LJ icon heaven, those are great.

Simon | May 22, 14:06 CET

Wonderful, Eric. Thank you so much!

Madhatter | May 22, 14:41 CET

Very nice indeed. The Spike image must be flipped as the scar is on the wrong eyebrow. Yeah, I know I'm a saddo to have noticed that!

sueworld2003 | May 22, 17:21 CET

I was never crazy about the proposed Buffy animated art, but it's always nice to see new verse stuff out there. Keeping the spirit alive, and all that.

And just on a tangent...If the Buffy animated thing happened sometime in the future, but none of the actors were available for the voices...I think I would have a hard time watching it. Granted, I would consider it canon, but it would still be odd for me to watch. At least with the comics I can imagine the voices in my head! (Um, the characters' voices, that is!)

Rogue Slayer | May 22, 18:21 CET

It breaks my heart seeing Wight's artwork, and knowing that Buffy Animated is unlikely to ever see the light of day.

To anyone who's gonna be sending their postcards to Fox near Whedon's birthday about the "Spike" movie, don't forget to give "Buffy Animated" a mention (they could air it on FoxKids)

Dalton | May 22, 19:14 CET

From what I understand,most of the cast was going to do voices fpr the animated series.The only one who was not,was Sarah.They were going to use the actress who does the voice of Buffy on the two video games.I've never played them but from what I've heard,she sounds a lot like SMG.

They shot a pilot for the animated series featuring the regular Buffy cast's voices.I hope one day,it sees the light of day in some form.

Buffyfantic | May 22, 20:13 CET

don't forget to give "Buffy Animated" a mention (they could air it on FoxKids)

Noooo! Buffy doesn't belong on FoxKids! Buffy belongs on Adult Swim! Or something for more mature audiences!

Man, the thought of a Buffy show that was geared towards kids makes me wanna cry. The 'young adult' novels are bad enough!

Rogue Slayer | May 22, 20:25 CET

I'd agree Adult swim would be the much preferred option, but Fox doesn't own Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, but I'd trust the Buffyverse TV-writers (who already wrote 6-8 Buffy Animated scripts) even with the limitations of writing a show for FoxKids.

If there's no chance of this thing seeing the light of day I know there's a whole lotta people who would love to see the four minute-pilot annonymously accidentally leaked onto the internet, or even better the completed scripts. Pretty please?

Dalton | May 22, 22:00 CET

I believe the Buffy animated thing was pitched as a 'young adult' show. Let's face it, FOX was hardly going to show Buffy Animated at primetime.. (And to be honest, the WB was sold as a young adult network, as was UPN. It's not the target audience which sucked in some of the Buffy books - it was the writing).

[ edited by gossi on 2006-05-22 20:16 ]

gossi | May 22, 22:11 CET

For those who are looking for every scrap they can get on this show. Espenson previously revealed two extracts from scripts. And I just discovered a hidden third extract, using google which looks like it may have previously been on her blog, but is now gone:

See Quote #3 at Quotes on wiki-BuffyAnimated page

paxomen | May 22, 22:28 CET

Whedon quotage:

"We just couldn't find a home for (it). We had a great animation director, great visuals, six or seven hilarious scripts from our own staff -- and nobody wanted it. I was completely baffled. I felt like I was sitting there with bags of money and nobody would take them from me. It was a question of people either not wanting it or not being able to put up the money because it was not a cheap show. One thing I was very hard-line about was, I didn't want people to see it if it looked like crap. I wanted it to be on a level with "Animaniacs" or "Batman: The Animated Series." And that's a little pricier. But I just don't think it's worth doing unless it's beautiful to look at as well as fun."

I agree. I'm willing to bet cartoon networks worldwide would have picked it up, if somebody took the plunge and got it into production.

gossi | May 22, 22:35 CET

Hi to all.
I'm de-lurking for the first time, because as a huge Whedon fan I'm in serious need for a dose of anything Whedonesque.
I had an idea some time ago and I would like to know your opinion.
I think that, instead of realizing a comic book, JW and ME should produce "Buffy The Animated Series" and broadcast it through the net. They could allow the audience to download each episode for free, on the condition that they watch some advertisement first, then Joss could realize some extras and sell the DVD of the season.
So, what do you think?

Michamon | May 22, 22:39 CET

Michamon, I think to be honest that idea is possibly a great one, but the companies involved are quite a way away from anything like that. ME nowadays is technically, like, one and a bit people in staff.

You never know, give it 10 years and it might be a possibility again.

gossi | May 22, 22:58 CET

This is the first time I've seen any images of Animated Spike. The previous reports had it set entirely within Season One, so no Spike, Drusilla, or even Oz. I'm glad that it appears that wasn't completely set in stone.

I wonder if Spike would have been used completely as a villain, or if he would have sometimes reluctantly teamed up with the heroes, the way he did in Graduation 2 and Lovers Walk.

Who knows, it might still happen some day. As long as it's in keeping with the original show, and not some dumbed-down, Smurferiffic kiddie show where Buffy transforms the naughty vampires with a magic wand and the Scooby Gang spend the last five minutes discussing the Very Important Lesson they learned. You know, like most of the Fox-approved Buffy novels. **ducks and runs**

deanna b | May 22, 23:48 CET

Wow, that's a great line! I long for the day when Buffy Animated shorts are available online. Someday, our time will come...

[ edited by ElectricSpaceGirl on 2006-05-22 22:10 ]

electricspacegirl | May 23, 00:10 CET

I really like these! I wish he would do the art for the 'season 8' comics that Joss is working on... Him, or the guy that did 'Fray'.

Dan Corson | May 23, 01:44 CET

deanna b: I think these sketches are commissioned artwork rather than the artwork from Buffy Animated. As far as I remember the show was to be set in season one and therefore no Spike.

Simon | May 23, 01:50 CET