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===Casting===
===Casting===
<!--ATTENTION: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM converting, adding, (re)producing, or performing any action that would result in laying out arbitrary voice actor/casting information in a list/bullet point format. [[WP:MOSTV|Manual of Style for television-related articles states]]: "Wikipedia is foremost an encyclopedia and...articles should try to be prosaïc instead of lists of arbitrary information pulled out of TV.com." As we get more information, useful/notable behind-the-scenes information regarding casting will also be added.-->
<!--ATTENTION: PLEASE REFRAIN FROM converting, adding, (re)producing, or performing any action that would result in laying out arbitrary voice actor/casting information in a list/bullet point format. [[WP:MOSTV|Manual of Style for television-related articles states]]: "Wikipedia is foremost an encyclopedia and...articles should try to be prosaïc instead of lists of arbitrary information pulled out of TV.com." As we get more information, useful/notable behind-the-scenes information regarding casting will also be added.-->
''Young Justice'' has six main cast members, almost all of whom regularly voice one character each. [[Jesse McCartney]] performs Dick Grayson as [[Robin (comics)|Robin]], and [[Jason Spisak]] performs Wally West as [[Kid Flash]]. [[Khary Payton]], who had previously performed the voice of [[Cyborg (comics)|Cyborg]] in the ''[[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]]'' animated television series, performs [[Aqualad]]. [[Danica McKellar]] performs [[Miss Martian]], and [[Stephanie Lemelin]] performs Artemis. [[Nolan North]] is the only one among the main cast to perform more than one role, [[Superboy (Kon-El)|Superboy]] and [[Superman]], as one voice actor was sought to portray the two genetically identical characters of different ages as distinct individuals.{{r|AG-VA1}}
''Young Justice'' has six main cast members, almost all of whom regularly voice one character each. [[Jesse McCartney]] performs Dick Grayson as [[Robin (comics)|Robin]], and [[Jason Spisak]] performs Wally West as [[Kid Flash]]. [[Khary Payton]], who had previously performed the voice of [[Cyborg (comics)|Cyborg]] in the ''[[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]]'' animated television series, performs [[Aqualad]]. [[Danica McKellar]] performs [[Miss Martian]], and [[Stephanie Lemelin]] performs [[Artemis]]. [[Nolan North]] is the only one among the main cast to perform more than one role, [[Superboy (Kon-El)|Superboy]] and [[Superman]], as one voice actor was sought to portray the two genetically identical characters of different ages as distinct individuals.{{r|AG-VA1}}


In addition to the main cast, voice actors to perform roles of [[Justice League]] members, villains, and other characters were cast. [[Bruce Greenwood]] will reprise his role as [[Bruce Wayne]]/Batman, having previously performed the character in the animated film ''Batman: Under the Red Hood''. [[Phil LaMarr]] and [[Alan Tudyk]], who both have worked with DC Comics-based Warner Bros. Animation as [[John Stewart (comics)|Green Lantern]] in ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' and [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Barry Allen]] in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' respectively, perform [[Aquaman]] and [[Green Arrow]]. [[Rob Lowe]] performs [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]]. [[Marina Sirtis]] performs [[Queen Bee (comics)|Queen Bee]].{{r|MCCC10}} [[Kelly Hu]], who performed [[Black Mask (comics)|Black Mask]]'s assistant Ms. Li in ''Batman: Under the Red Hood'', has also been cast.{{r|BF-KH}} Greg Weisman is said to perform a small voice role in the series.{{r|123F-GWI}} Other cast members include [[George Eads]] as [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Flash]], [[Keith Szarabajka]] as [[Mr. Freeze]], [[Yuri Lowenthal]] as [[Icicle (comics)|Icicle]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as [[Martian Manhunter]], and [[Crispin Freeman]] as [[Roy Harper (comics)|Speedy]].{{r|WF-CCCD}}
In addition to the main cast, voice actors to perform roles of [[Justice League]] members, villains, and other characters were cast. [[Bruce Greenwood]] will reprise his role as [[Bruce Wayne]]/Batman, having previously performed the character in the animated film ''Batman: Under the Red Hood''. [[Phil LaMarr]] and [[Alan Tudyk]], who both have worked with DC Comics-based Warner Bros. Animation as [[John Stewart (comics)|Green Lantern]] in ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' and [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Barry Allen]] in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' respectively, perform [[Aquaman]] and [[Green Arrow]]. [[Rob Lowe]] performs [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]]. [[Marina Sirtis]] performs [[Queen Bee (comics)|Queen Bee]].{{r|MCCC10}} [[Kelly Hu]], who performed [[Black Mask (comics)|Black Mask]]'s assistant Ms. Li in ''Batman: Under the Red Hood'', has also been cast.{{r|BF-KH}} Greg Weisman is said to perform a small voice role in the series.{{r|123F-GWI}} Other cast members include [[George Eads]] as [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Flash]], [[Keith Szarabajka]] as [[Mr. Freeze]], [[Yuri Lowenthal]] as [[Icicle (comics)|Icicle]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] as [[Martian Manhunter]], and [[Crispin Freeman]] as [[Roy Harper (comics)|Speedy]].{{r|WF-CCCD}}

