Back in 1994, Mainframe Entertainment deliveredReBoot, a cutting-edge computer-generated animated series that followed the adventures of a team of anthropomorphic sprites and programs who defended a user’s computer from corruption by invading viruses. Now, the renamed Rainmaker Entertainment has delivered on its promises to bring a new version of the story to fans by releasing the first trailer forReboot: The Guardian Code. And fans are not happy about it, to say the least.
As we reporteda few years back, this new version is based on the original creation ofGavin Blair,John Grace,Phil MitchellandIan Pearson, but blends live-action and CG-animation.Reboot: The Guardian Codefollow four teens who are tasked with protecting the world by battling in cyberspace once they discover that they are next-generation of Guardians. Vera, the last surviving cyber-being from the original Guardian program, helps the four heroes as they use their code-based powers to battle viruses unleashed by a ruthless hacker, known only as the Sourcerer. Megabyte also returns, but what was previously touted as a “big upgrade” looks like a step backwards.
Once the internet got a look at this first trailer, the reaction was savage. Keeping in mind that the original series was completely CG with no human actors appearing on-screen, this new approach seems to have blindsided fans of the original series. Rainmaker either took a cue from more recent movies likePower Rangersor evenJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, or, more likely, channeled the model of the originalPower Rangersseries and shows like them. Perhaps this was for budgetary reasons as it probably takes a lot less capital to cast newcomer teen actors than it does to animate 20-something half-hour episodes. If the CG animation actually looked better than it did in 1994, that might be more acceptable, but in some cases the sprites actually lookworse; we’re not entirely sure how that happened and it suffices to say that fans are not happy about it.
At least report, TWC/Dimension Television had picked up international distribution rights to the Rainmaker Entertainment property, of which Canadian Corus Entertainment has ordered 26 episodes, but outside of Canada it looks likeReboot: The Guardian Codewill be arriving on Netflix on March 30th. We’ll get a better idea of how this new series is going to play out once it’s fully revealed, but for now, check out the trailer for yourself below:
It’s official! We are excited to share a sneak peek of#ReBootTheGuardianCode! The show is a cool mix of live action and awesome animation about the adventures of four teenagers who become the Next-Generation Guardians of Cyberspace with the help of an artificially intelligent bio-constructed teenage girl. This Netflix Original Series debuts worldwide on March 30th, stay tuned for dates in Canada!
Along with the live-action/animated series, there seems to be a 360-degree interactive experience in the works as well:
Experience what it’s like to be in Cyberspace in an immersive mobile 360 experience. Stand in the middle of Megabyte’s fortress, be surrounded by cyber-locusts in the middle of a battle with the Guardians. Coming Soon…
