Ballmastrz: 9009
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Ballmastrz: 9009 | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Christy Karacas |
Directed by | Christy Karacas |
Voices of |
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Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 20 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Ollie Green |
Editors |
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Running time | 11 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | |
Release | April 8, 2018 March 23, 2020 | –
Ballmastrz: 9009 is an American adult 2D-animated sitcom television series created by animator and voice actor Christy Karacas. The show premiered on April 8, 2018 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and was produced by animation studios Titmouse, Inc.[1] and Williams Street. The series stars actress Natasha Lyonne as the voice of Gaz Digzy, a mixed-race athletic superstar in a dystopian future where humanity is satiated by a violent sport simply known as "The Game". The series is characterized by anime-style iconography, dark humor, adult jokes, and shock value.
In July 2019, the show was renewed for a second season,[2] which premiered on February 24, 2020.[3] A special titled Ballmastrz: Rubicon will air on February 20, 2023.[4][5] The special will be produced by PFFR and will be animated by Studio 4°C.
Premise
In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a string of devastating "Rad Wars," a mysterious demigod cyborg named Crayzar creates a roller derby-like sport known as "The Game", in which two teams try score more points than the other using a ball. During the match, players can be "killed" (in that they are teleported to a holding area) to take them out of the match. The series follows Gaz Digzy, the former captain of the best team in the Game, The Boom Boom Boys, who is demoted to playing on the worst team in the Game, The Leptons. Her only way back to the top is to somehow lead these pathetic misfits and 'ultimate losers' to victory.[6]
As the series progresses, The Game is slowly clarified. Initially an ill-explained violent sport between two teams with balls, it developed into a very simple competition where each team attempts to score goals with their respective ball, the goals being a small ball-sized indent on opposing sides of the play area the ball is stuck into. The balls themselves are anthropomorphic and sapient, and their personalities are similar to each team's anime-inspired theme.
Cast and characters
Main
- Natasha Lyonne as Gaz Digzy, a mixed-race star athlete in "The Game" and a former captain of the Boom Boom Boys, who wrecked her own career due to sheer boredom and subsequently found herself teamless, out of shape, and maligned by various diseases. She is a foul-mouthed, hard drinking has-been whose only hope is to join the Leptons and reclaim her glory. Though Ace Ambling, the young lead player of the Leptons, looks up to her, she usually ridicules him, but she slowly begins to appreciate his appraisal of her. Despite constantly being drunk, she is shown to be very knowledgeable in playing the Game and occasionally shows competence and teamwork skills. By the end of Season 1, she warms up to the Leptons and decides to stay as their new captain. In Season 2, Gaz's full name is revealed to be Gazmerelda Digzfield, daughter of moon mining tycoon Rupert T. Digzfield IV, and it is also revealed that she became a player in the Game as a way of getting back at her uptight family. As the series progress, she became more sociable, happy, and responsible due to spending time with the Leptons, particularly Ace who brings the best out of her due to his unwavering faith and belief in her. Near the Season 2 finale, she began to get back in shape and decided to train sober and become clean. To show her growth as a person, she became selfless and was willing to give up her family fame and fortune by disowning her father to go back leading the Leptons once more, and stated that her true family are the Leptons, who truly loved her and accepted her for who she is and had given her the sense of belonging she never got in her whole life.
- Jessica DiCicco as Ace Ambling, a 12-year-old Irish-American orphan and the lead player of the Leptons. He is bright, cheerful, and optimistic, but can lose his patience when things don't go as planned. He looks up to Gaz, and though he seems oblivious to her indifference to him, he eventually realizes her flaws and attempts to bring out the best in her. Despite his cheery demeanor, he often feels neglected or looked down upon by the team. Ace is revealed to be descended from the Ballmasters who fought in the Rad Wars; he can become one by fusing with Babyball and can change forms while doing so.
- DiCicco also plays Duleena "Dee Dee" Duneeda, an anime-esque girl on the team. She is usually softspoken and cares for her teammates, but will occasionally explode in a rage when provoked. She is also shown to have a crush on Leto Otel and gets angered when he tries to downplay his relation to her. She is a former vampire hunter and thus has a large knowledge about the occult.