Revision as of 14:36, 28 November 2010

Young Justice
File:Young Justice TV series.PNG
Promotional poster
From left to right: Artemis, Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Aqualad
GenreSuperhero fiction, spy fiction, teen drama
Created byGreg Weisman
Brandon Vietti
Written byGreg Weisman
Kevin Hopps
Andrew Robinson
Nicole Dubuc
Jon Weisman
Tom Pugsley
Peter David
Directed byJay Oliva
Michael Chang
and others[2]
Voices ofJesse McCartney
Jason Spisak
Khary Payton
Nolan North
Danica McKellar
Stephanie Lemelin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26[3] (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerSam Register
ProducersGreg Weisman
Brandon Vietti
Running time21 minutes
Production companiesDC Entertainment
Warner Bros. Animation
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseNovember 26, 2010 (2010-11-26)[1]

Young Justice is an American animated television series created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti for Cartoon Network. Despite its title, it is not an adaptation of Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck's Young Justice series of comics, but rather, an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young superheroes.[5][6] The series follows the lives of teenaged heroes (some of them sidekicks) who are members of a fictional covert operation team — called Young Justice — of its celebrity-level famous adult counterpart, the Justice League.[7][8] The main setting is the fictional universe of Earth-16,[7] during a time period in which superheroes are a relatively recent phenomenon.[9] The series will debut in January 2011, with the pilot episode having aired on November 26, 2010.[1]

Plot

Young Justice focuses on the lives of a group of teenaged superhero sidekicks and protégés attempting to establish themselves as proven superheroes and as teenagers dealing with adolescent issues grounded in the context of their personal lives.[9][6]

Background

The show is set in Earth-16, a DC Multiverse world, and corresponds to the present time of our world — a time period Vietti has called "a new age of heroes."[9] The recently founded (three to four years in activity)[5] Justice League is a powerful organization of superheroes who find themselves becoming "high-powered, high-wattage celebrities" tracked closely by the public. As it grows increasingly difficult for the Justice League to operate outside the spotlight, the supervillains take advantage of their opponents' prominence while becoming better at organizing and working under the radar. Meanwhile, the teenaged sidekicks of several Justice League members feel they are ready to graduate on to the next level and become more independent. Consequently, Batman organizes the teens to fill the need for a covert operations team while keeping their protégés under their authority.[7][10]

Season synopses

Main article: List of Young Justice episodes

Continuity

Although Young Justice follows a continuity considerably different from that of mainstream DC Universe, Weisman has stated that the series covers its early stages.[note 2][9] Earth-16 was chosen by DC Entertainment for the show because it was largely untapped, freeing the series and its franchise from established continuity restraints set by either DC Universe or other Multiverse worlds.[note 3][11][12]

There are crucial differences in the line-up of teenaged superhero sidekicks from those of Teen Titans or Young Justice series of comics. Dick Grayson and Wally West were chosen over Tim Drake and Bart Allen/Impulse because the former characters were the first incarnations of their respective superhero identities.[13] Miss Martian, who was originally a White Martian in the comics, was added because the date of her arrival to Earth could still fit in the early DC Universe concept.[5] Aqualad, as opposed to Robin, is the leader of the team.[note 4] Furthermore, the Aqualad presented in the show is an entirely new character created by Weisman and Vietti, with Bourassa responsible for the original character design.[4] Arrowette was replaced by Artemis[14] in the producers' desire to focus on the latter's storylines.[15] Some of the Young Justice characters' ages are tweaked from those of their original counterparts.[8] However, the spirit and the intent of the characters are said to be kept.[13]

