Futurama Fan-Animations?

[on:]

Hi guys,

There's been a little bit of talk about creating Futurama episodes through Flash. What a good idea! It would be quite simple I'm sure - if I weren't such a crap artist I'd do it myself, but there are many talented individuals out there who can draw our characters.

There is buckets of Fan Fiction there so we'll have no trouble with storylines.

(Just for hell's sake, I'm talking about proper, quality animations here, not a cheapo animated GIF of something or other!)

If you don't mind an English accent I'll be happy to do a voiceover and I'll also do the score. (I'm a composer.)

What does everybody think?

Any bright ideas?

Cheerio all!

DS

London, England

[Reply #1 on:]

 

Originally posted by I LOVE LEELA:
Hi guys,

There's been a little bit of talk about creating Futurama episodes through Flash. What a good idea! It would be quite simple

how you can say "Flash" and "Simple" in the same topic

   

[Reply #2 on:]

Question: Is this even legal? If so, count me in. I'll have to go through some training first 

[Reply #3 on:]

It's totally copyright infringment, if you actually put it up on a website I'm sure fox would shut it down.  They have spies everywhere...*looks over shoulder*

[Reply #4 on:]

Sweet comcept, but theres no way in hell I could do it. The only person i could think of would be that guy who runs Space Station Futurama.

[Reply #5 on:]

INDEED...You are probably going to have to contact a syndicate about that...The rest I am taking to the "Invention Submission Corportation."

[Reply #6 on:]

Who's going to do the voices?  WHO'S GOING TO DO THE VOICES?

[Reply #7 on:]

Fox hates anything that's made by people.

[Reply #8 on:]

I think maybe it's a bit soon to be thinking about doing this, maybe when the show finishes but at the moment new episodes are being made anyway.

[Reply #9 on:]

Are there not flash animations of Bender a la Matrix at CGEF they might be games but still Flash yes.

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
Who's going to do the voices?  WHO'S GOING TO DO THE VOICES?

you?

dude ya know where you can see some awesome flash?  Dude

[Reply #11 on:]

Wow, that is the best website ever!

But anyway, yeah...the animation doesn't seem too hard, but voices would be a pain in the cock. I guess it could be a silent cartoon, with comic bubbles or whatever. But then what's the point in animating it when you could just do a fan comic?

I guess the best bet is to find one minor character you can imitate well(like Scruffy or URL) and make a spinoff internet show.

[Reply #12 on:]

Hi guys,

Well, yes, I suppose it's DEEPLY illegal. But having said that, scan art is illegal, fan fiction is illegal, fan art is illegal... Similar has been done with Star Trek and they haven't been shut down. I think that, as long as it was made clear (for the dumbos) that it wasn't endorsed by Fox, and was indicated that it was for educational use only (this weasels you out of copyright restrictions) they would turn a blind eye.

As for the Flash, somebody is bound to be able to do it. I wish I could remember the name of the site with the Amy/Hairdryer Flash animation, but my memory is crap. I'm not thinking of huge CGI scenes or anything like that! A more people oriented, comical style.

Yes, I suppose it could be silent, but bang goes the fun! Somebody with a microphone could record their part, send it to somebody (ie, me) and I'd stick them all together. Voices can be electronically processed if need be, so it shouldn't be that hard. All the voiceover artist need be concerned with is recording his/her part.

Yes, it's still being made, THANK GOD!!! But that doesn't stop us from dreaming up other stories. I know it's a huge project, but I think it could be pretty jolly damn bloody good.

[Reply #13 on:]

Do you have any story line ideas yet and are you planning on just sticking to the main characters or using minor characters too like the Hypno-Toad and the Hyperchiken?

[Reply #14 on:]

Hi guys,

Further to my last message, I have made an interesting discovery - THIS WOULD BE LEGAL!

PARODY is legal provided that it is made clear it has no association with the source material. In other words, if somebody mistook it for an actual episode, it would be illegal. It is covered in the "Fair Use" category of the copyright act. Using the characters of Futurama and placing them in an original scenario, thus, is perfectly legal.

Thank God for that!

As for story lines, this is a little tiny problem. My original idea was to use something of the fan fiction that's already been written, adapted for the animation medium. If anybody wants to submit something, PLEASE DO! Concentrating on minor chatacters is a fantastic idea - but I'd hate to loose sight of the major characters as, for me, they "make" the series. Maybe Hypnotoad could feature. Maybe we could expand on Nibbler and his people, homeplanet, etc. I like this idea more, actually, as by definition, it calls for an awful lot of Leela.

Don't know - I need help! Let's get a team together or something!