- Dana Snyder as Babyball, the crass and cynical robotic ball member of the Leptons. Similar to Gaz Digzy, he looks down on his own team and wishes for better players. However, he can access a special ability when paired with Ace, whom he dislikes due to his cheeriness; he does begin to warm up to Ace and eventually calls him his friend. Despite this, Babyball is selfish, boastful, and will mock his teammates regardless.
- Snyder also voices Stinkfinger, a living severed finger that reeks and is part of the rival team, the Murderous Misfits.
- Eric Bauza as Flip Champion, a body stump with a spiked "sensory deprivation" helmet. A true warrior, Flip must rely on his navel to perform certain tasks. Despite claiming to have amazing abilities, which he arguably does, he still seems rather useless and is typically brushed aside with ease by other players. He was apparently once a great defender of the innocent, but through a series of training regimes, chose to simplify himself and put all his energy in his power Umbilicus, a large umbilical cord that extends from his navel. While his name is officially spelled "Flip", some of the promotional and in-show material spells it as "Flypp".
- Dave Willis as Leto Otel, a lethargic and pessimistic member of the Leptons. He lacks the motivation and prowess to be an effective player and does not seem interested in the Game, to the point that he is not phased by mortal injuries. He quotes poetry and seems intelligent at times. While Dee Dee openly shows affection for him, Leto tries to downplay it. He has at times revealed to become sad, more so than usual, when Dee Dee briefly leaves.
- Christy Karacas as Crayzar, the ruler of the Ulsa Guerin world who created the Game to please humanity. He has lived for thousands of years and lacks any sort of genitalia, as he is implied to be some type of artificial lifeform. He lived through the Rad Wars and gave life to all of the game balls, which were originally used as weapons in the wars. He seemingly admires the Leptons, but after Ace and Babyball's fusion, might have ulterior motives. In "Wish You Upon A Spore", it's revealed that he's a near-immortal demigod cyborg.
- Karacas also plays Aboo Buvu, a game ball who reports the news and acts as a moderator for The Game.
- Christopher McCulloch as various characters.
The Leptons also include two characters who do not have voice actors but are prominent. Lulu, a large green ape-like monster who, despite her intimidating appearance, is afraid of everything; and Bob, a grey alien, who appears to be useless and typically gets beaten the worst.
Guest
- Norman Reedus as Bacchus LaBrute, the blue-skinned Greaser-style leader of a notorious biker gang called the Middle Fingers who live out in the wastelands.
- Stephanie Sheh as Luna, the leader of the Sailor Moon-esque team the Ashigari Princesses and an old rival of Gaz who wants to steal the secret of the Ballmaster formation.
- Sheh also plays Rudy Drax, a child without arms or legs, who idolizes Flip Champion.
- Mike O’Gorman as Buddy Marinara, the Leptons' two-faced manager who is always looking for a way to exploit his team's newfound fame.
- O'Gorman also plays as a shopkeeper of an Animal Shelter that Ace volunteers at.
- Jo Firestone as Ace's Robot Mother, a fake robot mother that Gaz and Babyball make to cheer him up.
- Rachel Dratch as The Blab, a small talking parasite that grows out of Gaz's stomach.
- Cree Summer as Obah Wexley, a famous talk show host. She is a parody of Oprah Winfrey.
- Doc Hammer as Milky van Montebag, a manager who tries to cash in on Ace's fame.
- Ed Asner[7] as Rupert T. Digzfield IV, Gaz's evil mega-rich father and founder of the Digzfield Lunar Drilling Corporation.
