DHX Media Unveils Man of Action’s New Mega Man

Ever since it was announced that Man of Action Entertainment and Dentsu Entertainment were teaming up to return Mega Man to the small screen in animated series form, the big question on everyone’s mind was how they were going to approach it. Will they adapt the games, or even Archie’s take on those? Would it somehow pick up after the original cartoon from Ruby Spears? Or something else entirely?

“Something else entirely” seems to be the go-to for this, as DHX Media revealed (alongside an image of the new Blue Bomber) in their press release announcing their partnership to license and distribute this aspect of the property:

Aimed at kids 6 to 9, as well as their parents who grew up loving the videogames, the animated series will feature exciting new technologies and robots, as well as the introduction of Mega Man’s alter-ego, Aki Light, a normal, upbeat, schoolboy robot. When activated, his skin re-forms – in a flurry of computer code and visual pyrotechnics – into a suit of impenetrable nanocore armor, including the iconic Mega Buster arm cannon and helmet. Beloved characters, like Rush, will return – while new characters, like Mega Mini™, will make their debut!  The new Mega Man animated series has a target air date of 2017, coinciding with the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

So “iconic” that they look almost nothing like the the ones fans know and love (and are being sold in replica form for three figures). Go figure.

Some more quotes from the press release:

DHX’s Chief Content Officer, Asaph Fipke, said, “We’re very excited to be working with Dentsu on Mega Man. This is yet another deal born of our strategy of teaming up with leading companies on high-profile kids’ brands that we can leverage across our platform of production, distribution, licensing and broadcast. We see this as an excellent opportunity to build on the rich legacy of the Mega Man video game series and introduce the famous boy robot to a whole new generation of kids worldwide.”

Dentsu Entertainment USA’s Kinoshita said, “Mega Man has a rare, nearly three-decade-long tradition with fans. We are excited to work with DHX to bring this newly imagined version of a long-beloved character back to the global marketplace.”

Man of Action’s Duncan Rouleau said, “The best thing about Mega Man is his unflinching wide-eyed optimism and an over-the-top sense of humor. This show reflects both qualities. We’ve got it all in here, it’s hopeful, forward-leaning, action-packed… It’s full-on fun ahead!”

So, there it is. Sounds like we’re getting a comic adaptation of sorts, alright, but I don’t think anyone was clamoring for a return to the Dreamwave comics universe. Unless they were.

You tell me, in the comments, and please try to keep it clean so I don’t have to go through and pick yours out of the Disqus filter later.

Also, does this increase anyone’s interest in attending Comicpalooza and trying to find out more from the creators?

Thanks to Toby Barrett, Steven McPhail, and Matt Moylan for the tips (by way of Deadline)!

LBD "Nytetrayn"

David Oxford, or “LBD ‘Nytetrayn’,” as he is sometimes also known, is a freelance writer of many varied interests who resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in hiring him, please drop him a line at david.oxford (at) nyteworks.net.

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