot in the early eighties using
these six characters. It was the only animated appearance of the New Teen
Titans.
Marv Wolfman, from New Teen Titans #41 letter's page: "Sometime this
season you'll be seeing The Titans all over the TV tube. Tying in with our
special anti-drug comic, Hanna-Barbera will be unleashing a one-minute Titans
anti-drug cartoon spot which should be shown on all three networks, most likely
during Saturday morning. There will also be 30-second and 20-second version
of the public service announcement. We received a call from their design department,
asking for a whole slew of George's designs, so the Titans should look just
about perfect."
The commercial also included the Protector, who appeared in the anti-drug
comic book.