Episodes
Season 1 (2018)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) | |
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1 | 1 | "A Shooting Star Named Gaz Digzy Falls Fast & Hard!" | Christy Karacas | Christy Karacas | April 9, 2018 | 0.812[8] | |
In the far future after the Rad Wars, the great one, Crayzar, creates a new sport called "The Game" so that the world can live in peace. A notorious team known as the Leptons are the worst, yet its youngest member, an orphan named Ace, tries to remain optimistic about winning. Meanwhile, Gaz Digzy, a famous member of the Boom Boom Boys, has grown bored of her fame and decides to party hard resulting in her arrest, rehab, getting kicked off the team and earning a severe muffin-top. Crayzar has her join the Leptons and promises her to give her team back if she can win one game with them, much to her chagrin. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "With the Burning Spirit of Teamwork in Her Heart!" | Christy Karacas | Adam Modiano | April 9, 2018 | 0.773[8] | |
Ace is overjoyed at Gaz joining the Leptons as he is a fan of hers, but she berates and looks down on them for their poor skills. Babyball, the team's ball member, presents Gaz with the prospect of working together to leave the team. As the Leptons battle the Murderous Misfits, Gaz and Babyball intentionally harm their team angering and upsetting Ace who insults Gaz. Angered at being insulted, she, in turn, tosses Babyball so hard that he and Ace fuse and take out the opposing team, but accidentally score in the other goal. Nevertheless, the audience is enthralled by this development and Ace hugs an annoyed Gaz. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "Very Special Balls!" | Christy Karacas | Scotty Landes, Adam Modiano, Andrew Reuland and Christy Karacas | April 16, 2018 | 0.702[9] | |
After the successful fusion, dubbed Ballmaster, Buddy Marinara, the Leptons' manager, has Ace and Babyball challenge Xythryll, a mutated chinchilla that resides at an abandoned factory. Gaz once again belittles the two for not knowing how to fuse so they decide to go and meet Crayzar. Crayzar reveals that years ago, Ballmasters would battle during the Rad Wars. When the war ended, Crayzar collected the leftover balls and gave life to them as game balls believing that the time of the Ballmasters was over. He tells them that Ace and Babyball need to synchronize their personalities. They successfully do so, but accidentally release Xythryll angering the audience. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "To Catch a Princess" | Christy Karacas | Ben Coccio | April 16, 2018 | 0.638[9] | |
Ace is addicted to playing the video game To Catch a Princess. During a playthrough, he meets Luna who offers to meet with Ace in real life at the Rad Wars Memorial Park. He takes Babyball along, as his avatar looks like the two combined, but Luna turns out to be the leader of the rival team the Ashigari Princesses who threaten the two into revealing their secret to becoming Ballmaster. Gaz herself gets addicted to the game and forgets Ace and Babyball until Leto informs her. The Leptons arrive and rescue Ace and Babyball who fuse and defeat Luna and her team. After celebrating their victory, Ace sadly "releases" Luna from his game. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Breathe Deep to Win! Teamwork Cuts Through the Foul Odor of Obsession!" | Christy Karacas | Scotty Landes | April 23, 2018 | 0.729[10] | |
The Leptons are hit with a stink bomb that ruins their night. Gaz reveals that the bomb came from a fan of hers named Dieter who became so obsessed with her that the Boom Boom Boys tossed him into a power plant turning him into a stink being. After being hit with more stink bombs, Gaz hires Stinkfinger of the Murderous Misfits to help them acclimate to the stench. They eventually face off against the Pups, use their stink immunity to their advantage and take out Dieter who was watching. While the Leptons manage to make a point, the game gets cancelled due to too much stinkiness. Crayzar watches the outcome with intrigue and the Leptons all give each other a bath. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "Honor! Money! Swords! Dongs! Ultimate Gaz Boom Boom Rookie Card Battle Begin! Fight!" | Christy Karacas | Ben Coccio | April 23, 2018 | 0.651[10] | |
On Holo-Card Day, the Leptons get new Holo-Cards including a hungover Gaz. When Ace reveals that he owns a rare Gaz Boom Boom Rookie Card, that notoriously looks like she is about to give a blowjob, Gaz reveals that she bought up all remaining cards and left them with her ex, criminal Jojo Cracko. Due to their worth, Gaz, Ace and Babyball all head to his estate and battle the security head, Yukioi, and several robots. Jojo is revealed to live in fear of Gaz, having put a restraining order on her, and gives the Holo-Cards back with Gaz actually complimenting Ace for once. However, Gaz learns on the news that her new card is just as embarrassing as the old one. | |||||||
