Can this show find a big enough audience on Nicktoons to be a significant success?

[TNC9852002]

I'm sure it's not too mature for Nicktoons. I mean, the first few episodes actually did surprise me a little with some of the violence, but it's nowhere near bad enough to NOT be on Nicktoons, IMO.

This might be just the show to actually change the way people look at the channel. Heh, I'm not even sure if I have Nicktoons anymore, I barely get to watch TV.

-TNC

 

[DOG LIPS]

I was kind of shocked it was being put on NT. I have never had the channel until recently when I upgraded to digital cable.

 

[TheVileOne]

Well Avatar has been on Nicktoons right?

 

[Blade X]

Well Avatar has been on Nicktoons right?

You beat me to it. AVATAR is EQUALLY violent/action packed (if not a tad more) then WATXM.

 

[Syncos]

Ok so here's the reality of the current situation. This show is all over the Latin America and Spanish territories in north and south America. Jetix has already blown through half the series. Canada's ytv will have already shown most of the series in original English all before the US premiere in January of 2009.

So now spoilers and images for over half the show are out there on the net now. It can't really be stopped. Greg Johnson politely asked fans to try and not spoil themselves. Its better to wait and enjoy it on tv.

But for savvy net fans that is unrealistic. They can't help themselves and they want to find out more. But the thing is this is such a good show so far all the feedback is incredibly positive. I think marvel could use this as a sort of impromptu focus group or test gauge.

But since the US premiere is so much later will this kill the show on Nicktoons? Now I know not everyone has it. I have Nicktoons on TW digital cable in CA. But what about everyone else?

People on toonzone called Nicktoons a channel only for the privileged. Is the access really that low? Will it change before Jan?

Johnson said currently all there is for the show right now is the single season of 26 episodes. So right now work isn't being done on a second season. With. All this potential in the show it would suck not to see more. This is a higher caliber series than just about any other Marvel animation before. Its big, epic, and ambitious. So if the show doesn't find an audience here, that could be it.

So hopefully more people will get nicktoons and nickelodeon will get the word out on where to find the series.

However as long as the show is being aired elsewhere its going to get put online automatically and it will be talked about. And we should talk about it with discretion of course. I think any fan that reads spoilers knows the risks, and for many it will only get them more excited if its something really good like watxm.

Of course we are only one small chunk of the viewing audience. The guys marketing this need to reach to young males, the marvel, xmen, and wolverine fans. They probably won't be watching or talking about the show right now like we are.

Online tv is going further and further now. I think one option would be doing free streaming ad supported episodes of the show online so at least marvel are the ones showing it and they could get money off of that.

But since everyone posting here seems to like the show so far I hopw the american fans will continue to support it on Nicktoons.

This series isn't even in the same league as Spectacular Spider-Man.

In fact, this one barely matches up to Evolution. Don't get me wrong, I'm watching, and enjoying the series. It's just not the end all Marvel animation.

As for the Nicktoon's debate. Whether or not the channel can draw in the viewers is moot compared to whether people will still want to watch it by the time it comes out. Most fans will have broken down and watched it elsewhere. We'll see what happens.

 

[usagicassidy]

Well regardless, DVD sales will probably be quite good, which would help the chances of a second season.

 

[TheVileOne]

Yeah but wouldn't they want a season one DVD from Lionsgate around when season 2 starts if the show goes off well? I mean it's already been confirmed that Lionsgate has the home video rights for the show.

I mean DVD sales were a huge reason we got more Futurama and Family Guy, but that was still years after both shows basically ended. And tons of consistent replays on Cartoon Network for without which the DVD sales would not have been so high.

Spectacular Spider-man is a good show, and Greg Weisman one of the most respected guys in animation was a driving force behind it. But as good of the show is, I don't think it detracts from my point of this new show being of a higher standard than so many before.

To me this show has already surpassed X-men Evolution season one. The first season of X-men Evolution was NOT that good. Most of the time in fact it was pretty hard to sit through. The series didn't really find it's stride until later on, but it still had some annoying characters and disappointing characterizations. It eventually adopted a more serious tone as well as a huge ultimate story goal in the showdown with Apocalypse.

If you guys had a problem with Wolverine not cutting anyone up in this show, in the first episode of Evolution, Wolverine throws an empty bottle at a clerk asking him to recycle it for him. ugh.

 

[Dread]

Why are people complaining about the show not being on CARTOON NETWORK? That show butchered FANTASTIC FOUR: WGH. They had EVOLUTION in reruns for a few months before Kids WB officially canceled it, yet could never get the rights to the final 9 episodes. Not even JLU towards the end got decent promotion or a timely schedule.

