Best format for Buffy at the present

[Blaze]

As always, there's a lot of talk about BtVS' future and whether there could ever be a movie or a new TV series. So my question, what do you think would be the best format to bring back Buffy if you had no restrictions (ie. getting the actors on board wouldn't be an issue, Joss would be willing to participate, and money wouldn't be a problem). Would you prefer a movie, a TV show, an animated show, a live play, a video game, a musical..?! Or are you satisfied with the comic as the best way to fallow up on Buffy at the present.

Personally, although a fallow up TV series would be epic, I would opt for an animated series right now. Lately I've been watching a lot of teen/adult animated shows and I fell in love with the format. I'd choose a darker animated style though, actually you could go for an artstyle resembling the comics, which would be closer to a Japanese manga artstyle than an American animated series.

 

[Kean]

I think at this point, taking everything into consideration, an animated series would be the best thing. You have the endless budget aspect of the comics but the visual and performance aspect of the show. Plus I think a good few of the original actors would get involved.

 

[thetopher]

An animated series would be the way to go I think. Get all the actors in a recording booth with some scripts- I think they'd all have a great time revisiting the 'voice' of their old character.

You could do the comics, (Maybe clarify some stuff,- *cough* Twilight *cough*- and revise some other, poorer plot threads.) or something seperate. A contained mini-series, a series set during the shows run (which is what the original Buffy tAS would've been Buffy and the Scoobies in Sunnydale) or a tv movies one-off epic.

Any and all of these could work right now, no sweat, no months/years of commitment either, and it would give the characters their voices back. 🙂

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Television or film either animated or not would be a step back. A step forward would be something new but with a similar view. If for example:
Had Dollhouse dealt with vampires and demons, with those in charge of the Dollhouse being characters akin to the watchers council and those in the Dollhouse were the slayers.
Joss might even have the film studio name Mutant Enemy branded by the critics as the new Hammer House.
As Joss likes musicals maybe a rock musical version with the leader of the house not having the surname Von Helsing but having the name Eddie Van Halen?

 

[EVIL UU]

I think that animated series is the best option, I mean, that [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnUvZP7-5LM"]promo[/ame] looks pretty sweet. A new video game would be fine too.

 

[Kean]

How in the name of God did that not get picked up to series. It was so good. Did anyone else think the vamp looked like Riley?

 

[thetopher]

How in the name of God did that not get picked up to series. It was so good. Did anyone else think the vamp looked like Riley?

Especially when you realise that everybody was up for doing this (even SMG, she loved the idea of a cartoon series.), so they would've had the full original cast.

Xander and Giles get the best lines here, it has a great S1 feel to it.

Also, as with most cartoon adaptations, Buffy is way more superpowered than on the show. Seeing Buffy fighting that dragon would've been something. 🙂

Stiil, it isn't too late for something like this to still happen. Here's hoping...

 

[Kean]

Especially when you realise that everybody was up for doing this (even SMG, she loved the idea of a cartoon series.), so they would've had the full original cast.

Xander and Giles get the best lines here, it has a great S1 feel to it.

Also, as with most cartoon adaptations, Buffy is way more superpowered than on the show. Seeing Buffy fighting that dragon would've been something. 🙂

Stiil, it isn't too late for something like this to still happen. Here's hoping...

Didn't SMG say no to this? The rest of the cast sign on as far as I remember but SMG didn't, the girl who voiced Buffy in the video games played Buffy in this.

Thoug, if this was offered to her now, I don't know if she would feel the same way. She did a lot of stuff on Robot Chicken and she seems way more open to Buffy now than she did 10 years ago.

 

[thetopher]

Hmn, I read somewhere that she said yes to the idea (but couldn't put her voice to the promo), but I could be mistaken.

SMG liked playing Buffy, but didn't like the amount of time it took her away from her new family. Obviously the voice acting would be a lot easier on her schedule.

The only reason that this show wasn't picked up is that all the networks rejected it.

