Adult Swim Unleashes Global Rick And Morty Fan Experience: #Wormageddon!

Leading into the season six premiere of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty, fans around the world are invited to participate in an immersive adventure that brings to life the two-time Emmy® Award-winning animated hit comedy series. #WORMAGEDDON is a global ‘living episode’ and treasure hunt that features 14 unique and immersive scenes that bridge the events from the season five finale episode with the recently announced season six premiere.

The first activation was unveiled on Saturday, 20 August, in Mexico City, with a global treasure hunt to find more #WORMAGEDDON scenes kicking off today. Reaching every continent except Antarctica, spectacular new custom scenes will unfold nearly every day until #WORMAGEDDON concludes with the season six global premiere of Rick and Morty starting on Sunday, 4 September at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim.

Facing a threat of complete global destruction, the heroes and anti-heroes of Rick and Morty will team up against #WORMAGEDDON.  Between the destruction of the Citadel of Ricks at the end of season five and the beginning of season six, a new threat lands on Earth in the form of a mysterious alien worm that aims to take over the planet.

Featuring 14 custom scenes that showcase the worm’s destructive path and featuring fan-favourite Rick and Morty characters, starting on Monday, 22 August, fans are invited to join the hunt and unlock clues to discover the nine hidden locations in countries around the world. The first fan to find each hidden location in person will be rewarded on the spot with a life-size golden ‘Rick’ head.  Fans can get details and rules on how to participate in the global treasure hunt here.

Today marks the debut of the first custom scene in Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles, Coyoacán in Mexico City. This massive build stands 13 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 14 feet long and depicts Rick and Morty characters, Beth Smith and Supernova, in the fight of their lives to save Earth.

“To celebrate the new season, we are inviting fans around the globe to take part in an immersive experience that allows them to go on a real-life Rick and Morty adventure,” said Tricia Melton, Chief Marketing Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery Kids, Young Adults and Classics group. “Our world is being invaded by alien space worms so menacing that #WORMAGEDDON has been declared on nearly every continent. The first fan to find the hidden battle scenes around the world will nab a golden Rick head, clearly one of the most collectable items in the universe.”

To set the stage for this new adventure, Adult Swim debuted a series of custom animated shorts about the origins of this dangerous alien invasion. Beginning with A Citadel Secret revealed at the Rick and Morty panel at the Adult Swim Festival  Block Party on 6 August, followed by A Journey to Earth released on August 17, Saturday marked the debut of Threat Level: Wormageddon in which Rick is alerted about #WORMAGEDDON and enlists others to join him in the battle against the massive alien monster.

Fans can follow along as the beloved characters from Rick and Morty battle to save Earth from #WORMAGEDDON by visiting the show’s official social channels and on RickandMorty.com.

Rick and Morty was the #1 comedy across all US cable in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Since its launch, Rick and Morty has ranked as one of the top series for HBO Max, both domestically and globally. Lifetime to date, Rick and Morty has been viewed over 10B times globally across linear, digital, and streaming platforms.

Details of where Rick and Morty enthusiasts across southern Africa can catch the new season of the Emmy-winning animated comedy series will be announced shortly – watch this space!

Notes:
·        #WORMAGEDDON is a global ‘living episode’ and treasure hunt that bridges the events from the season five finale episode to the season six premiere
·        Story: Between the destruction of the Citadel of Ricks at the end of season five and the beginning of season six, a new threat lands on planet Earth in the form of a mysterious alien worm that aims to take over. Facing a threat of complete global destruction, the heroes and anti-heroes of Rick and Morty will team up against #WORMAGEDDON. 
·        #WORMAGEDDON features 14 unique and immersive scenes that showcase the worm’s destructive path and feature Rick and Morty characters.
·        Nine locations are hidden in countries around the world, and fans are invited to find them via a social treasure hunt.
·        #WORMAGEDDON scenes will reach every continent except Antarctica.
·        The first activation was unveiled on Saturday, 20 August, in Casa de Cultura Jesús Reyes Heroles, Coyoacán in Mexico City and features Beth Smith and Supernova fighting the alien worm.
·        A global treasure hunt to find more #WORMAGEDDON scenes kicks off today, Monday, 22 August.
·        The first fan to discover these ‘hidden’ scenes will receive a life-size golden ‘Rick’ head.
·        Adult Swim is debuting a series of custom animated shorts about the origins of this dangerous alien invasion.
·        Fans can follow along as the beloved characters from Rick and Morty battle to save Earth from #WORMAGEDDON by visiting the show’s official social channels and on RickandMorty.com.