I agree that the appeal of anime, or something like AVATAR, is serialized storytelling. Slowly networks are coming around to that. SS-M is deeply serial. W&TXM is, to a somewhat lessor degree. It is really the only way to make a show work. Even TMNT, in all it's incarnations, since 2002 has been serialized.

My biggest issue isn't NickToons. It is waiting an extra year longer than they have to.

People bash Evolution's first season, but they at least spent their time fleshing out their core cast well. You knew who Scott, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, and especially Rogue were. The only time Blob was an actual character in ANY animated series, instead of just a goon, was in Evo Season 1 (for only one episode, but hey, it beats never). Wolverine took a back seat, and it was ironic that he was voiced by the original U.S. voice of Piccolo, because he got trashed in fights about as often. I do admit that got on my nerves. I was fine with Logan not being unbeatable, but he lost every fight he was in until Season 3. He simply served as the X-Man who could take more damage than any other character and be fine afterwards. But he got the best episode in Season 1.

You also have to note that 26 episodes into Evolution was into Season 2, when it was starting to develop better (although Season 2 had it's share of hit-or-miss episodes).

W&TXM is more action oriented than character oriented. That isn't to say there isn't character development, it just isn't taken to the level that Evolution was. It also is a show with a darker tone and premise, so it is like apples and oranges to some degree. Evolution wasn't dark until the end of Season 2.

And it still, to this date, is Marvel's longest lasting show of the 21st century (4 seasons, 52 episodes), unless some other show can break that trend. The problem is that 26 episodes, even with a DVD release, is not enough for most networks to make a profit on a cartoon. Syndication, reruns, are where it is at (not including toys, of which I have seen none for W&TXM thus far; Evolution had a toy line, but it sold poorly).

 

[YJ1]

This series isn't even in the same league as Spectacular Spider-Man.

In fact, this one barely matches up to Evolution. Don't get me wrong, I'm watching, and enjoying the series. It's just not the end all Marvel animation.

I disagree. I've only been able to see one episode (Wolverine VS Hulk) but it was enough to convince me that it's the best thing I've ever seen from any Marvel animated series. Spectacular Spider-Man is fine but it's geared more for the younger crowd. This series looks like it will work for all age groups. Word of mouth will be quite good and this series will find its legs.

 

[DMRadz]

The problem is waiting till 2009. There are many people that are just watching these online as they are released in Canada and probably won't watch it when they actually air. I don't know how much it will actually hurt the series cause I dunno how many are watching online but I know I won't make the time to watch it. I might DVR it. MIGHT is the keyword.

 

[Jeremy!]

Looks like there is going to be a second season.t:

Marvel's financial report for the third quarter, released on Tuesday, revealed that 26 additional episodes of Wolverine and the X-Men are in pre-production.

The first 26 episodes, produced with India's First Serve Toonz, have been completed and will begin airing on Nicktoons in January. Episodes have already aired in Canada on YTV and in Latin America markets.

It is unclear what talent from the first 26 episodes will return, or if Nicktoons will continue to be the series' domestic home.
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0811/04/index.htm

 

[Dread]

Weird that Marvel would approve a Season 2 before Season 1 even airs officially in the U.S. For all they know, it could tank on NickToons. Perhaps in today's globalized market, Marvel saw enough of a return in revenue just on overseas airings to justify another season.

Or, of course, they are anticipating a decent WOLVERINE box office showing and inevitable DVD release, and want a product on the airwaves in 2010 that says X on it.

Or both.

 

[TheVileOne]

Found this on ToonZone.net:

According to the site that shallnot be named, the series will have its Nicktoons premiere on Friday, Jan. 23 with back-to-back episodes from 8-9 p.m. (ET) and will air every Friday at 8 p.m.!

OK ugh. I've been saying for weeks, air episodes 1-3 together, that's the opening pilot for the series, it sets the whole tone for the series. I mean showing episodes 1 and 2 is a start, but it's still a little disappointing. So it will be airing Friday at 8PM. Hindsight 1-2 to premiere on 1/23/2009 at 8PM ET.

 

[Dread]

Airing the first two episodes in a row is better than one solo, but I agree, airing all 3 would have been better. I mean, that's what they did for JUSTICE LEAGUE and SUPERMAN: TAS over at the Kid's WB/CN, and they're IDIOTS. Oh, well. Take what you can get, I suppose. Those of us YTV/DL people had to wait 3 weeks while NickToons viewers only will wait 2 for the full pilot, even if they wanted extra months.

 

[vanillacyke]

I would'nt be surprised if nicktoons quit showing it a few episodes in, then bring it back for a month or two when the wolverine film comes out only to cancel it all together. I've seen it done with show's time and time again. I don't envision us in the states getting to see to many episodes on television.

