Marvel Animated Features (MAF) is a series of eight American direct-to-video animated superhero films made by MLG Productions, a joint venture between Marvel Studios (later Marvel Animation) and Lions Gate Entertainment.[2][3]
History
In 2004, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics' new parent corporation, struck a deal with Lions Gate Entertainment to produce a series of eight to ten direct-to-video animated films under the name of Marvel Animated Features[4][5] in conjunction with Marvel Studios, Marvel's direct film subsidiary.[6]
The first two features, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther, were released February 2006 and August 2006 respectively. As of November 2006, UA and UA2 combined had sold over 1.5 million units and both were in the top 10 children's releases for the year.[5]
After the pair of Ultimate Avengers (UA) DVDs, the next MAF film, The Invincible Iron Man, was released in January 2007. As of January 2007, Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme was slated next for summer 2007 with the tentatively titled Teen Avengers under early development.[7] Originally, the MAF were being released two per year until Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme; while it was an Annie Awards nominee for "Best Home Entertainment Production" of 2007, it only sold half the number of DVD as either UA feature. After which, the MAFs releases were slowed to one per year.[8][9]
Marvel Animation was incorporated in January 2008 to direct Marvel's efforts in animation and home entertainment markets, including Marvel Animation Features.[6]
A proposed Ultimate War/Thor dual film DVD was passed over for the 2009 released Hulk vs. dual film DVD. Ultimate War would have adapted the Ultimate Marvel comic book of the same name, whilst the Thor film would have selected Walt Simonson's "Thor" storyline (the original selection being a Beta Ray Bill story).[10]
At the 2009 NATPE Conference, Lionsgate brought the eight Marvel Features to the TV market.[11]
Most of the films have a PG-13 rating, but one of them has a PG rating.
Films
Ultimate Avengers: The Movie
Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (also known simply as Ultimate Avengers) is the first film in the Marvel Animated Features based loosely on the first six issues of the Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The film was released on February 21, 2006, and produced by DongWoo Animation.[19][20] The film focuses on Captain America, a super soldier who was frozen in ice for decades after stopping a Nazi/extraterrestrial plot in 1945. The Captain is assigned to lead a team of heroes (also consisting of Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, Black Widow, and Hulk), found by Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D, to fight the alien Chitauri.[19]
Cast and characters
Reception
Critical reaction
Ultimate Avengers: The Movie
Felix Vasquez Jr. of Cinema Crazed said, "It gave me what I wanted, in terms of entertainment, acting, animation, and sheer style…"[29] Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media called it an "average animated action tale [that] features troubled superheroes."[30] David Cornelius of eFilmCritic.com said, "It's too violent for younger viewers, but not mature enough for older ones. It's a movie trapped in between target audiences."[31]
Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Black Panther
Felix Vasquez Jr. of Cinema Crazed said, "If this story doesn't widen its ideas, it's going to get much worse…"
External links
- Marvel Animation Movie Age – ToonZone.net's Marvel Animated Features website
References
- Reviews. Ultimate Avengers. toonzone.net: Marvel Animation Age.^
- Rick DeMott. Ratatouille Cooks Up Most Annie Nominations AWN News, December 3, 2007, retrieved March 29, 2011^
- MARVEL ANIMATION: THE FUTURE Comics Continuum, retrieved May 18, 2011