Production

Conception and development

The series began development in March 2009,[6] when Sam Register, Executive Vice President of Creative Affairs of Warner Bros. Animation (also attached to executive produce),[16] wanted a show based on the concept of a cross between Teen Titans and Young Justice series of comics, but was not solely an adaptation of one or the other.[5] The title chosen for the show by Register was Young Justice,[6] as it was appropriately meaningful to the concept the creative team was looking for.[17] Greg Weisman, whom Register sought immediately after the cancellation of The Spectacular Spider-Man animated television series, and Brandon Vietti, whose work in directing a DC Universe Animated original movie Batman: Under the Red Hood Register particularly noted, were hired to produce.[18] Register jokingly described the two as being similar in appearance, in addition to being similar in thought.[7] Peter David, who penned a majority of the comic book issues of Young Justice, was approached to write several episodes.[19] Also attached to write are Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, Andrew Robinson, Nicole Dubuc, Jon Weisman, and Tom Pugsley — with Vietti heavily involved in the scriptwriting process.[20]

The result of the collaboration of Weisman and Vietti was a show about young heroes based on a combination of the 1960s Teen Titans run and the 1990s Young Justice run, in addition to the recent Teen Titans and Young Justice comics, and revolved around the theme of secrets and lies.[5][13] In drawing material from a variety of comic book sources, the creative team sought to differentiate the tone of the show from that of the Teen Titans animated television series, which the team believed resembled the tone of the Young Justice series of comics rather than that of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's New Teen Titans series it was based on.[17] The concept of a covert operations team has been compared to Impossible Missions Force, a fictional independent espionage agency in the Mission: Impossible series.[6] Together, Weisman and Vietti came up with ideas, characters, and plot points for at least two seasons, although it is unknown as to how many season runs DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation are looking for the series.[5] Although there were several characters the producers were not allowed to use in the first season (a list that has become shorter along the course of the development), they were usually in charge of the decisions determining which DC Universe character would or would not be used.[21] Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, and Phil Bourassa, lead character designer for the show, also played a role in the conception and development process.[5]

Casting

Young Justice has six main cast members, almost all of whom regularly voice one character each. Jesse McCartney performs Dick Grayson as Robin, and Jason Spisak performs Wally West as Kid Flash. Khary Payton, who had previously performed the voice of Cyborg in the Teen Titans animated television series, performs Aqualad. Danica McKellar performs Miss Martian, and Stephanie Lemelin performs Artemis. Nolan North is the only one among the main cast to perform more than one role, Superboy and Superman, as one voice actor was sought to portray the two genetically identical characters of different ages as distinct individuals.[22]

In addition to the main cast, voice actors to perform roles of Justice League members, villains, and other characters were cast. Bruce Greenwood will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, having previously performed the character in the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood. Phil LaMarr and Alan Tudyk, who both have worked with DC Comics-based Warner Bros. Animation as Green Lantern in Justice League and Barry Allen in Batman: The Brave and the Bold respectively, perform Aquaman and Green Arrow. Rob Lowe performs Captain Marvel. Marina Sirtis performs Queen Bee.[23] Kelly Hu, who performed Black Mask's assistant Ms. Li in Batman: Under the Red Hood, has also been cast.[24] Greg Weisman is said to perform a small voice role in the series.[10] Other cast members include George Eads as Flash, Keith Szarabajka as Mr. Freeze, Yuri Lowenthal as Icicle, Kevin Michael Richardson as Martian Manhunter, and Crispin Freeman as Speedy.[25]

Changes in the cast are to be expected due to character deaths, including those of major characters.[9]

