Initially they had set a date of October 4th, but a few days early, Hubworld.com has released their TV Schedule for the first 5 days of broadcast, and unfortunately G.I. Joe: Renegades is nowhere to be found. At least, not yet.
This is somewhat of a bummer to me, as I was really looking forward to the launch, but on the other hand, if it gives Hasbro and The Hub some more time to promote the station and the series, then it’ll end up being better in the long run. I know many folks have already reported seeing commercials on broadcast networks for The Hub, so word is getting out there. Hopefully we’ll hear shortly what the plan is going forward.
On the plus side, however, starting October 12th, at 12:30 (half past midnight), The Hub will start airing classic episodes of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Hopefully Renegades isn’t too far behind.
* Hopefully Renegades isn’t too far behind.
Not to be too blunt or negative about such an “awesome” upcoming cartoon or anything…but hopefully it IS, very, VERY far behind, because based on everything we’ve seen to date, they’re going to need to go back and completely redo this sadfest from the ground up…at least as far as the animation and design aspects are concerned. Can’t say much for the storylines themselves, but if the “goop” monster or whatever is any indication of what we have in store for other episodes, then that isn’t so great either.
Sheesh, what would the Sarge say about this inept attempt at GI Joe, by desecrating the name of his rough and tumble little group of bad@$$#$? I somehow doubt he’d be very pleased at all, and more likely than not, inclined to stuff some moron’s @$$ into a little ditty bag for letting the team down.
Here is a small list of things that “GI Joe: RENEGADES” needs to be even close to cool, much less awesome:
1) Better costume design (and we haven’t even seen the Cobras very much yet…)
2) MUCH better artistic design and conceptualism.
3) More talented animation artists…(anyone sensing a theme here yet?)
4) Fewer stupid goop monsters to fight (come on! Really?! Monsters?! When we have so many other legitimate factions to choose from, we get lame monsters, as the Joes fight for their lives and reputations to regain everything they’ve had taken from them?! Are they kidding us? How stupid and utterly absurd.)
5) More of a link to something pertinent, such as RESOLUTE or cartoon series PoC, rather than such an obtuse direction which has no bearing on anything of relevance. I mean, even SIGMA 6 had a relevent toyline that it ran alongside, so why not RESOLUTE or PoC? Either of those makes much more sense.
6) An ACTUAL television network, NOT some online “hubbub”, which isn’t nearly as accessible to the people who they are ultimately going to want to be watching it. As “different” as Transformers Animated was, kids were able to easily access it on TV and therefore went out to buy the toys. Sure, Hasbro will save a bundle on what they pay the networks by having their own so-called “network” online, but they are still paying big money for these teaser ads and no direct access to the episodes without having to go to the computer rather than stay in front of the tv and simply change the channel at the push of a button.
7) An all-new “creative” team.
8) Someone who actually CARES about GI Joe to head things up and see that it is handled with dignity rather than treated as a pathetic joke because someone is trying without success to be stylish and “hip”.
9) Swipe less from Masters of the Universe and spend a little more time being GI Joe-like.
10) Complete redesign from the ground up, including but not limited to the artistic elements, writers, producers and directors, etc., maybe even fire Hasbro head exec over GI Joe and get someone in there who gives a crap about the franchise so we don’t get anymore RoC’s and RENEGADES pushed off on us…
I think that basically covers things for now. Unfortunately, I know only too well that none of this will happen and what WILL happen is that we get a crappy cartoon series on par with those terrible DiC episodes of old and the equally atrocious SIGMA 6 cartoons, which were aimed at those with the attention span of a gnat. (Can anyone say A.D.D.?)
RESOLUTE had its problems, sure, such as a lack of coloration throughout, for one thing, but even so, it did at least have style and multiple points of interest, though characterization was a bit bland for the most part. It was also well paced, UNLIKE S6, which was nonstop packed with stupid, from the very beginning to the very end of each episode, with only MINOR cool points sparsely scattered in between.
It appears quite clear that RENEGADES is destined to be a major disappointment for anyone in possession of a spinal column and actual conscious thought. The poor vegetables in hospitals will be the lucky ones on this deal.
*(Disclaimer – Even casual viewing of RENEGADES prelims and the cartoon itself may cause ocular discharge, irritation, itching and in some cases bleeding. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, upset stomach and projectile vomiting, possibly even excessive crying. If symptoms persist, STOP looking at or watching RENEGADES updates and the series itself, as the cure may have no ill side effects and could make you feel healthy again. This opinion has been brought to you by the Silent Master, who may not talk a lot, but sure as heck can type his opinions out on a keyboard.) Remember! A little TV each day, keeps RENEGADES away. 🙂