Talk about tv rotting your brain- clearly it does if you're an executive. 🙁


But you're right, SMG has been a lot more open/accepting of her Buffy past recently. 🙂

 

[Blaze]

The only reason that this show wasn't picked up is that all the networks rejected it.

Seriously O_O We can have 50 reality shows about drunken idiots but not one network would pick an awesome animated show that is pretty much guaranteed success. Sometimes I fear for the future of our race.

 

[Robb Stark]

I think the animated series would be the most realistic option, but not the one I'd most want to see. Don't get me wrong, it'd be great and I'm sure you'd have a far better shot at assembling the old crew for an animated followup/reboot than anything live action, but if it were strictly up to me I still would love to see a movie.

I've always felt that the "Buffy is long-form storytelling" is a crap excuse to not do it. With the development already established by the series there is no believable reason that a competent story couldn't be put together for a movie. I'd want as many people back as possible too (kind of like American Wedding), all the side characters you could get back in. I think that would be fantastic.

That said, even though I'm a little behind on them, I wouldn't want the comics cancelled to accommodate a film or animated series either. I mean, Marvel Comics didn't stop printing after The Avengers hit theaters, why should the Buffy comics? I have no issue whatsoever with multiple continuations.

 

[Kean]

Seriously O_O We can have 50 reality shows about drunken idiots but not one network would pick an awesome animated show that is pretty much guaranteed success. Sometimes I fear for the future of our race.

Different times. If that pilot went out now I think it would be snatched up. Ten years ago networks didn't understand the draw of animated series.

 

[white avenger]

When the animated show was suggested, reality show and shows about drunken idiots were a safe bet. Prime time animated series with adult themes were not. (I'm assuming that that's what we're discussing here, and not a Saturday morning kiddie show) Even now, animated adult shows are rare things, and not tremendously popular.

An animated movie similar to "The Incredibles" would, I think, work the best, even if it were direct to disc. Though the art in "The Incredibles" wasn't absolutely top notch, both the story and animation were very good. Another advantage of animation that hasn't been mentioned is that, if the original actor wasn't available to recreate their role, there are voice actors who specialize in imitating the voices of others. One was used to furnish Buffy's voice in the video game, "Chaos Bleeds." (There are clips of the game on Youtube, if you've never seen it) Also, if the original actors actually are available, but happen to look too old, too fat, or any other "too" that might be a problem in live acting, their animated self would never show it.

 

[chasesummers]

I feel like a reunion will happen at some point, getting the cast together and discussing Buffyverse. I still believe in a Buffy mini-series or movie with the original cast one last time.

After that, an animated series continuation would be very fitting as Buffy would surface back up probably. Animations are the way to go with Buffyverse, I can't agree more. Characters can still resemble the actors, vampires can actually NOT grow old, it requires less work for cast members who can/want to get involved with it.

Once Joss, the writers and the cast members finish their contribution with Buffy once and for all, then thats that. I won't look forward to follow future incarnations of the show with new people. Hollywood, the media & entertainment in general doesn't interest me anyway.

 

[Wesley Pryce]

I would be up for an animated series but I agree with @Robb Stark, a movie would be my fav option of them all.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

A movie would be awesome. I think that with the write script and story it could work. If not, then I want the animated series. The comics are good for now, but I want more Buffy and something new. I haven't played the games though.

 

[Evil Angelus 95]

An animated series would be amazing, or even a new series of novels like there used to be when the show was still on the air.

You know what I would love? A video game. Kinda like Chaos Bleeds or the original Xbox game, but something better in every way. I'm talking getting the original cast back together for the voice acting, getting a script written with Joss and the original writers, having something with modern gen graphics and having amazing gameplay. Something with multiple endings that are based on the decisions you make in game. Imagine a Grand Theft Auto type of game, but more focused on an overall plot and how each little thing affects it. And when you beat it, there can be all these little side-missions that aren't really necessary to the overall plot that you can do.

Literally. I would play that game for the rest of my life.

 

[MarlieTheSlayer]

I think an animated series would be their best shot. A lot of kids and tweens would get to know Buffy and if they like it they may want to watch the show too, which is awesome 😀