Characters

The main characters are all members of Young Justice, totaling six. They were chosen by the producers from their list of fifty to sixty DC Comics teenaged superheroes based on numerous qualities as potential candidates for a diverse group that would fit in with the show's tone and themes.[5] The criteria for the main characters consisted of chronology, power mix, personality, cultural icon status, and dynamics.[26] The leader of the team is Kaldur'ahm (or "Kaldur" for short), more commonly referred to as Aqualad.[8] His powers, channeled through the tattoos on his arms, are a mixture of Atlantean sorcery and science.[1] The youngest member (at thirteen)[8] as well as the most experienced superhero on the team is Robin,[9] whose real name is Dick Grayson.[7] Unlike the other Young Justice members, he does not possess any superpowers. However, he is well-rounded in his abilities (physically and intellectually),[7] making characteristic use of his capacity as a strategist, intellect, and technology expertise.[27] Wally West is Kid Flash,[7] the team's fifteen-year-old speedster. Fifteen-year-old Artemis is the team's archer; she is said to be an obscure existing character in DC Comics.[7][27] Superboy, whose origins will be faithful to that of his comic book counterpart while the character in the show will be a new take by the producers, is a sixteen-week-old metahuman clone who will eventually assume Conner Kent as his alias.[7] Miss Martian is Martian Manhunter's sixteen-Martian year-old niece,[17] a recent arrival to Earth as well as being an inexperienced superhero.[7] An additional regular will be added halfway through the first season and another at the end of the season.[5]

Young Justice includes an array of characters from DC Comics as the supporting cast, which will continue to expand throughout each season in the context of the main characters' lives.[5] As of episode 16 of season 1, there are 135 characters from DC Universe in the show.[17]

The Justice League play a major role in the series, primarily as mentors to Young Justice.[9] There are sixteen members in total, though members that do not have an immediate connection with the main characters will generally more or less serve as background characters.[5] Batman and Red Tornado are the most frequent recurring characters.[6] In addition to leading the Justice League,[27] Batman acts as Young Justice's "general," a role compared to Director of Impossible Missions Force Jim Phelps,[6] choosing the team and assigning missions.[9] Aside from Batman, Justice League members who are also direct mentors to their respective sidekicks will feature prominently: Superman, Aquaman, Flash, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow.[9][6] Although neither Black Canary nor Captain Marvel serve as direct mentors, they will also play important roles.[5][28] Captain Marvel bonds easily with the teenaged superheroes, as his alter ego is ten-year-old Billy Batson, who then magically transforms into an adult but still young-at-heart Captain Marvel.[28]

DC Universe characters who are neither affiliated with Justice League nor Young Justice will also be in the show as supporting characters. Roy Harper starts out as Speedy and later assumes Red Arrow as his superhero identity.[7][9] Garth, the first incarnation of Aqualad who later becomes Tempest in DC Comics, and Arrowette, the archer of the team in the Young Justice comic book series, will also appear in the show.[7][15] Garth will be a best friend of Kaldur’ahm, and there will be stories centering on both of them in the series.[1] Due to the legal issues surrounding Wonder Girl, the producers were prohibited from using the character during the early stages of development, a restriction that has been lifted,[29] thus allowing the producers to include her in the show.[15] Supervillains include Queen Bee,[23] Captain Cold, Killer Frost, Icicle,[30][31] and Mr. Freeze.[27]

Other media

The characters and settings of Young Justice will appear in an official tie-in outside the television broadcast. A comic book series faithfully based on the animated television series will be released by DC Comics. It will be written by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani, with Mike Norton providing the art. While children of all ages are said to be able to enjoy the series, it is specifically aimed at teenagers.[32] Greg Weisman and Kevin Hopps will be writing issue #0 and will take over on the writing of the comic as of issue #7.[33]

Geoff Johns took a liking to the show's version of Aqualad,[4] who was consequently introduced to mainstream continuity altered in comic book issue #4 of Brightest Day as the second incarnation of the mantle. In Brightest Day, he is portrayed as an "average student, with an on-and-off girlfriend, that’s pretty bored in New Mexico" by the name of Jackson Hyde.[34]

Licensed merchandise

Additionally, several products based on the series have been licensed for release. Mattel will release lines of character action figures and accompanying playsets, among other toys and games.[35]

