The Adventures of Johnny Quasar (found prototype "Jimmy Neutron" animated shorts; 1995-1997)

Title card of the 1995 demo.

Status: Found

Date found: 14 Aug 2017

Found by: Hilal H.

The Adventures of Johnny Quasar (also known as simply Johnny Quasar) is a 40-second long demo that was the precursor of Jimmy Neutron. Created in 1995 by John Davis and his partner Keith Alcorn with initial designs by Paul Claerhout, it was first shown publicly at the 1995 SIGGRAPH conference, winning two awards – Best in Character Animation and Best in Show – for the LightWave 3D engine called "Waveys". Another demo of the same title was produced in 1997, featuring the titular character confronting aliens.

Impressed with the demo, series producer Steve Oedekerk partnered with DNA Productions and helped with the production of a new, 13-minute pilot to pitch to Nickelodeon. The new pilot (titled "Runaway Rocketboy") marked the first appearance of Jimmy Neutron. Apparently, his name was changed to avoid parallels being drawn to other popular characters Jonny Quest and Captain Quasar.

The Search

Despite how notable it was at the time, only the first 11 seconds of the 40-second demo surfaced, and what had surfaced was of very poor quality. The first 3 seconds, lacking the original audio, was found on a 1994 VHS demo reel for LightWave 3D. The following 8-second clip came from the old DNA Productions website, from sometime after 1995.

In addition, several poor quality stills featuring Johnny Quasar were also on the old DNA website. Previously, they were presumed to be part of the original demo animation. However, this has been confirmed false by series character designer and storyboard artist Paul Claerhout.

Additionally, several magazine articles have been discovered talking about this animation in varying degrees of detail, sometimes accompanied by images from the demo. Scans are available below.

For a time, it was thought the demo might've been on a rare CD-ROM, from the 1995 SIGGRAPH conference, but it has since come out that this is, in fact, false (It was confirmed by Redditor /u/siliconclassics and the V&A Archive of Art and Design- who both have copies of the discs).

YouTuber and Lost Media Wiki user LSuperSonicQ later made contact with series co-creator Keith Alcorn, who talked to Davis briefly about the demo. Alcorn believed that it was in a particularly large file storage area, saying that he'd look in when he has the chance. Keith did later get back to LSuperSonicQ and told him that Davis briefly did look through the storage area but unfortunately didn't find the short.

Lost Media Wiki user CheatFreak made contact with Paul Claerhout about the possibility of him having a copy - however, he didn't seem to have one, but he did give several new details about the demo, the character designs, and the aforementioned renders from the DNA website.

According to Paul, these stills are actually early production test renders for the later pilot Runaway Rocketboy, made to help sell the pilot to Nickelodeon. They were produced a bit before the revised designs were put into full effect, a bit before the switch to the Jimmy Neutron name and were discarded when they adopted the new designs that Claerhout and Alcorn came up with.

The initial character designs for Johnny Quasar pictured below were inspired by George Pal's Puppetoons, a series of the 1940s stop-motion puppet show films. The revised designs that were eventually used (also shown below) were created in collaboration between both Claerhout and Alcorn together.

The first set of footage featured only Johnny Quasar flying in, introducing himself and Goddard before looking into the camera saying, "Gotta Blast!" and flying off into space - a line later reused for tons of promotional material and other Jimmy Neutron media.

On August 14th, 2017, Johnny Quasar's voice actor uploaded the full 1995 and 1997 demos on his YouTube channel Hilal H..

Gallery

Videos

The full 1995 demo.

The full 1997 demo.

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Concept Art

• 

  The earliest production artwork for the Johnny Quasar characters by series designer and artist Paul Claerhout.

• 

  A screenshot from the second 1997 demo of Johnny Quasar, featuring Johnny and Goddard walking in the moonlight.

• 

  Another one, showing Johnny and his family.

• 

  Later production art with early versions of Sheen, Nick, Cindy, and Carl, produced by Paul Claerhout in collaboration with Keith Alcorn, shortly before the name change.

• 

  Concept art that features early sketches of Johnny and his robotic dog, Goddard.

Magazine and Booklet Scans

Scans courtesy of computerarchive.org, Redditor /u/siliconclassics, and a 4chan anon.

• 

  Pages 46 and 47 from a 1995 issue of Video Toaster, an article about the Wavey Awards, of which Johnny Quasar is prominently featured.

• 

  Pages 48 and 49 from a 1995 issue of Video Toaster, the rest of that article showing John Davis accepting his award that Johnny Quasar won.

• 

  A perspective corrected photo of an unknown book or magazine talking briefly about Johnny Quasar.

• 

  Pages 52 of a 1996 issue of Computer Graphics World, showing some high-quality images from the demo.

• 

  Page 11 of NewTekniques Issue 17 featuring an article on how DNA Productions came to creating The Adventures of Johnny Quasar, and how it evolved into what we know today as Jimmy Neutron.

