The crew of the Manta Ray, the featured submarine in the show “Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon,” took 2012 New York Television Festival by storm, winning Amazon Studios’ Audience Award. Executive Producers Pat Giles and Manny Galán also appeared at New York Comic-Con at the Jacob Javits center to promote the DVD release of “Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon,” now available on Amazon.
Crowds lined up for both sold-out prime time screenings of the first episode of the show. “We were so happy with the audience response,” says Pat Giles, an Executive Producer of the show. “It’s hard for people to fake that much laughing. It really made us feel good.”
The Awards were handed out last Saturday night. The Audience Award, sponsored by Amazon Studios Award, was the second to last award of the night. “We were pretty nervous that we were shut out, but they were saving the best for last!” says Giles. “As an independent production house, the Amazon Award was doubly important since we went on sale through Amazon this week.”
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for the crew of the Manta Ray, with 2012 NY Comic-Con marking the official launch of DVD sales. The DVD features the 32-minute “Episode One,” plus a 90-minute bonus show, “Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon All-Star Revue.” It features skits, classic cartoons, new cartoons (Mike Carlo’s animated short “President of the Universe” and Gabe Swarr’s “Life in the Analog Age” shorts), musical guests, “The Gregory Brothers,” and special guest star, Butch Hartman (creator of “Fairly OddParents”).
“We were heartened by a bunch folks who bought it on Thursday or Friday of the convention and came back to the booth over the weekend to say it’s their new favorite show,” says Galán.
Part puppetry, part animation, this distinctive show plumbs the depths of “Cartoon Lagoon” as Wet Willy Jones and Axel Rodd McGee go on an undersea quest aboard the Manta Ray, a cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius C. Cartoon. The crew is in search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made.
According to Galán, “‘Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon’ is a big melting pot of pop culture commentary and a nostalgic reflection on animation days gone by.
“The spirit of the show harkens back to a time when kids would wake up before their parents on a Saturday morning with a big bowl of cereal and watch cartoons because that was the only time they were on.” Galán adds, “This is our attempt to recreate what ephemeral appointment television felt like, only put it on ever-ready DVD and digital media.”
Cartoon Lagoon is the culmination of years of hard work. And half of it was in the basement. “Manny started building a submarine in his basement about two years ago. He would mention it now and again, you know, this goofy thing,” Giles says. “Next thing I know this stunning miniature submarine stage appears. It was amazing.”
The show features some noteworthy talent, including legendary voice actor Chris Phillips as ‘The Captain’; director Euralis Weekes (MTV/NICK veteran); and head writer Steve Borst (“Robot Chicken,” “MAD,” and “Breadwinners”), with the puppeteers Michael Schupbach (creator of “Johnny and the Sprites”), Noel MacNeal (Bear of “Bear in the Big Blue House,”) and Frankie Cordero (“Avenue Q”).
“We had a great time making this and we’re thankful that so many talented folks were interested in helping us create this modern day tribute to the things we hold so dear,” Galán says.
Animated Bios
Galán and Giles know their cereal and their cartoons. They have been in the kids pop culture business for years, most recently as agency creative directors at Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, creating ads for General Mills’ cereals, such as Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Honey Nut Cheerios.
Beyond that the duo have a long pedigree in Kids TV. Giles was the art director for Disney’s “Stanley” series on The Disney Channel, and worked on hundreds of episodes of television on six other TV shows, including “Disney’s Doug,” and MTV’s “Daria.” Giles also co-founded the indie-comics publisher Monkeysuit Press, featuring his TPB comic collection “The Big Problem With Marshall.”
Galán worked at Marvel, DC Comics and Archie Comics, before joining Nickelodeon, first in their consumer products division, and later in the On Air department where he wrote and directed hundreds of shorts, including the legendary “Nickmas” series, “Captain Nick,” and “How Angelica Stole Christmas.” Galán’s toy line “Dookie-Poo” is an award-winning collection of designer vinyls and plush, and featured in indie-comics collection Combination Platter.
Credits
Created By Manny Galán, Produced by Pat Giles and Manny Galán, Directed by Euralis Weekes, Director of Photography, Joshua Meyers, Starring Chris Phillips as the voice of "Captain Cornelius C. Cartoon," featuring the puppeteers Michael Schupbach, Noel MacNeal and Frankie Cordero, with puppets designed by Julia Rosner. Written by Manny Galán and Steve Borst, Recorded at Super Exploder, Trailer Scored by Jeff Elmassian and Endless Noise, Produced by Cartoon Lagoon Studios, Filmed in Lagoonimation!
About Cartoon Lagoon
Join Wet Willy Jones and Axel Rodd McGee on their undersea quest aboard the MANTA RAY, a cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius Cartoon. This brand new animated/puppet show adventure available on DVD in Fall 2012, plumbs the depths of Cartoon Lagoon in search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made. Check out our blog at www.cartoonlagoonstudios.com.
Web Resources:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009G47AJU
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-york-television-festival-announces-383726
www.nytvf.com/documents/NYTVF2012_PR10-27-12.pdf