7 | 7 | "Leather Passions! 2 Hearts, 2 Wheelz, Infinite Roadz. Ride Now!" | Christy Karacas | Andrew Reuland | April 30, 2018 | 0.697[11] | |
While travelling through the desert, the Leptons stop to refuel and accidentally disturb a biker gang called the Middle Fingers. The group gets into a fight and Dee Dee displays violent behaviour that impresses their leader Bacchus LaBrute. When Leto denies that Dee Dee is his girlfriend, she angrily "dumps" him and decides to stay with the Middle Fingers. Leto admits that he feels empty without Dee Dee and the Leptons have him confront Bacchus, who challenges Leto to a bike race. Ace and Babyball fuse into a motorcycle, Leto races Bacchus and defeats him. When he tries to kill Leto, Dee Dee comes to his aid and rejoins the Leptons with Leto wanting to take things slow. | |||||||
8 | 8 | "Hunger Cramps on the Playing Field of Friendship" | Christy Karacas | Adam Modiano | April 30, 2018 | 0.633[11] | |
After losing against the Choo Choo Chums, the Leptons quickly ditch Ace after he suggests volunteering at the animal shelter. Ace sneaks in some B.E.H.O. for the animals, but hides it in his mouth, accidentally eating it. He ends up liking it and gets hooked on binge eating B.E.H.O.'s nonstop especially after Gaz ditches him again. Ace quickly takes his frustrations out on the Choo Choo Chums and the Leptons learn about Ace's addiction. Ace begins transforming into a hideous monster and swallows his team. While inside, Gaz admits to Ace that they are his friends and promises to go to the animal shelter with him. Ace returns to normal and the Leptons, reluctantly, concede. | |||||||
9 | 9 | "Chaste Wing of the Cold Turkey vs. Flaming Fist of Indulgence!" | Christy Karacas | Andrew Reuland | May 7, 2018 | N/A | |
Gaz decides to finally lose her beer belly, so Babyball makes a bet with her, if Gaz wins, he sews his mouth shut, but if he wins, Gaz must streak naked. Gaz has Flip train her so that she can reacquire her abs. During her training, Babyball gets a sponsorship with Offal Ale to throw off Gaz resulting in her making a side bet, she will go sober until game day and Babyball will be her servant for a month. Gaz cheats on her training and studies Flip's scrolls. While this seems to work at first, she loses her abs and decides to save face by streaking naked. The Leptons lose, but Gaz was sober so Babyball lost the side bet and ends up being her servant, losing the sponsorship in the process. | |||||||
10 | 10 | "Strength Through Song; Brotherhood Through Blood; Redemption Through Rage. Sing, Fallen Angel!" | Christy Karacas | Christy Karacas, Adam Modiano and Scotty Landes | May 7, 2018 | N/A | |
The Leptons record a rap song for their final game against Gaz's former team, the Boom Boom Boys. Feeling humiliated, Gaz takes their recording and drowns her sorrows at a bar. She runs into her former teammates and leaves in frustration, dropping the recording in the process. When the Boom Boom Boys hear it, they decide to "help" her by playing it for them at their game. Gaz returns to the Leptons with the team preparing for defeat. However, when the Leptons hear their song, they think that Gaz was actually getting help from them and they suddenly gain a boost in confidence that makes them finally win their first game by one point. Crayzar offers Gaz a new team, but she asks for a beer instead. |
Season 2 (2020)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | "Infinite Hugs: Cold Embrace of the Bloodless Progenitors!" | Christy Karacas | Adam Modiano | February 24, 2020 | 0.612[12] | |
Following their win, the Leptons enter a string of successes and earn numerous fan letters (some of which are dick pics). Ace, however, is sad because he does not have any close family to share his wins. To get him out of his depression, Gaz and Babyball create two robots who pretend to be his long-lost parents. The rest of the team reluctantly goes along with it as Ace happily spends the day with his "parents" who slowly grow concerned with his easily injurable body. The Robo parents take Ace to a maintenance closet and announce their plan to convert him. The rest of the Leptons hear his cries and rush to save him. Despite this, Ace does not want to kill his "parents" but is forced to do so as Ballmaster. He admits that the Leptons are his family now. | |||||||
12 | 2 | "Shameful Disease of Yackety Yack! Don't Talk Back! Be Silenced Forever!" | Christy Karacas | Christy Karacas and Andrew Reuland | February 24, 2020 | 0.535[12] | |
