Halo 'Legends'

[KnackChap]

MS's big Comic Con announcement

 

 

7 short anime movies (ala the animatrix)

animation by Bones, Casio Entertainment, Production I.G., Studio4 C, and Toei Animation

Avb on bluray, DVD, and digital release early 2010

 

 

Microsoft's new project, which it's announcing Thursday at Comic-Con for the first time, is a series of seven shorts set in the Halo universe and done in Japanese anime style.

 

Anime geeks will recognize the five production houses working on the films -- Bones, Casio Entertainment, Production I.G., Studio4 C, and Toei Animation -- as well as the creative director helping to oversee production for Microsoft: Shinji Aramaki, director of "Appleseed" and "Appleseed Ex Machina."

 

Microsoft is financing and overseeing production through 343 Industries, its new internal division that's in charge of everything Halo. It's planning to preview them on the online gaming service Xbox Live this fall and has then enlisted Warner Bros. -- the game companies still need a little help from Hollywood -- to release them on DVD, Blu-ray and other digital platforms in early 2010.

 

Aramaki is directing his own short that tell the history of the Spartans, a warrior class in the game's fictional universe that main character Master Chief is part of. Though Halo isn't particularly popular in Japan -- most of its 27 million units sold have been in North American and Europe -- Aramaki said he's a player and was immediately interested in the possibility.

 

"I liked that this would be an anthology of human stories told from different characters' perspectives," he explained.

 

Frank O'Connor, creative director of 343, gave a peek at some of the other Halo Legend shorts. Studio4 C's project, tentatively called "Origins," is a two-parter that's about 30 minutes long in total and tells the entire 100,000 year history of the Halo universe. Another, from Toei, is the only one outside of the official canon and pokes fun at some of the game's characters.

 

Within the general anime style, the visual look of the projects differs widely.

 

"It's a wildly varied genre, but anime creators do things with weapons and vehicle and technology nobody else does and that marries very well with Halo," he explained. "It's amazing to see some of the new stuff they're introducing and how neatly it maps to the visual aesthetics in the Halo universe."

 

Microsoft gave the production companies largely free reign in how the shorts looked, but O'Connor and others were heavily involved in developing the stories and making sure all the details were right.

 

HaloLegends2 "Depending on the studio we did everything from writing the stories to feeding them with characters and scenarios they could explore," he said.

 

At first he was a bit wary about revealing any details, but O'Connor quickly granted that when Microsoft releases a trailer for Halo Legends at its Comic-Con panel, fans are sure to pick apart every frame.

 

"I think the core 'Halo' fans will recognize key moments from the universe never shown in the game," he said. "They're moments where people wanted more depth. That's where this fits."

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainm...woods-turf.html

[MarketTantrik]

Nice. Although PJ should be on hand to direct at least one of the shorts.

[dullu]

Awesomesauce

 

Now only if it matches the animatrix in terms of storytelling...

[Bulovski]

this basically means that after Reach there are no Halo games lined up for some time and MS is looking at a new way to milk the franchise. sweet.

[KeezNah]

hell yeah, i'd bite.

 

what happened to RVB animated series btw?

[john117]

^^ thats not an official series i guess .. It was\is an independent work of Rooster Teeth studio ..

After the GN (which I ) this was the next logical thing to do.

[Aftrunner]

Yeah, sold. You had me at Halo.

 

Can the Anime fans tell me if the people associated with it are any good?

[ΨΨ babloos ΨΨ]

bones r good.loved wolfrain , sword of stranger,Fullmetal Alchemist

[Noctis]

Yeah, sold. You had me at Halo.

 

Can the Anime fans tell me if the people associated with it are any good?

 

Yes, they are pretty good. You must have at least heard Fullmetal Alchemist.

[Bulovski]

Yeah, sold. You had me at Halo.

Master Chief = Tom Cruise

Afty = Renee Zellweger

[The JACKAL]

HALO ANIME

Microsoft working with Ghost in the Shell, Dragon Ball studios on collection of short films; 343 Industries revealed to be Halo publishing brand.