See Also

Jimmy Neutron

• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (partially found TV promos for Nickelodeon animated film and TV series; 2001–2002)

Anthology and Short Series

• Astrology with Squidward (found series of "SpongeBob SquarePants" Nickelodeon animated short series; early 2000s)
• Attack of the Giant Vulture (found Nickelodeon short film; 1998)
• Balinese Slapping Fish (partially lost Nickelodeon Australia animated short series; 1998)
• Bobby the Lizard Boy (found Nickelodeon animated short; 2000)
• Gordon Bleugh! (found Nickelodeon animated short series; early 2000s)
• ICarly at the 2008 Kids Choice Awards (found Nickelodeon promotional short web series; 2008)
• Leader Dog (partially lost Nickelodeon animated short series; 2004)
• Making Fiends (partially lost promotional shorts for Nickelodeon animated series based on web series; 2008)
• Meet The Moores (partially found British Nicktoons animated short series; 2002-2003)
• Nick Studio 10 (partially found Nickelodeon channel block; 2013)
• Nickelodeon Blimp (found Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards animated short; 2005-2007)
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons (found Nickelodeon animated anthology series; 1998-2001)
• Schoolyard Safari (found Nickelodeon short series; 2002-2003)
• SpongeBob: Re-Hydrated (partially lost "SpongeBob SquarePants" animated short; 2003)
• Tortellini Western (partially found Nickelodeon animated short series; 2004)
• A Very Aggressive Vegetable (partially lost Nickelodeon Australia animated short series; 1998)

Bumpers and Promos

• 101% Whizbang! with Henry & June (partially found Nickelodeon channel block; 1999)
• Blood and Guts (partially found Nickelodeon bumpers; 2000s)
• HaHa Nick (lost Chinese block of Nickelodeon shows; 2005-2007)
• Nickelodeon (partially found idents and bumpers from TV channel; 1979-present)
• Nickelodeon's Historical Firsts (partially lost animated promos from TV channel; 1997)

Game Shows

• BrainSurge (partially lost episodes of Nickelodeon game show; 2009-2014)
• Double Dare (partially lost Nickelodeon game show; 1986-1993)
• Figure It Out (partially found Nickelodeon game show; 1998)
• Gamefarm (partially lost Nickelodeon GAS game show; 2003)
• Legends of the Hidden Temple (lost Pit of Despair incident footage from unaired final round/episode of Nickelodeon game show; 1994)
• Legends of the Hidden Temple (partially found original consolation plugs from Nickelodeon game show; 1993-1995)
• Nick Arcade (found Nickelodeon game show; 1992)
• Nick Arcade (partially found original consolation prize plugs from Nickelodeon game show; 1992)
• Nickelodeon Splat! (partially lost Nickelodeon game show; 2004)
• SuperNick (partially found Dutch Nickelodeon game show; 2007-2011)
• SuperNick op De Stoep Bij... (partially found Dutch Nickelodeon sports show; 2007-2008)

Inaugural Series

• By The Way (partially found inaugural Nickelodeon series; 1979-1980)
• Hocus Focus (partially found inaugural Nickelodeon series; 1979-1981)
• Nickel Flicks (lost inaugural Nickelodeon series; 1979)
• Pinwheel (partially found Nickelodeon educational puppet series; 1977-1990)
• Pocket Money (non-existent inaugural Nickelodeon series; 1979)
• Video Comics (partially found inaugural Nickelodeon series; 1979-1981)

Live Action

• The Adventures of Pete & Pete (partially found original versions of episodes of Nickelodeon live-action comedy series; 1991-1993)
• All That (partially lost Nickelodeon sketch comedy series; 1994-2005)
• Bing! The Sound of Something New (partially found Nickelodeon magazine TV series; 1995)
• Cousin Skeeter (partially lost Nickelodeon live-action/puppet series; 1998-2001)
• Drake & Josh (partially found widescreen version of episodes of Nickelodeon sitcom; 2004-2007)
• Just For Kicks (found Nickelodeon live-action comedy-drama series; 2006)
• Kids' Court (partially found Nickelodeon non-traditional court series and other media; 1988-1994)
• Mcjuniorclub TV (partially found Dutch Nickelodeon/McDonald's live-action short series; 2008)
• Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (partially found Nickelodeon educational news series; 1992-2015)
• Noah Knows Best (partially found English audio of Nickelodeon sitcom; 2000-2001)
• Reggie Jackson's World of Sports (partially found Nickelodeon sports series; 1981-1982)
• U to U (partially found Nickelodeon interactive series; 1994-1996)
• Vic's Vacant Lot (partially found ESPN/Nickelodeon sports series; 1982-1985)

