Sunday, October 19, 2014

Behind-The-Scenes Of Nickelodeon's "The Legend of Korra" Video Game; Nickelodeon At NYCC 2014 News Round-Up

To celebrate Nickelodeon's upcoming highly anticipated brand-new "The Legend of Korra" video game by Activision and Platinum Games, Nickelodeon and Playstation have unveiled a series of exclusive videos that go behind-the-scenes of Nick's all-new "Legend of Korra" video game to show fans how the game was developed and made, which you can watch in the online streaming video clips below!


The first video, from Nick's official "The Legend of Korra" Facebook profile page, Facebook.com/LegendOfKorra, goes behind-the-scenes at Titmouse Animation Studios to see how the cut scenes for Nick's upcoming "Legend of Korra" video game were made! The video also features interviews with Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (also known as Bryke), the creators and executive producers of "The Legend of Korra", Chris Prynoski, the owner of Titmouse Cartoons, Sung Jin Ahn, a Titmouse director, and Eugene Lee, a Titmouse animator. As well as making the cutscenes for the brand-new "The Legend of Korra" video game, Titmouse Animation Studios also made the opening sequence for "Avatar: The Last Airbender", the predecessor of "The Legend of Korra"! The video also looks at how Nickelodeon, Activision Publishing, and PlatinumGames found themselves working on this one-of-a-kind project:



In the second video, "The Making Of An An Epic Game With PlatinumGames" (part one), from the official Playstation Blog, Activision producer Robert Conkey and Platinum Games' producer Atshushi Kurooka chat about creating The Legend of Korra video game. In the video, Atshushi reveals that the "Legend of Korra" has a difficulty level that suits the expectations of PlatinumGames fans, and that the games last boss fight will be mind-blowing and has PlatinumGames written all over it!:



In the third video, "The Making Of An An Epic Game With PlatinumGames" (part two), from Playstation, Activision producer Robert Conkey and Platinum Games' producer Atshushi Kurooka take us deeper into this incredible world of elements and spirits, beginning with a more personal look at the Avatar herself, Korra, who struggles with her own powers and the weight of the decisions she's made between Books 2 and 3 of Nickelodeon's hit animated TV series. We also get to see PlatinumGames' new combat and progression systems in action, which faithfully recreate Korra's unique mastery of nature and the martial arts for some potentially devastating combos and finishers. The full adventure includes opportunities to ride Korra's polar bear dog companion, Naga, in high-speed gameplay scenes through Republic City and beyond, as well as a separate game mode in which Korra and her allies, Bolin and Mako, take on the competitive challenges of the pro-bending league arena. Atshushi also reveals that the "The Legend of Korra" video game has PlatinumGames written all over it!:



Nickelodeon, Platinum Games and Activision will release their highly anticipated brand-new downloadable video game based on Nickelodeon's popular original fantasy steampunk-themed animated series (Nicktoon) "The Legend of Korra" on Tuesday 21st October 2014 on PlayStation Network and PC, and on Wednesday 22nd October 2014 on the Xbox Marketplace!

Nickelodeon At New York Comic Con 2014 News And Highlights Round-Up:


Welcome to a special NYCC 2014 edition of NickALive!'s Nickelodeon News Round-Up! In celebration of Nickelodeon attending the 2014 New York Comic Con, below is a selection of "The Legend of Korra" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" news and highlights from Nick at NYCC '14!

From IGN:
NYCC: THE LEGEND OF KORRA CREATORS DEBUT A NEW EPISODE AND GIVE THANKS TO THE FANS

The long goodbye...

There was a lot of love at The Legend of Korra panel at New York Comic Con today - both from the screaming, adoring fans and from the show's cast and series creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, as they made what is likely the final panel appearance for the show, as it nears its conclusion.

Those in attendance were treated to an early screening of tomorrow's new episode, "Korra Alone." I won't divulge spoilers but I will say that the episode – which fills in the gap of what Korra's been up to in the three years since Book Three ends – went over huge with the crowd. I found it to be one of the show's best and most emotional episodes and it has some very cool and notable moments. Look for Max Nicholson's full review tomorrow.



