The Adventures of Johnny Quasar (found prototype "Jimmy Neutron" animated shorts; 1995-1997): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
|image=Jntrn b.gif | |image=Jntrn b.gif | ||
|imagecaption=The first screenshot showing Johnny Quasar. | |imagecaption=The first screenshot showing Johnny Quasar. | ||
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially | |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Johnny Quasar''''', also known as ''The Adventures of Johnny Quasar'' is a 40 second demo that is a precursor for ''Jimmy Neutron''. It was created sometime in 1994-95 by John Davis and his partner Keith Alcorn, based on an idea Davis had in mind since the 1980s. The demo was first shown publicly at the 1995 SIGGRAPH conference, and won two Wavey Awards there- Best in Character Animation and Best in Show. | '''''Johnny Quasar''''', also known as ''The Adventures of Johnny Quasar'' is a 40-second demo that is a precursor for ''Jimmy Neutron''. It was created sometime in 1994-95 by John Davis and his partner Keith Alcorn, based on an idea Davis had in mind since the 1980s. The demo was first shown publicly at the 1995 SIGGRAPH conference, and won two Wavey Awards there- Best in Character Animation and Best in Show. | ||
Impressed with the demo, Steve Oedekerk promptly 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'') was apparently based loosely on the original demo, and it 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''. | Impressed with the demo, Steve Oedekerk promptly 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'') was apparently based loosely on the original demo, and it 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''. | ||
===Current status and search=== | ===Current status and search=== | ||
Despite how notable it was at the time, only the first 11 seconds of the 40 second demo have surfaced to this day, and what has surfaced is | Despite how notable it was at the time, only the first 11 seconds of the 40-second demo have surfaced to this day, and what has surfaced is of very poor quality. The first 3 seconds lack original audio and were 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. They are often presumed to be part of the original demo animation but it is still unknown if that is actually true. It's worth noting that the assumption isn't entirely unjustified; the plot of the later pilot ''Runaway Rocketboy'' was supposedly based on this demo loosely and has many of the same settings and concepts shown in the stills. | In addition, several poor quality stills featuring Johnny Quasar were also on the old DNA website. They are often presumed to be part of the original demo animation, but it is still unknown if that is actually true. It's worth noting that the assumption isn't entirely unjustified; the plot of the later pilot ''Runaway Rocketboy'' was supposedly based on this demo loosely and has many of the same settings and concepts shown in the stills. | ||
Somewhat recently, several magazine articles have been discovered talking about this animation to varying degrees of detail, sometimes accompanied by images from the demo, scans are | Somewhat recently, several magazine articles have been discovered talking about this animation to varying degrees of detail, sometimes accompanied by images from the demo, scans are available below. | ||
For a time, it was thought the media 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 | For a time, it was thought the media 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) | ||
Fortunately, Youtube User LSuperSonicQ has apparently made contact with co-creator Keith Alcorn, who talked to Davis briefly about the demo, and found that he believes it | Fortunately, Youtube User LSuperSonicQ has apparently made contact with co-creator Keith Alcorn, who talked to Davis briefly about the demo, and found that he believes it's in a particular large file storage area. Alcorn also said that he'll look in when he has the chance, so there may be hope yet of the full demo surfacing, someday. | ||
==Footage, stills, and artwork== | ==Footage, stills, and artwork== | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<gallery mode=packed heights=320px> | <gallery mode=packed heights=320px> | ||
File:Computer Graphics World Feb96 Vol 19 Issue 2 Page 52.jpg|Pages 52 of a 1996 issue of Computer Graphics World, showing some high quality images from the demo. | File:Computer Graphics World Feb96 Vol 19 Issue 2 Page 52.jpg|Pages 52 of a 1996 issue of Computer Graphics World, showing some high-quality images from the demo. | ||
File:NewTekniques Issue 17 2000 Jan Feb Page 11.jpg|Page 11 of NewTekniques Issue 17 featuring an article on how DNA | File:NewTekniques Issue 17 2000 Jan Feb Page 11.jpg|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''. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
[[Category:Lost animation]] | [[Category:Lost animation]] | ||
[[Category:Partially found media]] | [[Category:Partially found media]] | ||
[[Category:Historic]] | [[Category:Historic]] | ||
Revision as of 14:37, 18 May 2017
The first screenshot showing Johnny Quasar.
Status: Partially Found
Johnny Quasar, also known as The Adventures of Johnny Quasar is a 40-second demo that is a precursor for Jimmy Neutron. It was created sometime in 1994-95 by John Davis and his partner Keith Alcorn, based on an idea Davis had in mind since the 1980s. The demo was first shown publicly at the 1995 SIGGRAPH conference, and won two Wavey Awards there- Best in Character Animation and Best in Show.
Impressed with the demo, Steve Oedekerk promptly 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) was apparently based loosely on the original demo, and it 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.
Current status and search
Despite how notable it was at the time, only the first 11 seconds of the 40-second demo have surfaced to this day, and what has surfaced is of very poor quality. The first 3 seconds lack original audio and were 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. They are often presumed to be part of the original demo animation, but it is still unknown if that is actually true. It's worth noting that the assumption isn't entirely unjustified; the plot of the later pilot Runaway Rocketboy was supposedly based on this demo loosely and has many of the same settings and concepts shown in the stills.
Somewhat recently, several magazine articles have been discovered talking about this animation to varying degrees of detail, sometimes accompanied by images from the demo, scans are available below.
For a time, it was thought the media 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)
Fortunately, Youtube User LSuperSonicQ has apparently made contact with co-creator Keith Alcorn, who talked to Davis briefly about the demo, and found that he believes it's in a particular large file storage area. Alcorn also said that he'll look in when he has the chance, so there may be hope yet of the full demo surfacing, someday.
Footage, stills, and artwork
A still featuring Johnny with his family.
A still featuring Johnny being chased by aliens.
A still featuring Johnny walking in the moonlight.
A still featuring several flying saucers with large weapons.
Production art with early versions of Sheen, Nick, Cindy, and Carl. Note that Johnny looks much more like Jimmy at this stage of development.
Another production art with early versions of Johnny (similar hair style as from the other production art), Hugh, Judy, and Goddard.
Magazine and booklet scans
Scans courtesy of computerarchive.org and redditor /u/siliconclassics.
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. The Image was posted on 4chan by an anonymous user.
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.