Gaz suddenly grows a small joke spewing head from her belly called the Blab, which is apparently a sexually transmitted disease. She has to appear on Obah Wexley's show the next day and sees a doctor, who turns out to be Crayzar. He tells them that they need to feed the Blab a special root to get rid of it. Ace and Babyball fly off to get it and feed it in time for the show, but the root needs to digest. Gaz puts on a one-piece dress to hide the Blab who still talks. She uses Leto's sock to create a puppet dubbed "Little Gaz" and explains that she is trying to vent her negative emotions. While it seems that things are a disaster, Obah announces that Gaz's guest spot is a success. The Leptons celebrate, but Gaz refuses to disclose who she slept with as the Blab dies. | |||||||
13 | 3 | "Big Boy Body, Bigger Baby Boy Heart! Can You Endure the Pain of Love? Babyball, Discover It Now!" | Christy Karacas | Jimbo Matison | March 2, 2020 | 0.460[13] | |
Babyball solemnly wishes he could have a body and Crayzar grants his wish; giving him a large muscular body. This results in Babyball becoming nicer and jovial with everyone because he has a heart now. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this weakens his ability on the field; ironically causing Ace to become harsher and angrier with him. Gaz takes Babyball to a bar to toughen him up, but this fails spectacularly. During another game, the whole team is wiped out and Ace and Babyball fuse into Ballmaster with the latter "dangling...like a giant nutsack". Babyball beheads himself so that they can perform properly and win the game. Crayzar informs Babyball that he shares his heart with Ace who is his best friend. Babyball denies this, insults Ace and takes the team out to the bar with Crayzar comforting Ace. | |||||||
14 | 4 | "Children of the Night Serenade Wet Nurse of Reprisal; Scream, Bloodsucker, Scream!" | Christy Karacas | Andrew Reuland | March 2, 2020 | 0.402[13] | |
Gaz is at a dive bar and picks up a man named Bergdorf Sanguine who turns out to be a vampire. Later, she tries to suck Ace's blood for "the master", but is stopped by the rest of the Leptons. Bergdorf returns and takes Gaz away. Dee Dee reveals that she is a former vampire hunter, or rather pest exterminator when she was trying to pay off her student loans and she, Ace and Babyball head off to battle Bergdorf and his monster army, which they manage to do in spectacular fashion as Ballmaster. Gaz has been made Bergdorf's maid and is forced to clean up after him. Dee Dee and Ace manage to get through to Gaz who snaps out of her hypnosis and together they kill Bergdorf. Afterwards, Dee Dee angrily tells Gaz to stop picking up shadowy figures in dive bars while hammered and Gaz drunkenly agrees by asking more men out. | |||||||
15 | 5 | "When You Wish Upon a Spore" | Christy Karacas | Ben Coccio | March 9, 2020 | 0.553[14] | |
The Leptons must do work with the Wish Program by getting visited by a boy named Rudy Drax, who suffers from a loss of appendages. He idolizes Flip, but he insensitively insults the boy, activating the sensitivity sensors in the stadium (and confusing Gaz and Babyball who wonder why they never activated them). Crazyar teleports Flip away for sensitivity training through virtual scenarios, but he turns out to be too much of jerk. Meanwhile, Rudy sees Flip's room and absorbs his appendages, before defeating the Leptons in anger. As Flip is placed in a final reality-altering scenario, he returns and finally apologizes for his behaviour, causing Rudy to implode. The Leptons are confused as Rudy was real and not a simulation. The virtual scenario tore a fabric in time and accidentally disintegrated Rudy, much to Crayzar and his team's horror. | |||||||
16 | 6 | "Can't Stand the Heat? Ultimate Kitchen Technique! Finish Them, Warrior Bard!!" | Christy Karacas | Andrew Reuland | March 9, 2020 | 0.479[14] | |
After winning another game, the Leptons all take hallucinogenic drugs, except for Ace who is too young. They all get the munchies, so Leto makes the team some grilled cheese sandwiches. To everyone's astonishment, the sandwiches are amazing and they suggest that he get on Crayzar's other show, Gourmet Gamers. Leto refuses as he is afraid of embarrassing himself. Nevertheless, Dee Dee tells Leto that he needs to toughen up and signs him on the show; leaving him completely out of his comfort zone. As his fellow chefs all get into a fight, Leto finds himself tossed through a series of humiliating tasks, much to everyone's amusement. Leto eventually gets the strength to finish through Dee Dee's support. His sandwich appears burnt and inedible, but Leto ends up winning when the judges are left speechless, thanks to the drugs. | |||||||
17 | 7 | "Defective Affection?! Dodge the Wayward Strikes of Cupid's Calamitous Quiver!" | Christy Karacas | Adam Modiano | March 16, 2020 | 0.592[15] | |