Danny

[Reply #15 on:]

Getting the voices to match up with the mouthing is going to be hard. The professionals have it hard, so I know it's not going to be a simple task. After the voices are recorded, certain points are marked (during the recordings) so that the animator knows which facial expression to make. Man, you're going to need a staff if you really want to pull this off.

[Reply #16 on:]

You can start with "The Continuing ADventures Of RadioActive Man" as some kind of a guide.

[Reply #17 on:]

Yup, it will be fantastically difficult. I'm not hoping for something of broadcast quality - basic expression will be sufficient. And nothing like proper lipsync, just the basics.

Dunno. You're right, it's gonna be hard.

Bugger!

But I'm still fairly sure something pretty good could be produced with a little effort.

[Reply #18 on:]

Sorry I.L.L. if I say any more it may create a bigger gold rush than the 1976 Republican Convention...I don't think I am prepared to deal with THAT again.

[Reply #19 on:]

I would gladly help, but I have no idea how to use Flash and don't have much time on my hands.

Sorry. 

I could try some things though. 

[Reply #20 on:]

Hi guys,

More I think about it, the more it's unworkable. :-( That's me - impractical ideas all round. Aw, well.

SOD IT!

Cheerio,

Danny

[Reply #21 on:]

yes, sod the idea

it's pointless you'd have to find a load of people to draw the frames, you'd need voices, and someone who's good with computers to put it all together, it's not and will never happen....i don't mean to be negative by the way 

[Reply #22 on:]

Hey, I'm not a poppler any more!

Thanks a bleedin' bunch, TheVoices! :-) That from somebody who's entire site is in ruddy flash! ;-)

You could have put that a bit more tactfully, I think! :-)

Still, it all boils down to "you're right" so, hey-ho, move on I s'pose.

BTW, may I say it's a real honour to be in correspondence with such a talented artist as your good self!

Cheerio,
Danny

[Reply #23 on:]

You can always do a music video featuring characters and settings from Futurama. And the plot would go on silently. But then, that would be an infringment to the recording industry as well as to Fox. 

I've seen several music Flash videos, and they looked great. The biggest gripe about doing those is syncronizing the actions with the music and the loading time it will take. But they're doable.

[Reply #24 on:]

I agree that it would be almost impossible to even make one episode because each second of animation consists of 24 frames, Sarge can correct me if I'm wrong.

[Reply #25 on:]

Let's just stick to our flipbooks. Hell, even drawing animation in a flipbook takes a lot of effort and time.

[Reply #26 on:]

 

Originally posted by Otis P Jivefunk:
I agree that it would be almost impossible to even make one episode because each second of animation consists of 24 frames, Sarge can correct me if I'm wrong.

It would take one person (who knows what they're doing) about 6-12 months to make 5 minutes of 'full' animation, transfer it to video, color, sound, & edit.

[Reply #27 on:]

Better get started now if you want to get somewhere.

[Reply #28 on:]

Operative...FULL

[Reply #29 on:]

Actually, with all that post production work, it would probably take longer.

[Reply #30 on:]

It wouldn't be all fancy like a real episode though. It would just be a cheap little flash thing. I don't think a little 3-5 minute cartoon would take that long.

[Reply #31 on:]

dammit did i already welcome you? ah hell welcome again i love leela 

[Reply #32 on:]

Flash is different.

[Reply #33 on:]

Hi people,

Yes, Flash is *very* different - not nearly as much work involved. I don't want to do a full TV quality episode. That would just about do me in!

What post production? You seem to be under the impression I'm suggesting something snazzy! The most post production I'm thinking about is characters that *move* - that's the limit!

Is it a co-incidence that since I said "Bugger it" the replys have been much more upbeat? A bit of reverse psycology, that's what you guys needed. :-)

Consider the subject UN-SODDED!

Thankyou all for your ideas.

I've got some investigating to do, I'll be back...

Danny

[Reply #34 on:]

Flash isn't that easy. There's way too many useless commands that get in the way that nobody ever needs. All the stuff to actually 'animate' are buried under or within these stupid commands. And they're structured in the most horrific hierarchy possible. Macromedia should develop a smaller Flash program strictly geared for 2D animation.

[Reply #35 on:]

Summary: Any type of animation takes a bit of time and effort. It's not an easy task.

[Reply #36 on:]

Not easy, but not impossible! :-)

[Reply #37 on:]

So, are you going to go through with it? Do you want us to volunteer our services or do we get paid, eh?

[Reply #38 on:]

Your services will be greatly honored.....comrade.

[Reply #39 on:]

I have a video camera and can make great sock puppets! I could do the animation!!