 

Roundups #86: Diepcity Cancelled After Two Seasons On Mzansi Magic, Pawsitive Pawsabilities Shooting Upcoming Project For DStv, Upcoming Developments For Comedy Central This September

Mzansi Magic bids farewell to another local drama

Mzansi Magic telenovela DiepCity will not be returning for season 3 when its second season comes to an end in March 2023.

"Mzansi Magic would like to announce that it will be bidding farewell to the riveting award-winning telenovela, DiepCity," the channel said in a press statement.

In the fictional suburban Baltimore/DC area town of Herkleton, Maryland, a boy named Craig Williams and his two friends, Kelsey Pokoly and John Paul "J.P." Mercer, have their many adventures in the titular creek, described as a kid utopia of untamed wilderness in which tribes of children reign over tree forts and dirt bike ramps.

More animal based entertainment for DStv customers

Pawsitive Pawsabilities strive to contribute to the rehabilitation, improved well-being and the best physical and mental condition possible of each patient encountered by the absolute fortitude, dedication, passion, love and dignity to achieve this.

The brand is currently shooting content for a TV show on DStv which we will be showcasing puppy socialization and have given audiences a chance to appear on TV.

What's coming to Comedy Central in September?

LIVE FROM THE SAVANNA COMEDY BAR SEASON 3
TUESDAYS FROM 20 September @ 22:00
A third season of Comedy Central Live is headed to your screens. Documenting the escapades of some of the biggest names in comedy as they hit the road and experience all of SA’s 9 provinces, the show features Lindy Johnson, Thabiso Mhlongo, Cobus Van Rensburg, Noko Moswete, Jason Goliath, David Kau, Mojak Lehoko, Rob Van Vuuren, Lihle Msimang, Siya Seya, Robby Collins and many more.

THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH
TUESDAY – FRIDAY
2 AUGUST @ 23:30
Along with the help of his Daily Show correspondents, Trevor Noah covers the biggest news stories in politics and pop culture around the world. His creative and jocular spin on events, leaves one inspired again about living a fulfilling life.

THE COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF KHANYI MBAU
MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER @ 21:00
The Comedy Central Roast of Khanyi Mbau brought to you by Showmax brings you the first African female to be roasted! With Mpho Popps being the Roast Master featuring a star studded cast including: Celeste Ntuli, Devi Sankaree Govender, SelBeyonce Mkhize, Tbo Touch, Youngsta CPT, Nadia Nakai, John Vlismas, Sol Phenduka and legendary actor Sello Maake Ka Ncube, expect hilarious shots to be fired! Triggered to watch? Good, catch all the action on DStv 122 in this world-firstroast of an Africanwoman.

Afrikaans Voice Overs For In Die Ysterhand Se Greep And Kruispad + An Update On Die Put Voice Overs For Season 2

In Die Ysterhand Se Greep

Gustav Gerdener as Yigit
Sesethu Ntombela as Nur
Shemane Harris as Iciai
Karin Retief as Aytul
Sanli Jooste as Nazaan
Denver Vraagom as Cahit
Claudia Jones as Yaren
Susan Coetzer as Hafize
Mia Anne Kennedy as Elmas

Kruispad

Anton Dekker as Suleyman
Adrian Styen as Mert
Rika Senne as Kudret
Sue Pyler as Nehir
Marlee Van Der Merwe as Ilay
Cindy Swanepoel as Eda

Die Put replacements

Wilhelm Van Der Walt as Selim
Jaundre Kim as Karaca

Credits: Die Afrikaans Voice Page

Roundups #85: Live-Action Pac-Man Movie Is In The Works, BET+ Acquired Broadcasting Rights To South African Drama Series Pulse And Doom Patrol Alongside Titans Expected To Be Cancelled

Pac-Man to get feature film

A live-action film is in development based on the classic arcade game character with an endless appetite, Pac-Man.

The project hails from Bandai Namco Entertainment — the company behind Pac-Man, as well as games like Galaga and Tekken — and Wayfarer Studios, the production company founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz.

First introduced in the U.S. in 1980 — and originally called Puck Man in Japan — Pac-Man became a coin-operated staple. The game is set in mazes where Pac-Man has to eat pellets while being pursued by colorful ghosts as the mazes get progressively more difficult.