The panel that followed wasn't typical, in that there was no moderator or audience questions. It really was meant as a thank you and farewell from the Korra team, with each panelist speaking about their experience and saying goodbye.

Janet Varney ("Korra") recalled a Nickelodeon executive asking her, "Are you ready for your life to change?" when the show began and laughing it off – only to find it was very much the case. She noted that watching episodes with a crowd like today "fleshes it out in such a profound way."

Varney went on to say, "If I haven't said it 1000 times, maybe this will be the 1000th: I have never worked on anything better than this show. I can't imagine working on anything better than this show. I am so honored. I don't know how it happened!"

While there won't be any more Korra episodes after Book Four, Varney exclaimed, "I believe this show is going to exist forever because it's just that goddamn good!," before pausing and saying, with a grin, "Sorry, I cursed Nickelodeon. The spirit took me!"



David Faustino ("Mako") said he too was struck by how much the show affected people, laughing at how it's gone from people yelling, "Hey, Bud Bundy!" to him to "Hey, Mako!" He noted how much love is expressed for the show to him on Twitter and Instagram, thanking the fans and adding, "Thank you Mike and Bryan for this experience."

PJ Byrne (Bolin) remarked, "I really believe we have the best fans on Earth," before calling DiMartino and Konietzko "Some of the best creative minds alive," adding, "This show is coming to an end, but what I am so overly, overly excited about is I Can't wait for the next project that is hiding in the deep, dark crevices of their brain. If it's a cartoon, if it's live-action, whatever it is. I think the world is so lucky to see what's coming next from those two guys' minds."

The producers kept quiet on any plot turns to come, though a presentation by Konietzko on the designs for Book Four – which required almost every character to get a new look, thanks to the time jump – did reveal some interesting facts about Kuvira. Konietzko noted that they decided she'd be the main villain in Book Four while writing Book Three and began to adapt her to that purpose. Originally intended only to be one of Suyin Beifong's dancers, she became the captain of Zaofu security.



A look at the different uniforms/ranks in Kuvira's military.

As for Korra's new look (or looks, since she has more than one different outfit this season), Konietzko noted some fans had taken issue with Korra's height, but that in animation, one way to show someone is older is simply to make them grow, adding, "Sorry haters, Korra's even taller now!" As for the images of Korra in a slightly updated version of her normal blue costume, he said they wanted it to look like classic Korra but also put in, "Kind of more a superhero vibe because she is… The Avatar!"

As the panel wrapped up, Konietzko gave a heartfelt speech about the entire Avatar: The Last Airbender / The Legend of Korra experience, noting that for him and DiMartino "It's been 12 years since we came up with this whole Avatar universe together. Avatar means so many things to do many different people. When I think of it and I think of the creation of it, I think of me and Mike sharing this computer together at my little house in Burbank… Over two weeks, we cranked out this whole universe together."

Konietzko showed a drawing of he and DiMartino with their characters that he'd done "at 4 in the morning," saying, "It's such a big part of our lives and so many people. These characters are real to us. Not in a delusional way, but an emotional way."


The producers again thanked the fans for everything, with one last image...

Also, from io9:
Legend of Korra Says Goodbye to Fans at Its Last Comic Con

It was another dramatic panel for the Korra crew, and the second in a year. At San Diego, the creators had to explain Nickelodeon's decision to put the show on the Internet only. And yesterday in New York, the cast and crew bid the show goodbye.

On hand for The Legend of Korra's last panel for its final book were co-creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, Janet Varney (Korra), David Faustino (Mako), P.J. Byrne (Bolin, and who walked out with a stuffed Pabu). The whole panel was a look back, a look forward at the rest of the season, and a goodbye.

Before showing the second episode of Book 4, the cast listened, for the first time, to the first audition the three of them did together. It was dialogue from what would become the second episode of the series. And when it was over, Varney commented with amazement that it sounded just like the show. She was expecting to say it sounded totally different, that she sounded different, but even then, it was exactly as it should be.

