The Emmys: Best Animated Show Previews (* for Programming One Hour or More)

The Emmys are due to make their showing Sept 18th, and I know that there are a lot of you that are really looking forward to it. It is the one time of the year when the industry decides to honor those that work within the business, and also for those that are not just actors, but also creators within the realm of animation. This year, there is quuite a cornucopia of nominations from many diverse fields, from the purely educational down to the riveting and adrenaline-charged.

While during the Academy Awards where one animated film in the realms of Short Animated Feature and Full-Length Animated Feature are explored and then granted their laurels, the Emmys do the same thing, except in the small screen versions. Two shows from the Cartoon Network have been nominated this year: 'Camp Lazlo' and 'Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends'. Their films are 'Good Wilt Hunting' and 'Where's Lazlo?', which are both in contention for the Outstanding Animated Program crown. The Discovery Channel is also having its hopes, with its full-length feature, 'Secrets Of The Deep', which could also stand to make it into the rankings. Then lastly, Starz! Media has taken a chance by taking 'Hellboy' creator Mike Mignola and director of the film, Guillermo Del Toro, under their wing to make this year's first of two Hellboy animated releases, 'Hellboy Animated: Sword Of Storms', who could also walk away the lucky winner.

Now, while it may not seem like an easy choice, by far, it is not. There are a lot of things that we can think about when it comes to animated programming. Taking the Academy out of the equation, why don't we take a look at what the perspective is from the viewer and what we do know when it comes to making a selection like this:

1) Most of the time, the Academy votes based on what they like. Not what we as viewers like. This is after all, an awards ceremony that is based on the industy's picks and not our own. If we wanted our own choice, that is what the People's Choice Awards is for.

2) A lot of the nominations are based on originality. Very much in the same way that scripts for the Academy Awards are picked for Best Picture. If it is not something that they can deem as original, then a lot of time they won't even consider placing its name within the golden envelope.

With these two factors in mind, let us analyze what it is that the6y have on the table. As a whole Cartoon Network has made series upon series for kids, from when the Looney Tunes were just babies all the way to the current favorites, 'Foster's' and 'Camp Lazlo'. While 'Foster's' may be different in the way that it is a concept that has never been perceived, it lacks to me the intelligence that would make a kid laugh. I have watched the show a time or two, and I can't say that I was all too impressed. It had low-buget animation. The storylines were completely idiotic and always revolved around one of the main characters, Bloo, who always had some idiotic way of looking at things as well as a great knack of getting into trouble. 'Camp Lazlo', on the other hand, makes up with some of the intelligence, but not by much. It's all of the usual things that kids wonder about when it comes to camp, and that alone in my mind is not very original. So, if it were my choice, I would definitely leave these two off of the roster.

Now 'Secrets Of the Deep' could possibly win, but there has always been a problem when it has come to educational programming, whether it is animation or not, when it comes to the Emmys. While cutting edge and probably one of the best programs that Discovery Channel had to offer this year, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences may not see it that way. There is a good chance that this film may be washed ashore amongst the other nominees. It would be a sad state of affairs if it did, as it only shows that the Academy does not like educational programming in the line-up because of the unpopularity of it among the viewing public.

Now we come to 'Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms'. I actually have this film in my movie collection at home. While I may have found it entertaining, many may not just simply due to the content of the film. First off, the main hero is the Gatekeeper of Hell and also known as 'The Right Hand of Doom' that is attempting to keep the world safe from those that are like him and other supernatural occurrances. But, what kept me the most engaged about the film was that the story was low-key and fun. Not at all like its original special-effects laden predecessor that delved deeply into the darker legends and origins of our race. Where 'Sword Of Storms' made its mark by not just keeping the same feel as the film, but not making it quite as scary as the movie, and the writers actually gave the film a very unique storyline. Not only did it entertain, in some ways, it also taught. The film revolved around ancient Japanese legends that talked of lost love, ancient monsters, and a walk into the Japanese culture that was fought with danger for the hero in the form of demons and evil spirits to solve the mystery of an ancient murder and the origins of a mystical sword. While the 'Hellboy' series does revolve around the darkness, it is not done in such a way that it is repulsive or offensive. Therefore, would it be possibly worthy of a nod from the Academy this year?

Now, who do I think the Academy is going to choose? That is a very hard call, simply because I'm not exactly 100% sure how they will call it. While all are worthy of the award in one form or another, if I had to call it, I would simply pick 'Foster's'. The reason is that 'Foster's' does not require a lot of thought, and the Academy will choose it for that exact reason. Most awards shows have had a track record of picking duds for awards due to the lack of programming that they have to choose from. Look at the 'American Beauty' fiasco several years back at the Oscars. For myself, I would probably pick 'Hellboy', but that may be simply because of matter of taste. But, taste aside, I also picked it because of, (again), the story itself. I found it to be imaginative, different, and full of non-stop action and thrills. It has all the ear-marks of being a cult classic if the Academy would just give it a chance.

But, I am not the one deciding who get it. The Academy is. So, the best thing I can do is watch the 18th and cross my fingers and hope for the best. If not, I will probably be disappointed like I am every year, and then its back to finding out what could make it next year. Only the Academy can know!