Pulse is streaming overseas

BET+ has picked up the U.S. streaming rights to South African-produced sci-fi survival thriller “Pulse.”

“Pulse” tells the explosive story of an electromagnetic pulse that disables a secure building and disrupts the bio-electric signals in everyone’s minds, trapping a group of video game designers and turning each floor into a psychotic battlefield. The show questions whether the modern human race can really survive without the technology that defines our way of life today.

The series shot in South Africa as well as Mauritius.

Doom Patrol and Titans have not been cancelled

DC fans were sent into a flurry the past day as a Variety report circulated that Doom Patrol and Titans, two refugee shows from the DC Universe streaming service, were expected to be cancelled.

But now, it has been updated that piece to reflect that a decision has not been made and that “like all shows,” their renewal will depend on the performance of the upcoming seasons that will be out later this year. I think fans were freaked out about maybe even those seasons being not allowed to air, given that anything seems possible after WB killed its finished Batgirl movie in order to take the tax writedown. Nothing feels safe, even if so far, Batgirl and one Kevin Smith project appear to be the only confirmed casualties under the new WB Discovery management.

But even if Titans and Doom Patrol are safe for now, I would be somewhat surprised if that continued into the future, and for me personally, I do expect probably Doom Patrol, and possibly Titans to be canceled as WB tries to rein in its variety of DC universes they have running, whether that’s deserved or not.

Scooby-Doo Resembles Late 60s Sitcom

An all-American athletic boy with blonde hair. A beautiful popular girl. A lazy beatnik with a goatee who peppers his speech with "like" and "man." A brainy, petite brunette.

That sounds like a quite familiar quartet, right? Perhaps one that drives around in a green and blue van with a Great Dane?

Those descriptions apply to the core characters of The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis or Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! — and with good reason. The latter Hanna-Barbera cartoon, which premiered in 1969, was based on the former black & white teen sitcom from a decade earlier.

Here are the voice actors behind the characters of 'Scooby Doo, Where Are You!'

The development of Scooby-Doo was inspired by a couple popular teen sensations of the 1960s. Fred Silverman, CBS's head of daytime programming at the time, was looking to duplicate the success of the Archies. His rough pitch to animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera was this: a teenage rock band that would solve mysteries. Hanna-Barbera assigned the task to writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and artist Iwao Takamoto. Their first draft was a group dubbed the Mysteries Five, consisting of kids named Geoff, Mike, Kelly, Linda and W.W., along with a bongo-playing sheepdog called Too Much. These teen toons were rough analogues to Archies characters Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Hot Dog. (W.W. was an additional kid brother.)

Unimpressed, Silvermen sent Ruby, Spears and Takamoto back to the drawing board. This time, the creators simply mimicked Dobie Gillis.

Take a good look at the photo up top and it becomes pretty obvious. Fred is Dobie (Dwayne Hickman), Daphne is Thalia (Tuesday Weld), Shaggy is Maynard (Bob Denver) and Velma is Zelda (Sheila James). Heck, "Velma" even sounds like "Zelda."

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis showed its influence in other realms of pop culture, too. Dobie Gray, the pop-soul singer known for chart smashes like "The 'In' Crowd" and "Drift Away," was born Lawrence Darrow Brown. His record label suggested he use the name "Dobie" to ride off the popularity of the sitcom.

In a less evident example, Gerry Marshall admitted that his hit Happy Days was patterned after Dobie Gillis. Then again, just about every sitcom about teenagers can credit Dobie Gillis, down to Saved by the Bell. Dobie is a pioneer. This early gem was the first sitcom on a major network to focus on adolescent characters. He may have been a Boomer, but it feels like he hasn't aged a day.

HBO Max Quietly Drops More Titles, Animation Takes A Heavy Hit

After Netflix gutted their animation department and canceled a slew of their announced projects back in May, HBO Max appears to have taken the "hold my beer" approach and followed suit by absolutely gutting their own animated offerings on the platform. The streamer has already been quietly removing a number of films and series since the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, but today's announcement was an absolute bloodbath, with animated projects taking the brunt of it all. Nearly 40 titles either already have been or will be removed from HBO Max by the end of the week, including 20 HBO Max originals.

"As we work toward bringing our content catalogs together under one platform, we will be making changes to the content offering available on both HBO Max and discovery+," the streamer said in a statement. "That will include the removal of some content from both platforms."

