Flixens: Movies, DVDs, TV, comic books and pop culture for women. The boys shouldn't have all the fun.

EXCLUSIVE: Animated Hellboy Triple Play?

A couple of weeks ago, Nina and I were fortunate enough to interview director Tad Stones just before the world-premiere of his Hellboy: The Sword of Storms on the Cartoon Network.  Hopefully you were one of the lucky ones to see the film, which offered up a totally new take on Hellboy and his trippy cohorts, fish-man Abe Sapien and fire-starter Liz Sherman.  Personally, I'm looking forward to the DVD release, which will arrive soon enough, commercial-free and chock full of extras.

I had an opportunity to chat with Tad after the premiere about The Sword of Storm's reception by the fans, the upcoming DVD, and the second animated Hellboy feature, Hellboy: Blood and Iron.  Imagine my surprise when Tad dropped a little scoop right into my lap about a third animated Hellboy film... and more!  Read on...

Movie MILF: Hello Tad!  It's so nice of you to take time out of your busy schedule to chat with us again.  I take it your family survived the premiere?

Tad Stones: Nice to talk to you again.  Family’s fine except for the fact our water heater decided to break at 2am and spill forty gallons of hot water on the floor.  Luckily my wife was up working on a writing project.  Much sponging and mopping followed but the wood floor will never be the same.  The repairman turned out to be a Darkwing Duck fan but we didn’t get a break on the bill (I will avoid any puns).  Sooner or later that has to pay off for me.

MM: About Hellboy: The Sword of Storms... I did think it was strange that the Cartoon Network didn't really promote the film.  That's a shame, as I know a lot of people (judging from internet forums) didn't even know it would be on.  We DID tried to do our part by getting the word out!

TS: And I appreciate that, the bribe is in the mail.  As to promotion on Cartoon Network, they're in a weird spot.  They've bought some older skewing movies like Hellboy and the Ultimate Avengers but the rest of their line up is much younger.  So from the programmers point of view, advertising a red demon who says, “Screw you,” during Pokemon or My Gym Partner is a Monkey is inviting trouble.  So they only advertise where it fits the audience... which turned out to be not very many places.

MM: Hopefully response to the DVD will be good and CN will be encouraged to beef up promotion for the 2nd film.

TS: Well, the same restrictions will apply but I’m really encouraged that so many people who were talking about it online and mentioned they wanted to buy the DVD.  We’re trying to pack it with extras.  We’re hobbled by not having had cameras shooting the work as we were in productions but there are lots of interviews.  If you’re a fan, it’s a place to find lots of Mike Mignola talking about Hellboy in all his forms.

MM: You mention in your online production diary that Mike is on the commentary track as well.

TS: Yes, Mike, Phil Weistein and I recorded it weeks ago.  Mostly me saying "What I should have done is..."  Mike had only seen part of the movie when he did the commentary so you get some of his first reactions to the final film.  I trust Starz will put enough promotion bucks into the marketing so no fan will miss hearing about the DVD.

MM: So what's happening with the second animated Hellboy film then?

TS: We’re editing Hellboy: Blood and Iron right now.  I’m working on getting permission to make the movie a couple of minutes shorter.  That may sound like you’re getting less value for your money but it’s the opposite.  We don’t have the extra camera coverage that a live action film has so if I want to trim frames from a scene or cut a scene completely to improve the action I’m hard pressed to replace the footage.  My goal is to get the longest film possible, but I don’t want it flabby.

This movie is soooooooooo different from the first it makes me nervous.

MM: Can't wait!  I really enjoyed Hellboy: Sword of Storms. What do you have planned after Blood and Iron? Taking a much-deserved rest I assume...

TS: I’ve been approved to work on the script of the next Hellboy movie.  Mike and I know the villain story which is chock full of cool stuff and evil plans.  There will be many characters from the comics and you’ll see the animated version of Hellboy’s origin.  We still have to work out how we will tell the story and the emotional elements that will affect our heroes.  We know Hellboy, Kate and Broom will be in it, we’re not sure who else. But there’s no green light on the actual production.  I’m assuming that will have to wait for the reports of DVD sales.

