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

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|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially lost'''</span>
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'''''Johnny Quasar''''', also known as ''The Adventures of Johnny Quasar'' is 40 second demo that is a precursor for ''Jimmy Neutron''. It was created sometime in 1994-1995 by John Davis and his partner Keith Alcorn in LightWave 3D 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.


A man named Steve Oedekerk who had connections in the television industry, impressed with their work, partnered with DNA Productions, which lead to the production of a new, 13 minute pilot based loosely on the original demo. The new pilot was titled ''Runaway Rocketboy'' marked the first appearance of ''Jimmy Neutron''.
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''.


Despite how notable it was at the time, the only known footage of this 40 second demo to this day are two pieces of a clip where Johnny Quasar introduces himself and Goddard. The first 3 seconds lack audio, and were found on a VHS demo reel for LightWave, followed by another 7 second clip that came from the old DNA Productions website, which is in low resolution.
===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 in 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 stills featuring Johnny Quasar, also from the DNA Productions website are often presumed to be part of the original demo animation, it is currently unknown if these were actually featured in the original demo, or if they were mockups made just for the web page. As with the 7 second clip, these are in an extremely low resolution as well.
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.


Since then, several magazine articles have been discovered talking about this animation to varying degrees of detail, sometimes accompanied by images from the demo.
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 avaliable below.


For a time, it was thought the media might've been on a rare CD-ROM from the SIGGRAPH 95 conference, but it has since come out that this is- in fact, false- however several stills from it were present in the
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)


The most recent development: Youtube User LSuperSonicQ has apparently made contact with co-creator Keith Alcorn, who believes the original demo is in a large file storage area that he'll look in when he has the chance.
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 is 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 and screenshots==
==Footage, stills, and artwork==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L94DC7Lm-pY&t=1|320x240|center|3 seconds of footage at 1:10 (without the original audio.)|frame}}{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrFlLJRQkmw|320x240|center|8 seconds of footage following the 3 second clip.(with the original audio.)|frame}}
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L94DC7Lm-pY&t=1m10s|320x240|center|3 seconds of footage at 1:10 (without the original audio.)|frame}}{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrFlLJRQkmw|320x240|center|8 seconds of footage following the 3 second clip.(with the original audio.)|frame}}


<gallery mode=packed heights=150px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:jimmy_jqfamily.gif|Screenshot 2
File:jimmy_jqfamily.gif|A still featuring Johnny with his family.
File:jimmyjqAttack.gif|Screenshot 3
File:jimmyjqAttack.gif|A still featuring Johnny being chased by aliens.
File:jimmyjqMoonwalk.gif|Screenshot 4
File:jimmyjqMoonwalk.gif|A still featuring Johnny walking in the moonlight.
File:jimmyjqGunsup.gif|Screenshot 5
File:jimmyjqGunsup.gif|A still featuring several flying saucers with large weapons.
File:quasar.jpg|Production art with early versions of Sheen, Nick, Cindy, and Carl. Note that Johnny Quasar looks more like Jimmy Neutron, his final version, but still has the old name.
File:quasar.jpg|Production art with early versions of Sheen, Nick, Cindy, and Carl. Note that Johnny looks much more like Jimmy at this stage of development.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Magazine and booklet scans==
Scans courtesy of computerarchive.org and redditor /u/siliconclassics.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:Video_Toaster_User_Issue_36_1995_Nov_Page_044,045.jpg|Pages 46 and 47 from a 1995 issue of Video Toaster, an article about the Wavey Awards, of which Johnny Quasar is prominently featured. Scan courtesy of computerarchive.org.
File:Video_Toaster_User_Issue_36_1995_Nov_Page_044,045.jpg|Pages 46 and 47 from a 1995 issue of Video Toaster, an article about the Wavey Awards, of which Johnny Quasar is prominently featured.
File:Video_Toaster_User_Issue_36_1995_Nov_Page_046,047.jpg|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. Scan courtsey of computerarchive.org.
File:Video_Toaster_User_Issue_36_1995_Nov_Page_046,047.jpg|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.
File:UnknownQuasarScan.jpg|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.
</gallery>  
</gallery>  
<gallery mode=packed heights=300px>
<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. Scan courtesy of reddit user /u/siliconclassics.
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 productions came to creating ''The Adventures of Johnny Quasar'', and how it evolved into what we know today as ''Jimmy Neutron''. Scan courtesy of computerarchive.org.
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 07:03, 15 May 2017

Jntrn b.gif

The first screenshot showing Johnny Quasar.

Status: Partially lost

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 in 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 avaliable 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 is 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

3 seconds of footage at 1:10 (without the original audio.)

8 seconds of footage following the 3 second clip.(with the original audio.)

  • A still featuring Johnny with his family.

    A still featuring Johnny with his family.

  • A still featuring Johnny being chased by aliens.

    A still featuring Johnny being chased by aliens.

  • A still featuring Johnny walking in the moonlight.

    A still featuring Johnny walking in the moonlight.

  • A still featuring several flying saucers with large weapons.

    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.

    Production art with early versions of Sheen, Nick, Cindy, and Carl. Note that Johnny looks much more like Jimmy at this stage of development.

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 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

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