Yeah, yeah, the official statement is cute and all, what with referring to fully produced series as "content," but it doesn't take into consideration how this decision is not just removing hours of animated (and unscripted, I don't want to gloss over their losses) entertainment, but also the results of countless hours and artistry from so many people.

We worked for 5 years to make 100 episodes of animation. We worked late into the night, we let ourselves go, we were a family of hard working artists who wanted to make something beautiful, and HBO MAX just pulled them all like we were nothing. Animation is not nothing!

— Julia Pott

Julia Pott, the creator of "Summer Camp Island" took to Twitter to express her frustrations, noting that her team spent five years making 100 episodes of animation, "and HBO Max just pulled them all like we were nothing." She ended her tweet with what feels like a rallying cry by saying, "Animation is not nothing!"

Blatant disrespect toward the animation industry
Nate, Jesse, and Lake in Infinity TrainHBO Max
The industry has a serious, serious problem with its treatment of animation. The Oscars incorrectly declared that animation was only something for children to enjoy and adults to endure during this year's broadcast, Hollywood A-listers continue to take away opportunities from seasoned voice-over artists in animated features, and now streamers are sending animated series into a void of nothingness as a means to write them off on their taxes. The entire entertainment industry is treating the world of animation like a public school cutting out arts programs to make way for a new football field.

"Tig 'n Seek" art director Levon Jihanian took to Twitter, imploring people to watch the show, saying this is probably the last chance. "Probably won't stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating," he wrote.

If you're my friend and still havent gotten around to watching Tig N' Seek, this is your last chance. Probably won't stream anywhere else. Absolutely infuriating.

— Levon Jihanian (@ForkFrenzy) August 18, 2022

Marie Lum, a storyboard artist and revisionist on "Aquaman: King of Atlantis" and "Infinity Train" tweeted "please watch our cartoons before [they're] removed this week. I see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild." She finished her post with a heartfelt message: "thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love."

please watch our cartoons before theyre removed this week. i see nearly my entire cartoon career being removed here on these lists, which is wild. thanks for watching and supporting the things we make with love

— Marie Lum

Perhaps most disheartening is that many of the HBO Max originals will not have a life after they are removed from the platform. The idea that Warner Bros. Discovery would allow one of their competitors to pick up a show like "Tig n' Seek," "Infinity Train," or "Close Enough" is unlikely.

Today is a bleak day for animators and fans of animation, and it's hard not to think this could have been avoided if the industry had some respect for the people and projects that represent one of the most beloved mediums in all of entertainment.

However, there is one ray of hope: in a statement to The AV Club, Cartoon Network confirmed that "Victor & Valentino" and "Summer Camp Island" will continue to air on the cable network. The dates are currently TBD, but "fans can look forward to the remaining new episodes of both shows on CN this year."

All of the new titles being removed from HBO Max
Gweeseek and Tiggy in Tig 'n SeekHBO Max
Below are all of the titles being removed from HBO Max. While there's no news on where all (if any) of these titles will end up, there are a handful that will still be available on other streamers due to existing deals. "OK K.O.! – Let's Be Heroes," for example, is as of publication still available on Hulu, albeit in the wrong episode order.

A moment of silence for those that are getting tossed like table scraps, because someone with a ridiculous amount of power couldn't see the feast right before their very eyes.

HBO Max Original Programs
"12 Dates of Christmas"
"About Last Night"
"Aquaman: King of Atlantis"
"Close Enough
"Ellen's Next Great Designer"
"Esme & Roy"
"The Fungies!"
"Generation Hustle"
"Genera+ion"
"Infinity Train"
"Little Ellen"
"My Mom, Your Dad"
"Odo"
"Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness"
"Summer Camp Island"
"The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo" (and select "Sesame Street" specials)
"The Runaway Bunny"
"Theodosia"
"Tig n' Seek"
"Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs"
"My Dinner with Herve"

Cartoon Network Programs
"Dodo"
"Elliott From Earth"
"Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart"
"Mighty Magiswords"
"OK K.O.! – Let's Be Heroes"
"Uncle Grandpa"
"Victor and Valentino"

Additional Acquired Programs
"Detention Adventure"
"Messy Goes to Okido"
"Mia's Magic Playground"
"The Ollie & Moon Show"
"Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures"
"Make It Big, Make It Small"
"Squish"