Cartoon Network brings back the world's greatest superheroes in a brand new half-hour series entitled JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED, which premieres on July 3, 2004 at 8:30 pm. This new series, animated by Warner Bros. Animation, expands on the activities of the DC Comics characters, following the conclusion of JUSTICE LEAGUE, and brings forth many more characters to help fight crime and thwart threats to Earth.
The new 30-minute action-adventure series, produced by Bruce Timm, James Tucker, Linda Steiner and Dwayne McDuffie, starts with Superman addressing an awesome assemblage of heroes. He and the rest of the Justice League, which had included the Flash, Green Lantern, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl, have come to realize that the universe might be best served by enlarging the group, being more proactive and coordinating more effectively. The group, minus Hawkgirl, assembles aboard the Watchtower, the orbiting space station. Martian Manhunter monitors goings-on across the galaxies and assigns teams of superheroes to tackle problems.
In addition to threats from evil-doers, conflicts arise amongst the expanded Justice League. Superheroes usually work alone, having powerful and idiosyncratic, personalities. Like most co-workers, they don't always agree on the best way to solve a problem. They are quickly compelled to learn to work together in order to deal with civil wars, rogue criminals and rampaging monsters.
The new roster of JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED includes superheroes like Green Arrow, Supergirl and Captain Atom. Hawk & Dove are siblings with a very different take on conflict resolution techniques. B'wana Beast is a jungle man-turned-superhero, a combination of the Bronx and the Bronx Zoo. The Atom is the world's smallest superhero. Booster Gold, a glory-seeking hero from the future, joins the Justice League, as does Zatanna, a beautiful magician and sorceress. The shows producers, during a recent panel at Comic-Con, said it was fun to and challenging to select which super beings to include, plus dealing with so many more presented story and production challenges to tackle.
Be ready for lots of colorful, rock-and-sock em animated action loaded with well-executed visual effects. Its a good thing the show airs at night because the show is pumped up with loads of violence. Some characters even lose their superhero cool and strike out in red hot anger as Superman did in the preview CN and WBA showed the audience at Comic-con. Animation veterans working on this show must enjoy this new freedom to create shows for timeslots that would have incurred huge protests and the mighty wrath of Peggy Charren and Action for Childrens Television group when SUPERFRIENDS aired a few decades ago during daytime for kids.
The voice talent roster, cast and directed by Andrea Romano for JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED includes:Series Regulars: Phil LaMarr (Green Lantern)Carl Lumbly (J'Onn J'Onzz)George Newbern (Superman)Michael Rosenbaum (Flash)Kevin Conroy (Batman)Maria Canals (Hawkgirl)Susan Eisenberg(Wonder Woman)
Recurring (Guest Stars)Kin Shriner (Green Arrow)Nicholle Tom (Supergirl)Fred Savage (Hawk)Dove (Jason Hervey)Robert Foxworth (Professor Hamilton)Jeffrey Combs (The Question)Robert Picardo (Amazo)John C. McGinley (The Atom)Jeremy Pivan (Elongated Man)Chris Cox (Captain Atom)CCH Pounder (Amanda Waller)J.K.Simmons (General Eiling)Gina Torres (Vixen)Oded Fehr(Dr. Fate)Scott Rummell (Aquaman)Peter Onorati (War Hawk)Morena Bacarin (Black Canary)Dennis Farina (Wildcat)Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Miracle)
Story editors for the series are Stan Berkowitz and McDuffie while series directors are Joaquim Dos Santos and Dan Riba. Line producer was Shaun McLaughlin while Kathleen Keegan was production manager. Sander Schwartz is exec producer while Sam Register is exec in charge of production for Cartoon Network.
Animation services were provided by D.R. Movie Co., Ltd. under the animation direction of Sang Jin Kim.
Tim Iverson is vp of post-production, Bonnie Buckner supervises post and JOE GALL is the film editor. Supervising online editor is Bradford H. Keatts, online editor is Christopher D. Lozinski and supervising dialogue/ADR editor is Mark A. Keatts. Main title design was by Imaginary Forces.
The series is recorded at WBA, overseen by supervising recording engineer Edwin O. Collins and the re-recording facility is DigiPost.TV. Music is by Michael Mccuistion.
Cartoon Network, currently seen in 86.4 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering animated entertainment.