Each of the three actors were also asked to say a little bit about the show as it came to an end. Varney remembered being asked, right as the pilot was about to air, if she was ready for her life to change. She thought, "This isn't my first series." But the Nickelodeon executive just said "I'm not kidding."

"I have never worked on anything better than this show and not a day goes by that I don't feel gifted and blessed to be a part of this cast," she continued. Varney said that this wasn't the end for her, and that she learned that from the fans. "I know that this show is going to last forever because it's just that goddamned good."

Faustino said that he's gone from "Hey Bud Bundy" to "Hey Mako" and said he so appreciates all the love from the fans on social media. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you Bryan and Mike," he finished.

Byrne was last, and agreed that the show would stand the test of time and last. But he was the most forward looking, admitting sadness to his part being done but excitement that "we have two creators over there with some of the best creative minds in the world" and he "can't wait for the next project that's hiding deep in the dark crevices of their brains."

As is usual for the Korra panels, there was a lot of concept art shared, too. Korra panels have always brought a ton to the table: people on the stage, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes infor and art. And we got that all again, for the last time.

We saw the evolution of Kuvira from her original braid and dancer outfit to her final military uniform and bun, which Konietzko said changed because the animators refused to deal with a braid swinging everywhere. We saw the mech suits, which were originally envisioned as being just regular person-sized but "every artist" made them bigger. There was also the Airbender wing suits, which started baggier than they ended up, and Korra's new look.

But all of that, while great, was all preface to Konietzko and DiMartino's goodbye. Konietzko spoke for the creators, saying:
This is a really big deal for us. It's been 12 years since we came up with this whole Avatar universe together. Avatar means so many different things to so many different people. To me, when I think of the creation of it, I just think of me and Mike sitting at my computer in this little house in Burbank. And we would just share the keyboard and take turns. And just over the series of two weeks we cracked open this universe together. And 12 and half years later it's just blossomed into something so huge. And it's such a big part of our lives and people's all over the world. These characters are real to us. Not in a delusional way, in an emotional way. They really mean a lot to me and I know to Mike as well. And we just want to say thanks.
Also, from the International Business Times:
'The Legend Of Korra' Spoilers: 6 Things We Learned At The New York Comic Con Panel

With “The Legend of Korra” in the middle of its fourth and final season (episode 2 airs Friday, Oct. 10 on Nick.com) the show’s creators and stars sat down at New York Comic Con for what would be the show’s last Comic Con event. “The Legend of Korra” panel included executive producers Michael DiMartino and Brian Konietzko, as well as stars Janet Varney (Korra), P.J. Byrne (Bolin) and David Faustino (Mako).

The event was not a typical Comic Con panel with no moderator or fan questions segment, and played more like a goodbye from the show to fans, including the cast’s reflections on what the show has meant and a video prepared by Varney, Byrne, and Faustino for fans. However, the panel also screened episode 2 of Book Four to the delight of attendees.

Check out 6 things we learned from “The Legend Of Korra” New York Comic Com Panel:

1. “Korra Alone”

The second episode of Book Four is called “Korra Alone,” and after a premiere that only featured the Avatar in the final scene, episode 2 is almost entirely Korra. The episode centers on Korra’s journey in the three years between Book Three and Book Four and how she recovered from Zaheer (Henry Rollins) poisoning her in Book Three. DiMartino and Konietzko said they wanted to make an episode that reflected the gravity of everything Korra had been through. The fans at Comic Con loved it.

2. The Return Of Toph

There had been rumors the “Avatar” fan favorite character would return in Book Four, but Comic Con confirmed those rumors to be true. Needing some guidance on her road to recovery, Korra stumbles into the swamp cave of an older woman (with the help of a spirit animal) who turns out to be Toph (Philece Sampler). She says she knows Korra “in a manner of speaking” and greets her as “Twinkletoes.”

3. Character Design Updates

If you’ve noticed the characters looking a little bit different this season, you’re not wrong. Brian Konietzko talked about how with the three-year time gap between Book 3 and Book 4, every character needed a bit of a design update. Korra, for example, is taller this season. Kuvira (Zelda Williams), though, was most highlighted with Konietzko showing off drawings of several iterations of the character and her armor, including one where her hair was in a long braid (which he said would have been too hard to animate).

