Power of the Dark Crystal

[Raph's Girl]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=34445

The Jim Henson Co. has set Genndy Tartakovsky to direct Power of the Dark Crystal, sequel to the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal, Variety reported.

Tartakovsky created the animated TV series hits Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. His Orphanage Animation Studios will take the lead on the computer animation elements for the puppet-driven film, the trade paper reported.

The film becomes a co-production of Henson and the Orphanage. Lisa Henson, co-chief executive officer of the Jim Henson Co., will produce with Orphanage chairman Scott Stewart. Brian Froud has returned to design the new characters.

Set hundreds of years after the first movie, the sequel follows a mysterious girl made of fire who steals a shard of the crystal in hopes of reigniting the dying sun.

Raph's Girl note: I totally can't wait to see this!

[Duke]

I totally can't wait to see this!I can definitely wait to see it. Sequels rarely work that good to begin w/ and considering this one is going to be made over 20 years after the original, I really don't see it being good.

[VaughnMichael]

oh lord this movie is now doomed.....hensons computer animation is horried!
when will the frickin learn to stick with there puppets cause thats what works for them shesh!:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[damnhooligan]

oh lord this movie is now doomed.....hensons computer animation is horried!
when will the frickin learn to stick with there puppets cause thats what works for them shesh!:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:
His Orphanage Animation Studios will take the lead on the computer animation elements for the puppet-driven film, the trade paper reported.[/i]
Again, puppet-driven film. The CGI won't be nearly as centerstage as you think.

I don't know what to think about this movie. I was probably about 3 or 4 years old when my parents rented the video and it scared the crap outta me. You gotta admit, those puppets were creepy as hell. Later on my mother, being apparently oblivious to that fact, bought me a Dark Crystal lunchbox and thermos set. Yeah, lunchtime at school was bittersweet.

[Raph's Girl]

The first pics from "The Power of the Dark Crystal" are up courtasy of Muppet Central!

http://www.muppetcentral.com/_images/creatures/crystal_sequel_kira.jpg
Queen Kira....she's old now.

http://www.muppetcentral.com/_images/creatures/crystal2.jpg
The Crystal and another muppet.

Plus there's more info.

artakovsky’s newest venture, Orphanage Animation Studios, has been brought on board as a producing partner to head up the CG animation elements that will be incorporated with the film’s live-action animatronic characters. Legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud, designer of the original film, will return to design the new characters. Odyssey Entertainment is representing worldwide sales and distribution on the film.

Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world has once again fallen into darkness, Power of the Dark Crystal follows the adventures of a mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center of the planet.

“As an auteur of such exciting and fantastical adventure projects, Genndy is the perfect director to bring to life Power of the Dark Crystal,” said Lisa Henson. “I am sure that his visualization of Brian Froud’s designs will thrill fans of the original film as well as audiences who are meeting these beloved characters for the first time.”

Genndy Tartakovsky said, "The original Dark Crystal was one of the most inspirational and imaginative pictures of its time, so it's a real honor for me to be able to bring the world of The Dark Crystal to a whole new generation."

The sequel is only one of several projects exploring the world of The Dark Crystal, a fan favorite that has remained consistently strong with worldwide home video and DVD sales. Other projects include an animated television series, a manga series from Tokyo Pop, and myriad licensed products such as books, apparel and collectible sculptures.

Power of the Dark Crystal is a production of The Jim Henson Company in association with Orphanage Animation Studios. With a screenplay by Annette Duffy and David Odell, the film will be produced by Lisa Henson and Orphanage Animation Studios Chairman Scott Stewart. Executive Producers will be Brian Henson with Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsill of Odyssey Entertainment.

Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsill commented, “The original film remains a classic and it’s an honor to add Power of the Dark Crystal to our strong family line up. With Genndy and Orphanage Animation Studios joining The Jim Henson Company, the final creative elements are in place, and we know Berlin will be busy for us as we start the process of bringing this long-awaited sequel to its many fans around the world.”

Raph's Girl note: Dark Crystal Manga! OOH! :evilgrin: Now I need to buy that movie on DVD since uh I've never seen it. :P

[damnhooligan]

Pictures aren't showing up. Muppet Central probably has a policy against image leeching. Host them on your own space.

[Raph's Girl]

Ah okee doke

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/crystal_sequel_kira.jpg
Old Kira

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/crystal2.jpg
The Crystal and another muppet

[VaughnMichael]

Ah okee doke

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/crystal_sequel_kira.jpg
Old Kira

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/crystal2.jpg
The Crystal and another muppet
the second image is old...it's from the first movie I'm more than sure of it.
-Putrescent

[Aska_Badoura]

*gawks*

This is the first time I've seen a picture for it. Wow. I didn't realize they'd be so old. :tsurpris: Makes me kind of sad, for some reason... And yes, the second pic is a publicity photo for The Dark Crystal, it's been around forever. And technically, Jen is not a Muppet, he's a Creature. There's a difference. :p

I have definite mixed feelings. Jim Henson said he didn't want a sequel, and it's been the same with a lot of the sequels Disney's been making of the classic films lately, when Walt Disney also said he didn't want sequels (make a million sequels of The Lion King, I don't care, but don't touch Bambi!). I really dislike those, but this... I so love The Dark Crystal, and the idea of seeing new stories from the world of Thra is pretty tantalizing... but also kind of scary. Jim Henson knew he told what he wanted to tell, and didn't want to touch it after that, for fear of overdoing it, making it boring through repetition. But also, since a lot of people who are professionals at movie-making grew up on The Dark Crystal, they're falling all over themselves to have a piece of the magic, by continuing it. And I definitely understand that. So it's a really hard call.

Also, as an animator, I can't help but be a little biased toward animation over puppetry (as much as I love puppetry, you can do so many more nuances in animation, if you do it right. I absolutely adore Yoda in these last two Star Wars films. I go "Look! He's breathing! Look! He swallowed! Look! He wrinkled his nose!" And everyone thinks I'm crazy. :lol: ) I keep thinking, if people are absolutely sure that puppetry is superior, they should combine it, and invent motion-capture puppetry: if they can stick sensors all over a human being and record their motion for a computer-generated character (which they usually don't use exclusively, anyway.. people do have to sit there and animate them also, which is really similar to puppeteering. It's not like you just plug in the character and it creates itself)... why can't they stick sensors all over a puppet and record the puppeteering? Then the animators can add the little things you can't easily do with puppets.

Um... okay, I think I've ranted enough.. ;) Anyway, I love the idea, and I hate the idea, simultaneously. I'm happy Brian Froud is working on it, anyway.

[Peanut]

All I can remember about the original movie was that it freaked me the f*ck out. Those puppets were creepy as hell. I remember having nightmares about that movie for months.