 

Between this year's Halo Wars and Halo: ODST, Microsoft is working to establish a universe for its blockbuster sci-fi series extending significantly beyond the Master Chief character. Today the company revealed another step toward that, with the announcement of Halo Legends, an anime anthology focusing on different times, locations, and characters in the universe.

 

Master Chief has a great poker face, and a visor to match.

 

Like previous anime anthologies, The Animatrix and Batman: Gotham Knights, Halo Legends taps a variety of notable Japanese creators and animation studios to produce short films for a compiled home-video release. Directors Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) will be working on the project, as will familiar studios like Production I.G. (Blood: The Last Vampire), Studio4˚C (Tekkonkinkreet), Toei Animation (Dragon Ball), Casio Entertainment (visual effects work on Big Man Japan), and Bones (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie).

 

Unlike those other projects, Halo Legends will also help Microsoft usher in Halo Waypoint, "a new destination for Halo fans on Xbox Live."

 

Launching this fall, Waypoint will host previews of Halo Legends, podcasts, news, and trailers for various projects in the Halo universe. It will also introduce its own leaderboards and achievement-style system for Halo fans to mark their in-game and out-of-game feats.

 

Both Halo Legends and Halo Waypoint fall under the purview of 343 Industries, which is--as rumored--the name of Microsoft Game Studios' new label covering the franchise. In addition to games, 343 will oversee the creation of Halo books, clothing, collectibles, and other content stemming from the series. The group has drawn some notable names to its ranks, including former Kojima Productions producer Ryan Payton and Bungie alum Frank O'Connor.

 

SOURCE

 

____________________________

 

OMFG OMFG OMFG . .

[Karooo]

hmm. not that much exciting but have to see more about this.

[The JACKAL]

hmm. not that much exciting but have to see more about this.

why would u be bad news foru right?? , LOOK MAT MASTER CHIEF in that PIC OMFG he looks too cool , OMFG this is going to be bigger than STEAM BOY>

[Snake]

Theres already a thread!!

[Snake]

PIC

 

[gt]53157[/gt]

 

Halo Legends Presentation transcript for the win....

 

4:24 - They are playing Halo music. It's inspiring. I want to jack a Covenant vehicle and fly through the halls of Comic-Con blasting nerds.

 

4:27 - There is an incredibly beautiful girl dressed as Cortana. Who says a man can't love a hologram? [Ed. Note: Pix?]

 

4:29 - Lights dimming. It begins. Cheers aplenty. Halo-gasm about to commence.

 

4:31 - [Anime description] Flashes of planets. Very realistic looking until you see Chief who is more of a classic anime character. Some battles scenes. These have the dramatic effect of great anime. Lots of motion lines. Big explosions. Music is new, but clearly Halo.

 

4:32 - Chief and an Elite draw energy swords and circle, preparing for a duel. People cheer. It is pretty damn cool looking. A blend of gorgeous environments and more traditional anime-style characters.

 

4:33 - Frank O'Connor talking. Head of 343. A preview is coming this fall on Halo Waypoint. After that, early next year, Warner Bros. will release it on DVD and digital formats. Waypoint is a hub for all things Halo, you can look at Halo career on 360.

 

4:34 - Introductions begin: Kevin Grace is managing editor. Joseph Chou, producer on Halo Legends. Hannika Aku -- She's speaking in Japanese. No translator. Nice.

 

4:35 - Oh, now they translate. Nothing important. Just standard introductions. She totally digs the Master Chief cos player. He must be smiling under that helmet. And sweating.

 

4:36 - Aramaki-san is introduced. He worked on Appleseed series. Big deal, actually. He's happy to be here. Hi, Aramaki!

 

4:37 - Aramaki is a "director of anything" but is a fan. He is working on some elements of what was shown. Not clear if he is wokring directly on the animation or just worked on the teaser.