When Gaz and Dee Dee see Bob giving a flower to Lulu, they assume that the two of them are in love and decide to play matchmaker. They doll up Lulu and set her up on a date with Bob. The rest of the Leptons apparently had the same idea as they try to feed Bob advice. Things get out of hand as Gaz and Dee Dee try to shift to different venues so that the two of them can establish a romance. Upon seeing Gaz and Dee Dee working closely with one another, Leto begins to assume that the two are in a relationship. Eventually, Lulu gets tired of listening to Gaz and Dee Dee's advice, as well as their arguments, and decides to be herself resulting in gaining an audience and accidentally destroying a club. Later, Gaz and Dee Dee realize that Bob was just returning the flower to Lulu after she dropped it. They then decide to spy on Bob instead. | |||||||
18 | 8 | "Dance Dance Convolution?! Egos Warped by the Hair Gel of Hubris! Atonement, Now!!" | Christy Karacas | Christy Karacas, Adam Modiano and Andrew Reuland | March 16, 2020 | 0.524[15] | |
The Leptons are approached by Milky van Montebag, a flashy manager who offers to pay them. He begins putting emphasis on Ace for his innocent appearance and soon Ace-mania begins taking the Consortium by storm. The rest of the Leptons become annoyed as Ace's newfound fame resulting in Gaz confronting him. She reveals that she was once part of a wealthy family and joined the Game to find excitement. Managers took advantage of her and she spiraled into drugs, resulting in her going to rehab and leading to what became of her today; a change she is actually proud of. Ace ignores her and the Leptons kidnap him and follow Milky to a sweat house full of workers made up of Lulu's species. The Leptons battle Milky and his robots and free the workers. However, Ace still has strong feelings for his fame, much to the annoyance of the team. | |||||||
19 | 9 | "Don't Let a Big Head Give You the Championship Blues! You Can Do It, Leptons! Try Your Best to Win!!" | Christy Karacas | Adam Modiano | March 23, 2020 | 0.529[16] | |
The Leptons prepare to go up against Bad Omen, a demonic team in the big finals. Ace, still overly confidant and egotistical, declares that he can defeat the team on his own as Ballmaster which everyone agrees to as the rival team comes off as intimidating and scary. Gaz is none too proud of Ace's behaviour, but the team comes together on game day. Most of the Leptons are wiped out, but Ace and Babyball become Ballmaster and wipe out the other players, but he becomes angered at Gaz and begins fighting her. Crayzar mentally speaks to Gaz to take up her role as leader and she and Ace fight resulting in him severely injuring her. He comes to his senses and together they are able to defeat Bad Omen's leader Vorelord and win the Game 2-1. As the Leptons celebrate their newfound victory and glory, Crayzar is pleased with Gaz and Ballmaster. | |||||||
20 | 10 | "Onward, True Blue Friends Win Eternal; Paladin of the Heavens, Start Today!" | Christy Karacas | Andrew Reuland | March 23, 2020 | 0.426[16] | |
The Leptons are given the grand trophy by Crayzar who makes Ballmaster MVP, though Ace credits Gaz for being his inspiration. Gaz is confronted by her father Rupert T. Digzfield IV who wants her to return to the family business; having bought the Leptons when she joined and threatens to break the team-up. Six months later, Gaz is pampered by her family, though she takes the time to still watch the Leptons who are still winning games. Suddenly, the city is attacked by aliens and Crayzar reveals that the Game was not just to keep the peace, but also to train warriors who will defend the earth and the galaxy from invaders. Gaz leaves home, with her father getting killed by the aliens, and races back to the city where she happily rejoins the Leptons. The city is revealed to be a ship and Crazyar takes the Leptons and the other teams into space. |
Production
Development
Around 2014, Karacas began working on the show.[17] On May 7, 2015, it was announced that Adult Swim had given a pilot order to the production as part of their 2015-16 slate of returning series, pilots and specials.[18] The pilot would become Ballmastrz: 9009. On August 4, 2017, it was announced that Adult Swim had given the production a series order consisting of the first season. The series was created by Christy Karacas, co-creator of Superjail! and set to be produced by animation company Titmouse, Inc.[6]
Animation
The series is animated with Adobe Animate and produced by a team of around 20 animators from Titmouse, Inc. offices in Vancouver, Canada. When the animators were discussing the artistic direction of the series, Titmouse president and producer Chris Prynoski described the show's animation style as appearing "like it was drawn by middle school kids who try to draw anime".
