So the on tv show...

[invisiblecake]

I didn't see the episode where they went to the future. It was just speculation, though.

It was the ep where they get captured by the Yeerks in a net, and then the Ellimist comes and does his thing and shows them a "possible future"

[arzwlf]

well,you can only do so much plot-wise with a half hour TV show on a kids channel.....but my god why couldnt someone with a budget step in??? im actually in the process of going back through it, i refuse to stop until i press on through, but some decent graphics and an hour time slot *could* have produced an amazing show. we can only pray for a movie.....

[Chad32]

I'm surprised they even put it on Nick, and I know a 30 minute timeslot can't do it justice. It needs a 60 minute slot, and to be on something like the scifi channel or something.

[aareavis]

I've been rereading this series and I'm still amazed by it.  If nothing else, I appreciate it more now that I'm old enough to understand some things better.  I just read #18 and I was pissed and I cried when the captain of the Ascalin turned traitor.

The reason they put it on Nick was because the series was sold to younger children.  However, the actions and ideas are way too r-rated for kid's tv.  You can't go through one book with someone either having a limb torn off or a hole blown through them.  Sometimes they even die and have to be revived (either through time travel or an actual shock to the heart).

It's a tricky situation.  The networks would have the budget for it but they probably wouldn't go near it.  Syfy (because it's sci-fi) or CW (because it's about teens) might be interested but they don't have the budget.  Either way, the FCC would have a cow if they heard about a show about child soldiers (even 14-15 year old soldiers).  *sigh*  It'd be really cool if HBO picked it up but that would probably require quite a few of us selling our souls to the devil...

The way the books were published almost lends itself to a 5 season set-up.

Season 1 --> Books 1 - 12
mid-season 2 parter: MM1
Season 2 --> 13 - 22
Mid-season 2 parter: MM2
Season 3 --> 23 - 33
Mid-season 2 parter: MM3
Season 4 --> 34 - 44
Mid-season 2 parter: MM4
Season 5 --> 45 - 54

And in between seasons there could be made-for-tv/direct to dvd/feature films made based on the Chronicles books.

Also, there are a lot of plots that could be thrown out such as the helmacrons and whatnot to make room for the more important things (like the David trilogy).  I just had a laugh.  Season 2 ends with David trapped as a rat.  Season 3 starts with helmacrons.  How anti-climactic is that?  Ratings would tank hard...

I would love it if Josh Friedman (Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles) got a hold of this. 

[invisiblecake]

Oh I would SO actually pay for HBO if it was on there.

But that would be a really terrible way to end/start seasons LOL.

[aareavis]

I think David ending up trapped as a rat on some small island would be an awesome season ending.  Tobias finding out who his father is would be a great season opener and then jump right into some stupid helmacron bs...  ratings would tank...

[roguebluejay]

I would agree to the whole TV show thing. I've always felt like a 'teen network' could play it up. It would have to be a very different show but it could work.

I think the characters could be the same ages, but they defiantly wouldn't be so innocent, especially in the later seasons. The violence could actually be used (note, although not overplayed.)

I think I'm pretty much alone in that some of my fave animorphs scenes are when they are just being normal... Or at least trying to be normal!

[Chad32]

You aren't alone. I liked the parts when they weren't constantly fighting Yeerks too. That's part of the reason why I like the beginning of the series more than the later books. Parts like Ax going to the movies and screaming "Globules!" over and over.

[AniDragon]

As far as a network that could pull it off, the BBC has shown that they can handle kid-friendly-but-still-dark sci-fi shows, if Doctor Who is anything to go by.

[roguebluejay]

Thats actually a fantastic point. Doctor Who would be a pretty good example. The BBC also does 'dark' well with shows like spooks.

Thing is... I think the animorphs kind of have to be american... Its a whole naievity that america had (particularly in the nineties) about war. I mean, most of us managed to have a nice, friendly, war free childhood!

[invisiblecake]

Since you mentioned the Beeb, Have you seen Misfits? It's about some teenagers who get superpowers randomly and it's funny while still having a good bit of blood and violence at times. I'd love to see a new Animorphs show/movie so bad.

[Semeir-Cooraf-Armaheen]

The show did have its moments.

Ax trying to figure out ice cream by smashing it on his shoe and face.

Jake's call to Tom where he tells him to keep fighting chokes me up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AetdbJ7Mwv8[/youtube]

[Chad32]

I think I remember an episode which was the first time they showed Marco's dad. except he wasn't the almost suicidal wreck he was in the fifth book. Maybe the producers thought that would be too dark to show, though it ruined a lot of the motivation for Marco I believe. Not only has Peter coped better, but they showed Visser One doing things like smelling flowers to help her control Eva. This is the Yeerk that was still in complete control in book 15 when Eva recognized her son and dispaired because they assumed Marco was a controller.

[Liz]

Season 1 --> Books 1 - 12
mid-season 2 parter: MM1
Season 2 --> 13 - 22
Mid-season 2 parter: MM2
Season 3 --> 23 - 33
Mid-season 2 parter: MM3
Season 4 --> 34 - 44
Mid-season 2 parter: MM4
Season 5 --> 45 - 54

Wow, S4's gonna suck.

/nothelpful

Jake's call to Tom where he tells him to keep fighting chokes me up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AetdbJ7Mwv8[/youtube]

Oh, I love that scene.  It's really the only one I clearly remember from the series (never watched the whole thing through).  Except then Tom's reaction is kinda funny.

[Semeir-Cooraf-Armaheen]

^ Well, he tried to take back control and the Yeerk had to fight back.

If it's that bad for Tom, could you imagine Alloran's nightmare life with that slug in his head?