Pilots

• Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (partially found unaired pilot of Nickelodeon animated series; early 1990s)
• The Angry Beavers "Cuffed Together" (non-existent pilot episode of Nickelodeon animated series; early-mid 1990s)
• Back at the Barnyard (partially found original test pitch of Nickelodeon CGI animated series; 2000)
• Bad Seeds (found pilot of "Harvey Beaks" Nickelodeon animated series; 2013)
• Big Beast Quintet (lost Nickelodeon animated pilot; 1990)
• Camp Nick (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; mid-1990s)
• Catscratch (found animated pitch of Nickelodeon animated series; 2004)
• The Crowville Chronicles (lost Nickelodeon animated pilot; 1990)
• Drake & Josh (partially found unaired pilot of Nickelodeon sitcom; 2002)
• Fresh Beat Band of Spies (found unaired pilot of Nickelodeon animated spin-off of "The Fresh Beat Band" musical series; 2013)
• Generation Gap (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; early 1990s)
• Gibby! (partially found unaired pilot of cancelled spin-off of "iCarly" Nickelodeon teen sitcom; 2012)
• Go For It (lost Nickelodeon game show pilot; early 1990s)
• Hey Arnold! (found unaired pilot of Nickelodeon animated series; 1994)
• Humongous (lost pilot of Nickelodeon game show; early 1990s)
• I Don't Think So (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; 1994)
• Invader Zim (lost 3D animation test sequence from pilot of Nickelodeon animated series; 1999)
• KaBlam! "The Henry and June Show" (found spinoff pilot of Nickelodeon animated series; 2000)
• Kappa Mikey (found original MTV pitch and Nicktoons pilots of animated series; 2004)
• Morph Sports (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; 1995-1996)
• Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (partially found pilots of Nickelodeon sitcom; 2003)
• Ned's Declassified High School Survival Guide (lost pilot of rejected spin-off series of Nickelodeon sitcom; 2008)
• Pudding Toast (lost Nickelodeon animated pitch pilots; 2012)
• Rocket Beach (partially found unaired pilot of "Rocket Power" Nickelodeon animated series; 1998)
• Roundhouse (partially found unaired pilot of Nickelodeon comedy series; 1991)
• Slime Survivor (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; 2000)
• The Thundermans (partially lost unaired pilot of Nickelodeon live action comedy series; 2012)
• Tooned In! (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; 1998)
• Trash (lost Nickelodeon stop-motion animated pilot; 1990)
• The Weasel Patrol (lost Nickelodeon animated pilot; 1990)
• Who Knew? (partially found Nickelodeon game show pilot; 1998)
• The Wild Thornberrys (found pilot of Nickelodeon animated series; 1998)

TV Films

• Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (non-existent Nickelodeon TV film; 1998)
• Cry Baby Lane (found Nickelodeon TV horror film; 2000)
• The Electric Piper (found Nickelodeon animated TV film; 2003)

Other

• Action League Now!: The Series "Monster Mashed" (lost episode of "Kablam!" spinoff animated series; 2002)
• Action League Now!: The Series "Thunder Girl: Tracking The Storm" (found episode of "Kablam!" spinoff animated series; 2001-2002)
• The Angry Beavers "A Tail of Two Rangers/Bye Bye Beavers" (partially found finale episode of Nickelodeon animated series; 2001)
• The Butcher (lost Nickelodeon puppet short film; existence unconfirmed; 2001)
• Crash Nebula (lost production material of cancelled spinoff of" The Fairly OddParents" Nickelodeon animated series; 2004-2006)
• Danny Phantom (partially found original opening title sequence of Nickelodeon animated series; 2003)
• Gruff's Groove Box (lost Nickelodeon music series; 2001)
• Invader Zim (partially found production material of cancelled episodes of Nickelodeon animated series; 2001-2002)
• KaBlam! "Episode 29" (non-existent episode of Nickelodeon animated series; 1998)
• KaBlam! "Just Chillin" (found episode of Nickelodeon animated series; 2000)
• KaBlam! "KaFun!" (found episode of Nickelodeon animated series; 1999)
• KaBlam! "An Off-Beats Valentine's" (found spinoff special of Nickelodeon animated series; 1998)
• The Loud House (partially lost deleted scenes of Nickelodeon animated series; 2016-present)
• Nickelodeon Japan (lost final sign-off of Japanese TV channel; 2009)
• Nickelodeon Launch Box (partially found educational series; 1991-1994)
• Nickelodeon Magazine's Big 10 Birthday Bash (found TV special; 2003)
• Nickelodeon Studios Opening Day Celebration (found live broadcast of Nickelodeon event; 1990)
• Ren and Stimpy (lost unused Kurt Cobain song for Nickelodeon animated series; existence unconfirmed; 1990)
• Robot and Monster (partially found unaired/unfinished episodes of Nickelodeon animated series; 2012-2013)
• Rugrats: A Live Adventure (partially found footage of musical adaptation of Nickelodeon animated series; 1998-2000)
• SpongeBob SquarePants (partially found deleted scenes of Nickelodeon animated series; 1999-present)
• SpongeBob SquarePants "Sailor Mouth" (lost uncensored version of Nickelodeon animated series episode; 2001)
• SpongeBob SquarePants "Shanghaied/You Wish" (lost English audio from alternate "Patchy the Pirate" segments of Nickelodeon animated series episode; 2001)
• SpongeBob SquarePants "SpaceBob InvaderPants/Krabs' Army" (lost unfinished episodes of Nickelodeon animated series; 2015)
• War Blowers (found full version of "SpongeBob SquarePants" production music; 1999)
• Weinerville (partially lost Nickelodeon variety puppet series; 1993-1997)

External Links

• Jimmy Neutron Wikia page of Johnny Quasar.