 

4:38 - Ishikawa-san is president at Production-IG. They brought us Ghost in the Shell. People clap. Tears are shed. Also did the animation segments in Kill Bill. I just teared up.

 

Special message from someone who couldn't be here. Oh SNAP! It's the director Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii. He is directing the Halo project. People fall over dead with joy.

 

4:39 - This dude knows how to make anime with some friggin' style. He says he likes videogames. Hooray. Showing sketches. Grunts confirmed.

 

4:40 - O'Connor asked, Why Halo Legends? The answer is the tradition in Halo universe of exploring the fiction with novels.

 

4:41 - Did the Halo graphic novel with Marvel. A great example of "what this is and why we did it." One of the cool things about Legend is that, "every time we see pieces they look different and amazing, but it's still Halo." One of coolest ways to explore action and human drama is through anime. "Simplest way to do that is through corners."

 

There will be seven episodes from seven different creators. One of these episodes is two parts, because so big. The two part episode basically goes from Forerunner flood, it seems, to end of Halo 3.

 

4:43 - They show a brute. Kind of looks a little dorky. Master Chief looks a bit more slender.

 

4:44 - One of the Japanese producers is talking for a while. Waiting on translation.

 

4:45 - They show a still of a Brute lifting Chief in the air. Looks like he is giving him a nipple twist. No lie. Chief doesn't seem to enjoy it.

 

4:47 - He says he's very excited to tackle this project. He directed an episode. This is Aramaki-san, the man who did Appleseed. Loved the games and wanted to do an anime even before this was made possible.

 

4:48 - Joseph Chou worked on Animatrix and Appleseed. Has a good pedigree. He extends his thanks to everyone at Microsoft. They respond, "Make us money!" Just kidding. They didn't actually respond with that.

 

4:49 - O'Connor takes to the mic again. He says it will be debuted on a TV network we don't own. Tonight (Spike TV). The preview that is that they showed here.

 

4:50 - When approached about Halo anime, O'Connor said he is a huge fan of anime and said everyone they asked to do an episode said yes. "People worry this is a corporate marketing push... we want to give these guys almost complete creative freedom."

 

343 worked directly with each team that made an episodes.

 

4:51 - All stories except for TOEI's take place in the universe and are canon. TOEI's is not. It's meant to be a fun and silly exploration of Halo universe.

 

They are opening the floor to Q&A. Many people line up. I remain with my a*s on my chair.

 

4:52 - A little kid asks if they've heard about a game he heard of called Halo: Reach. O'Connor gives the expected answer. "It doesn't end terribly well for that planet."

 

4:55 - Another Reach question. About using Natal with Reach. O'Connor states Reach is Bungie's project. Ask them. "Also note, everyone at Microsoft talks about Natal all the time, so don't read too much about that."

 

Status on game with Master Chief as protagonist? O'Connor confirms he is a protagonist in at least one episode of the anime. Nothing else to say.

 

4:56 - Halo movie question. No announcements to make. The Halo anime is a separate project or a replacement for. "It's its own thing and its own piece of art and exists singularly."

 

Any other Spartans? Yes. The episodes cover a lot of aspects of the Halo universe. Through the other Spartans we learn about Master Chief and the human/Halo war.If you freeze frame the trailer, you will spot some specific clues.

 

4:57 - There are a few nuggets in Legends about the future of Master Chief. Don't go much further than end of hAlo 3, but there will be something.

 

4:58 - Players want to know more about Sgt. Johnson or Cortana. That's what Legends offers. It's a half-confirmation of a Cortana story. I am also half-confirming my interest in this.

 

4:59 - A guy asks about unlocking Halo Recon armor. "There are a number of ways to unlock the Recon armor," O'Connor says. Use the Internet.

 

Someone asks about voice actors. "The Halo movie is pending development." As for Halo Legends they are not finished casting.

 

Yes, he added in a bit about the Halo live action movie. Yay!