In the meantime, I’ve been approached to guide the animated adventures of another comic book hero, one of the biggest in comics in fact.  But no deals have been signed yet.

MM: "Biggest" as in popular, or as in size?  I mean, are we talking "Wolverine" big or "Galactus" big?  And a third Hellboy film?  Hmm... I think I just figured out the angle for our next chat!  Until then, thanks for the scoops!

TS: Always fun talking to the Flixens!  Say “Hi” to Nina for me.

MM: Hey, she can get her OWN interview... this is so MY moment!  Toodles!

Posted by Movie MILF on November 12, 2006 - 7:35pm.
Animation | Horror | Movie News | Suspense | Television

Lycaeon's picture
Hellboy Animated was very good.

Posted by Lycaeon on November 13, 2006 - 10:02pm.

I enjoyed it immensely. The whole walking through Japanese Myths and legends to save the world was great. I liked the tie in with the dragons all around the world. Very typical of the old comics.

I'd be very happy with a B.P.R.D. series of this quality. The movie was fine. I think I wish they'd done it Screw-on Head style instead of Teen-Titans Lite.

ER was lengthy. Over the

Posted by menene on March 19, 2008 - 3:56am.

ER was lengthy. Over the last 18 months biggest airlines in the United States have shown signs of life after an experience of death in the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001. At a certain point in time or another, four of the "big six" Arguments network of transport companies for the protection of the bankruptcy of Chapter 11 and by the year 2006, almost half the seats in the United States were among the airlines in Chapter 11 But since then, the traffic demand in the upswing, so that the painful cuts in costs and capacity, in recent years, an increase in U.S. airlines fastest gains and improving yields in the industry. Now, under the leadership of the merger of Delta and Northwest, third and fifth rank the airlines, he suddenly, as so often predicted, but never reached wave of consolidation is to beat the American aviation-but only if the regulator for allow him to competition.

In the past, the trust-busters, Ministry of Justice (MJ) have an opinion hostile mergers of the major airlines fear that they would be removed from competition, raise prices for the services and the damage. In a heavily unionized sector, the politicians were also concerned about the loss of jobs, while the local authorities are concerned about the loss of roads or regional centres. In 1998, in the North-West has purchased a controlling interest in Continental, MJ, the two. Three years later, she is against a possible tie-up between United and US Airways. Even if the airlines are healthier, that they do not have the financial years since, MJ, must not make the same mistake again.

One reason is that the upturn in the property is ephemeral and superficial. To the extent that the economy in recession tips, and the income and the load factors are fast in the process of deteriorating. The balance sheets, always tense, have little chance to improve (see article). However, with jet fuel costs 50% more that not he, a year ago, at least 30% of their operating costs, the large American aviation companies urgently need to replace their old air attacks and the thirst.

It should not reduce the fears about the competition too much burden on the regulators. On the one hand, in those days the great American hardly compete in the head. In a Delta / Northwest combination, or a transaction between United and Continental, less than 5% of the total seats in their competition with each other. It is also no longer treat or create many new power over prices. Even faced with a reduction in the overlap of services, would have a market share of more than 24%. In national markets in North America, at a lower cost, which is now responsible for 30% of the seats, continue to put pressure on prices downwards. And the "Open Skies" agreement with the European Union in force until the end of next month, the intercontinental competition.
Required if not enough

The main reason for the MJ bless these arrangements, the consolidation is the only way for the airlines to left to the problems that continue to destabilize the industry. Before it can not flourish, the six large, must first of the regional and transcontinental, while they are potentially profitable long-haul flights, leading to low prices, air carriers fly.

An American from the aerospace industry for the disabled by the bankruptcy of some of its largest companies hurt more by himself, especially because there are deep unsuccessfully behind a ban on foreign. The current system of compensation for consumers permanently in the idea that aviation is not a normal activity. America's let the six largest three would start this right.
See also: airline cheap tickets, buying airline tickets, airline reservation, indian airlines, hawaiian airlines