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Despite the procedural nature of each episode, there will be a serial story arc and continuity to the series, and multiple subplots will be weaved throughout the episodes.
  2. ^ Superman is said to have shown up ten years ago; Bruce Wayne assumed Batman at his superhero identity nine years ago.
  3. ^ However, the show is still a part of the overall Multiverse continuity. In this context, Multiverse often refers to an alternate continuity construct whereas DC Universe refers to the mainstream continuity of DC Comics. As an in-universe explanatory note, Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, of which one of them is where DC Universe takes place (known as Earth-One in the original Multiverse and New Earth/Earth-0 in the new Multiverse).
  4. ^ Both incarnations of Robin (Dick Grayson and Tim Drake) are usually the leaders of their teenaged superhero teams.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "NYCC 2010: Young Justice Animated". Titanstower.com. 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  2. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-09-17). "Suss2it writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  3. ^ Harvey, James (2010-04-21). ""Young Justice" Animated Series Officially Announced at Cartoon Network 2010 Upfronts". News. The World's Finest. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  4. ^ a b c Amaya, Erik (2010-08-06). "CCI: PRODUCERS TALK "YOUNG JUSTICE" CARTOON". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l DC Animated Showcase: Greg Weisman Interview, Part 1 on YouTube
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Gross, Edward (2010-08-19). "YOUNG JUSTICE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Producers Greg Weisman & Brandon Vietti". Comic Book Movie. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Sam Register (2010-07-23). "WB Animation: Batman: The Brave and the Bold". DC Comics (Podcast). DC Comics. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  8. ^ a b c d G-Man (2010-07-24). "Comic-Con: Brave and the Bold & Young Justice Panel". Comic Vine. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Comic-Con 2010: Young Justice & Characters on YouTube
  10. ^ a b 123 Film! (2010-08-05). "Guest: Greg Weisman — Producer/ Warner Brothers TV Animation". blogtalkradio (Podcast). BlogTalkRadio.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.{{cite podcast}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-08-04). "Grant writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  12. ^ Iverson, Dan (2010-07-25). "SDCC 10: Young Justice is Assembled". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  13. ^ a b c Weisman, Greg (2010-07-30). "Laura 'ad astra' Sack writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  14. ^ admin (2010-02-02). "New DC Animated Series: Young Justice League (UPDATED)". BleedingCool.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  15. ^ a b c Dan Didio (2010-07-23). "DC NATION Special Edition". DC Comics (Podcast). DC Comcis. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  16. ^ Weintraub, Steve (2010-04-22). "First Image from Cartoon Network's New Series YOUNG JUSTICE". Collider.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  17. ^ a b c d Weisman, Greg (2010-08-23). "What's in a name...?". Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  18. ^ Cruz, Eileen (2010-04-21). "Toonzone at the Cartoon Network 2010 Upfront (UPDATED 11:45 AM)". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
  19. ^ David, Peter (2010-07-25). "San Diego Con, Day 3". PeterDavid.net. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
  20. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-09-03). "Young Justice Stats". Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  21. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-04-21). "Young Justice". Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  22. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-09-13). "Liv writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  23. ^ a b Marina Sirtis will be playing Queen Bee in Young Justice for Cartoon Network on YouTube
  24. ^ Link (2010-08-02). "Exclusive Interview: Kelly Hu (Phineas and Ferb, Vampire Diaries, Young Justice)". BuzzFocus.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  25. ^ Harvey, James (2010-11-18). "Complete Cast And Crew Details For "Young Justice" Special Event Premiere". News. The World's Finest. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  26. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-08-18). "Mo writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  27. ^ a b c d SDCC: Vietti & Weisman Interview on YouTube
  28. ^ a b Sands, Rich (2010-07-22). "Exclusive: Rob Lowe Lands a Marvel-ous Gig on Young Justice". TV Guide. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  29. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-07-30). "Demonskrye writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  30. ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (2010-07-23). "Comic-Con 2010: Young Justice Goes Under Cover". UGO Networks. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  31. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-09-01). "Gothic Cowboy writes..." Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  32. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (2010-07-28). "Art and Franco Ready to say AW YEAH To YOUNG JUSTICE". Newsarama. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  33. ^ Weisman, Greg (2010-11-19). "Young Justice Comic Book". Ask Greg. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  34. ^ "Opening the Vault — A Live-action Blue Beetle?" (Press release). DC Comics. 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  35. ^ "Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Comics and Mattel "Ring" in Intergalactic Offerings for Green Lantern" (Press release). MarketWatch. 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
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