4. Wingsuits

DiMartino and Konietzko revealed something about those sharp new Wingsuits the air benders have been sporting in Book Four. Though it will not be explicitly stated in the series, the creators confirmed that Asami Sato designed the new Wingsuits for Future Industries as part of the modernization of the Avatar universe in Book Four.

5. Video Game

The NYCC panel confirmed that “The Legend of Korra” video game would drop on Oct. 21 for Xbox One, Xbox360, PS3, PS4, and PC.

6. The Cast's Korra Love

Varney, Byrne, and Faustino’s love for the show was on full display at Comic Con. The three had made a fan video showing them goofing off while recording Book Four and each made remarks about what they thought the show meant to them. P.J. Byrne said the show had the best fans in the world and Janet Varney claimed, “the show is going to exist forever, because it’s just that God d--- good! Sorry I cursed, Nickelodeon.”
Also, from Screen Rant:
‘The Legend of Korra’ Season 4 NYCC Panel: The Creators & Cast Say Goodbye

Legend of Korra Season 4 NYCC Panel The Legend of Korra Season 4 NYCC Panel: The Creators & Cast Say Goodbye

No one expected The Legend of Korra season 4 – also known as Book 4: Balance – to premiere so briefly after the finale of the previous season (barely more than a month), and yet here we are. Episode 1 aired just last week and episode 2 will air tomorrow morning on Nick.com.

To promote Korra’s final season, Nickelodeon brought the show to New York Comic Con for its final Comic Con experience ever. On hand were creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino, voice actors Janet Varney (Korra), David Faustino (Mako), and P.J. Byrne (Bolin), and Megan Casey, vice president of Nickelodeon Animation, who provided a behind the scenes look at the series and premiered episode 2 of Book 4.

BOOK 4: EPISODE 2 DESCRIPTION

I’m not going to go into too much detail about episode 2 – our review should go up tomorrow – but suffice it to say, there will be a few SPOILERS in the next section for the episode.

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[WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW!]

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The episode – titled “Korra Alone” (after the Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 2 episode “Zuko Alone”) – follows Korra’s three-year recovery after she was nearly killed in the season 3 finale and and left in a wheelchair. After traveling to the South Pole to stay with her family and Katara, she manages to heal her body (thanks in part to Katara’s healing abilities), but in present-day, she’s still dealing with PTSD and her inability to connect with Raava/the Avatar State.

Eventually, she departs the South Pole and goes on a journey to determine what’s wrong with her, emotionally and spiritually, and that journey leads her to a certain fan-favorite Avatar character that was teased in the trailer.

While the general consensus seems to be that the Korra season 4 premiere was quite good (read our review), this particular Screen Rant writer felt that there was a significant drop in the animation quality during certain scenes, especially those that featured a lot of characters onscreen together. Fortunately, the animation in episode 2 was gorgeous and there were no notable dips in quality.

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PANEL

* The voice actors made a funny video showing off their work preparation routine.

* The creators played the joint audition for Janet Varney, David Faustino, and P.J. Byrne, which was an early version of a scene from the first episode of Korra.

* We were shown all the new Book 4 character designs, starting with Kuvira (voiced by Robin Williams' daughter, Zelda Williams). She was referred to as the “main antagonist” of the season and was apparently drawn to be similar in build and height to Korra.

* Other designs that were shown include Baatar, Bolin, Kuvira’s metalbenders (designed to resemble Stormtroopers), Korra's various new costumes, and more.

* The new Airbender wingsuits (above) were designed in-world by Asami and built by her Future Industries company.

* Finally, the creators spoke about how bittersweet this final season has been and they thanked the fans for “taking this journey” with them.

[...]

New episodes of The Legend of Korra Book 4: Balance are available every Friday on Nick.com.
Nickelodeon also unveiled exclusive clips featuring TMNT favorites Bebop, Rocksteady, who get mutated, and Hun, who will be appearing in upcoming season three episodes of the networks hit "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" TV series! Hun will be voiced by the same voice actor of Tigerclaw, Eric Bauza:






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