Casting
Alongside the initial series announcement, it was reported that Natasha Lyonne was cast in the series' lead role of Gaz Digzy. The main cast was also set to be rounded out by Dana Snyder, Dave Willis, Jessica DiCicco, Eric Bauza, Christopher McCulloch, and Karacas. Guests were set to include Norman Reedus, Stephanie Sheh, and Mike O’Gorman.[6][19][20][21]
Marketing
Alongside the initial series announcement, Adult Swim released the first official trailer for the series.[6][22][23]
On February 22, 2020, Adult Swim hosted an event at the Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, dedicated to the premiere of the second season of the series. During the event, 5 unreleased episodes were broadcast followed by a Q&A with creator Christy Karacas and voice actors Dana Snyder and Dave Willis.
References
- ^ Ballmastrz 9009 (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb, retrieved 2021-01-25
- ^ Lang, Jamie (6 July 2019). "'Ballmastrz: 9009,' 'Tigtone' Second Seasons Ordered by Adult Swim (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Ballmastrz: 9009 Season 2 | February 23 | adult swim" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "EIDR | Entertainment Identifier Registry". ui.eidr.org. doi:10.5240/100b-ae1b-635d. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (November 29, 2022). "Adult Swim's Space-Age Heroes Return in 'King Star King!/!/!' & 'Ballmastrz: Rubicon'". Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Pedersen, Erik (March 1, 2018). "Adult Swim Orders Toon Series 'Ballmastrz 9009' Starring Natasha Lyonne, Unveils Trailer & Premiere Date". Deadline. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ @AdamModiano (21 March 2020). "#Ballmastrz9009 SEASON FINALE Sunday @ midnight on @adultswim! Old and new foes emerge. You will not expect it. Yo…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 10, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.8.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 17, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.15.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 24, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.22.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (May 1, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.29.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.24.2020 |Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. February 25, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25.
- ^ a b "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.1.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. March 3, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-03.
- ^ a b "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.8.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. March 11, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-11.
- ^ a b "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.15.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. March 17, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17.
- ^ a b "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.22.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". Showbuzzdaily.com. March 24, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-24.
- ^ Mufson, Beckett (6 April 2018). "Ballmastrz 9009 Is the Last Sports Anime You'll Ever Need". Vice. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
Karacas has been working on the show for four years...
- ^ Petski, Denise (May 7, 2015). "Adult Swim's 2015-16 Slate Includes New Animated Series From Brad Neely, Miniseries From Jon Glaser". Deadline. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ Pena, Jessica (March 1, 2018). "Ballmastrz: 9009: Adult Swim Announces New Animated Series for April (Video) - canceled TV shows - TV Series Finale". TV Series Finale. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (March 1, 2018). "Adult Swim Grabs Christy Karacas' Manic Anime Homage 'Ballmastrz: 9009'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ Mufson, Beckett (March 1, 2018). "'Ballmastrz: 9009' Is Here to Fill the 'Rick and Morty'–Shaped Hole in Your Life". Vice. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ Karan, Tim (March 1, 2018). "Watch the insane trailer for Adult Swim's new series Ballmastrz: 9009". Looper.com. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- ^ McLean, Tom (March 1, 2018). "Adult Swim Debuts 'Ballmastrz: 9009' April 8". Animation World Network. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
External links
- 2018 American television series debuts
- 2020 American television series endings
- 2010s American adult animated television series
- 2010s American animated comedy television series
- 2010s American comic science fiction television series
- 2020s American adult animated television series
- 2020s American animated comedy television series
- 2020s American comic science fiction television series
- Adult Swim original programming
- American adult animated comedy television series
- American adult animated science fiction television series
- American comic science fiction television series
- American adult animated sports television series
- American flash adult animated television series
- Anime-influenced Western animated television series
- English-language television shows
- Television series set in the future
- Fictional ball games
- Post-apocalyptic animated television series
- Television series by Williams Street
- Television series created by Christy Karacas
- Toonami
- Fiction set in the 7th millennium or beyond