 

5:00 - Will we see Marines kick some a*s? Yessir, O'Connor says.

 

5:01 - Sgt. Johnson discussed. "We cover the franchise of A-Z. He's not in Halo Legends, but we're not done telling stories about Sgt. Johnson." Perhaps Sarge is in Halo: Reach? English and Japanese dub/subtitles for anime.

 

5:02 - New novels or graphic novels about the Covenenat? There will be an episode in Legends that examines the Covenant. "We'll definitely be talking about the Covenant in-depth, ongoing."

 

5:03 - They do show Elites wearing smaurai armor. An episode named "Duel." It has a watercolor look. Sounds like this examines Elite's fuedal state before joining Covenant. Production-IG did this episode and did a "beautiful-looking piece." There will be an all-CG episode in Legends.

 

5:04 - There are a few "easter eggs" from the games in Legends.

 

5:05 - We will see female Spartans. Safe to say you will see some known female spartans in Legends. Note: There were female spartans shown in the Halo Graphic Novel.

 

Knowledge dropped.

 

5:06 - Still no Peter Jackson. Perhaps he is getting a hair cut.

 

5:07 - The music in the trailer is re-orchestrated from Halo 1 and 2. Not sure if there is also original music being created. Nothing new from Marty O'Donnell.

 

5:09 - Creating a Halo encyclopedia for publication. No other details. No price point on the cost of downloadable episodes. Hasn't been decided.

 

5:10 - Some of the episodes of Halo Legends will be pretty violent and some of the stories are pretty dark. "Not pulling any punches" according to O'Connor.

 

5:11 - A dude expressed love for Frank. Love connection made at Comic-Con. A beautiful thing.

 

5:12 - Ishikawa-san's episode includes a "female warrior" and there is an element that connects to the Ghost in the Shell lead character. Anime geeks excitement growing. Crowd thinning.

 

5:13 - A CG Elite is shown. Looks pretty bad-a*s. Like the best of any Halo cut-scene.

 

5:14 - The next Reach trailer "won't be for a little while." [Ed. Note: NOoooooo!!!!]

 

5:15 - There will be some announcements before panel ends. Three questions remaining, then a re-show of the trailer.

 

5:16 - People keep asking Halo: Reach questions. Most of them things you can learn by reading Erik's What to Expect from Halo: Reach article.

 

Will Bungie bring back Marathon? Sigh. Again. Frank isn't going to answer dumb questions.

 

5:16 - The final (hopefully) question. Peter Jackson question. Has the game been canceled this fine young man asks. No announcements on Halo Chronicles. Fan response: Hm.

 

Damn. Two more questions.

 

5:17 - More direct information about episodes soon. And read more on Halo Waypoint. Ding! Did I just see Master Chief flying an X-Wing? There will be events in Legends connected to Halo Wars. [but then again everything has a connection to what was discussed.]

 

Questions over. Trailer to recommence. No typing. Just watching. Suck it.

 

5:18 - Just kidding. Makes way more sense now that we know it is seven distinct episodes from different directors with different styles.

 

5:20 - And now on to other announcements. Handout about MS studio game. What could it be? Won't know until I grab it. Halo Legends posters at show from 6-7. But you aren't here, suckah!

 

No actual announcement. Lame. What does postcard hold...

 

5:21 - It's a swank Crackdown 2 postcard. It says "CITIZEN" in bold. There is a dude in full power armor with helmet on. "These are dark times. Keep faith in the Agency. The light is coming back to Pacific City. And it weighs 300 pounds in armor."

 

5:23 - That's the end of the panel. 100% Halo Legends.

 

DO WANT!!!!

[Bulovski]

merged

[Aftrunner]

^^Anybody got a video for that??

 

Edit: For the presentation I mean, not for grampa merging the thread.

[Bulovski]

[KeezNah]

I would like to request a video of gramps merging the thread.

[Bulovski]

I need to be paid for celebrity appearances