 

[TheVileOne]

vanillacyke, those shows weren't Wolverine and The X-men.

 

[TheVileOne]

Since I do have Nicktoons now, I've noticed they are advertising the show and showing various promos throughout the day.

The latest I saw was a promo featuring little tidbit interviews with the voice actors including Steven Blum, Nolan North, and Liam O'Brien. North says he had lasik eye surgery to shoot optic blasts.

I like letting fans behing the mic and putting faces to some of the characters. I also like that a lot of voice actors these days have nice, cult little fanbases. The voice actors at the conventions are some of the nicest and most giving people you will ever meet.

I really hope that Nicktoons is serious about promoting the show and not dropping advertisements the minute it begins to air and not shove it around a lot.

I also hope at some point BBC will man up and finally start airing the show or let it go. BBC's handling of the show so far has been pitiful.

 

[LizetM]

Looks like there is going to be a second season.t:

Yay! This makes me extremely happy.

I hope more people get into it once it airs here. It really is a fantastic show .... I would say among the best there is these days.

 

[RootBeerMaster]

ok, this subject still makes me . Nicktoons for me and my friends in Iowa and in Mississippi is a privelaged Channel. I got to college in Iowa and my parents are in Mississippi. And No One I Know in either state has this channel and to go father than that, My Parents Have ON DeMand with being able to by show for HBO, The Naunty Channels, Nick Jr, Nick & Nite. How ever the one CHANNEL THEY DON'T HAVE IS NICKTOONS.

I Have now watched 13 episodes of wolverine and the x-men on line since Marvel and Nick Screwed me over. (don't worry I watch them all on myspace) The Episodes are really great, and I want to see the second season even more since Apcyolpes Will be the main Villian. This show has become one of my favorite show's but now Cananda won't air the new episodes until america gets them.

I so can't wait to see X-23, in this, Bishop, Firestar, Gambit were just so awsome.

 

[TheVileOne]

If Viacom and Time Warner don't reach a new contract, then Time Warner subscribers will no longer have Nicktoons.

 

[ChaoticPsylocke]

i know im gonna be pissed!

 

[Nature's Rising]

I disagree. I've only been able to see one episode (Wolverine VS Hulk) but it was enough to convince me that it's the best thing I've ever seen from any Marvel animated series. Spectacular Spider-Man is fine but it's geared more for the younger crowd. This series looks like it will work for all age groups. Word of mouth will be quite good and this series will find its legs.

This series strongest points are: it has some similar continuity to what's happening in the comics (small detail stuff) and it is on another league of maturity than other X series. TAS was mature, Evo was a mix, this one is I think a level higher than TAS.

The weakest thing about this series though is the animation and the inconsistency of the characters' way of being drawn. They always irk me and the scenes where animation should really ignite the emotion and thrill FAILED. Examples where Storm's rampage under SK's influence. That right there could've better animation and such. Also in excessive force, a lot of action-packed scenes there could've been vastly improved.

Story and relevance: 8/10
Animation: should I bother?

 

[TheVileOne]

Sometimes animated shows don't always have the greatest consistency episode to episode.

Anime seems to have this problem a lot. Studio Gonzo will do shows where the first couple of episodes have some really tight animation. But then the remainder of the show, the animation quality takes a tremendous drop and just looks terrible.

I think sometimes it might have something to do with the overseas animation production. Most shows these days are animated overseas in Korea.

 

[PoSeiDon]

Sorry for my ignorance. Why was this series released in other countries so early???

I just found out today I can watch the first 12 episodes on utube. Didn't marvel and whoever know it would be pirated? I will DVR this because I have Nicktoons so I can make my own DVD collection but still....I feel it was a bad move to release it in its biggest market so long after other countries have gotten a look at it!

 

[TheVileOne]

PoSeiDon:

The show's been in the works for a while, and a lot of international broadcast deals were made for the show in 2007 for like the BBC and Latin American territories. It wasn't until around summer 2008 that Nicktoons picked up the show along with the Iron Man cartoon.

Nicktoons and I'm assuming Marvel I believe wanted to hold it off in the US so it would coincide more with the release of the Wolverine movie. I mean good synergy, you know?

As for the piracy, it's unavoidable these days, but I don't think it will hurt the show. From what I've read of Greg Johnson's comments on another forum, I think they were a little surprised that Jetix Brazil blew through the series so quickly, so a lot of synopses and spoilers got on the net really quick.

I will credit Nicktoons in that their push for the premiere of the show has been strong. So I hope they don't drop the ball after the debut.