90 years after the first attempt, John Carter of Mars will finally become an animated series. Announced Wednesday by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., the project will be developed by Michael Kogge. The writer and director on the upcoming John Carter of Mars: The Audio Series, Kogge brings extensive experience in videogames and wrote the young adult novelizations of the most recent Star Wars trilogy among other work in a galaxy far, far away.
“In this era of incredible animation, with shows like Castlevania, Blood of Zeus, and Twilight of the Gods pushing the genre of fantasy action-adventure to new heights, there couldn’t be a better time for the Martian saga of John Carter and Princess Dejah Thoris to be told through bold, ground-breaking animation,” Kogge said.
“We’re thrilled to endorse Michael Kogge’s inspired vision for our John Carter animated series, driven by his exceptional direction of John Carter of Mars: The Audio Series,” said Wolf Larson, head of the entertainment division of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. “Edgar Rice Burroughs’ eleven John Carter novels, combined with the countless comics and authorized stories by other authors, offer a vast tapestry that has inspired cinematic giants like George Lucas and James Cameron. With animation’s soaring popularity, we’re ready to unleash the boundless wonders of Mars in a thrilling epic that will enthrall both loyal fans and new explorers alike.”
“The explosive rise of action-adventure animation has captivated audiences around the world, making it the perfect moment to launch our John Carter animated series. This marks a new era in storytelling for the Edgar Rice Burroughs universe and we’re excited that Michael Kogge will help bring Mars to life,” added Jim Sullos, President of ERB, Inc.
Back in 1936, Clampett and Burroughs’ son John Coleman Burroughs, created a brief test reel for A Princess of Mars. The goal was a series of nine-minute animated John Carter shorts for MGM. Alas, the studio did not share their enthusiasm, and what little survives of it could have changed American animation and beaten Max Fleischer’s brilliant Superman cartoons into theaters. While I’m partial to Fleischer, Clampett’s work was truly ground-breaking.
Now the race is on. Which ERB, Inc. property will make it to TV first, the intrepid explorer from the Earth’s Core or the Warlord of Mars?
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