At the panel for Blue Ribbon Content during the ongoingTCA press tour, Executive Vice PresidentPeter Girardiweighed in on the strategy regarding CW Seed’s animated Arrowverse series.Blue Ribbon Contentis the digital series production arm of Warner Bros. Television Group and they have produced the animated digital seriesVixen,Freedom Fighters: The Ray, andConstantine.
Vixenwas a success, and the title character even managed to crossover into the live-action Arrowverse; the reverse has already taken place for the other heroes withRussell Toveyperforming both versions of The Ray, andMatt Ryanfamously reprising his role from his fan-favorite live-action appearances. So when it comes to the strategic planning for Blue Ribbon Content and their animated DC Comics properties, our own TV EditorAllison Keenewanted some more details as to the future ofThe RayandConstantine. Plus, Girardi teased a much darker animated version ofConstantineto come, one that’s closer to Vertigo’s “Hellblazer” comics.
What’s the strategy forThe RayandConstantine? We’ve seen them introduced in live-action in the Arrowverse, but is the hope to continue with those live-action crossovers or create an animated universe that’s separate from the Arrowverse?
Peter Girardi: That’s yet to be determined. The first one we did wasVixen. AndVixenstarted out as animated. And I think we were also happy when it did migrate into the Arrowverse, but it started out as animated first. Since then, we’ve figured out a little more of a strategy around it where we worked very closely with Greg [Berlanti] and Marc Guggenheim and the team there to figure out what characters are going to work, what’s in [their] future plans, what can we do.
Also, with animation, the first thing you ask is, Why does this need to be animated? So we try to up the scale, and the consequences, and the VFX, and the set pieces in animation because, as we call it in the world of animation, pencil power. Just pencil power, it’s people drawing.
Moving forward,Constantinewas a great example as well because theConstantinethat we’re doing … it’sConstantine, if you’re familiar with the character. It’sConstantinefrom the Vertigo comic; it’s dark. Darker than the show.
Is the audience a little older than maybeVixen’s audience might have been?
Girardi: Certainly forConstantine. Clearly, it should be, responsible parents. [laughs]
For fans who’ve been waiting to see a more mature version ofConstantine, your wait may be just about over. Are you excited to check it out? Let us know in the comments!
