To Go From Page to Screen: 10 Comics That Need to be Animated

It’s a no brainer that if a comic book or strip is popular enough, it’ll end up becoming animated on TV. Who hasn’t seen a holiday special featuring the Peanuts gang or Garfield? Spider-Man and the X-Men have been animated numerous times, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were practically unknown before their original animated series. And even thought-provoking, controversial strips like The Boondocks have found their way to the TV screen, courtesy of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

But there are many more comics that, despite their popularity in their respective mediums, have yet to make that special leap. Here’s a list of some comic books, comic strips and webcomics that are more than deserving of getting their own animated adaptation if Hollywood would simply sit up and take notice.

1. MEGATOKYO

   • The comic: It started out as a simple fun project with a friend, but Fred Gallagher’s Megatokyo is now one of the hottest webcomics on the “net. It follows the adventures of friends Piro and Largo when they become stuck in Japan after blowing all their money and can”t buy plane tickets. As they try to find a way back home, things keep popping up to sidetrack them. For one, Piro has to keep an eye on Largo and his crazy antics. Then there’s Piro’s crush and developing romance with rising voice actress Kimiko (who herself is learning the ups and downs of the job), schoolgirl Yuki’s crush on Piro, the revelation that Piro’s co-worker Erika is a former voice actress who dropped out of the spotlight, the creep and mysterious Miho… It makes you wonder if these guys will ever get home.
   • Why animate it?: Since it’s creation, Fred Gallagher’s Megatokyo webcomic has become a phenomenon all its own, turning the former architect into one of the hottest artists of “American manga”. With its many subplots that keep twisting when you least expect them to, wacky characters (such as Ping the robot girl Playstation accessory and Jubei the L33T ninja) and the story going from laugh-out-loud comedy to heavy emotional drama, it would truly be brought out in animated form. It probably wouldn’t have to go to a basic cable station like Cartoon Network and be featured on the “Toonami” lineup; the show could easily find a spot on the CW Network alongside shows like Everybody Hates Chris and Aliens in America.
   • Will it be animated?: Several problems with that. For one, creator Gallagher has given no official word as to whether or not he’s in any sort of talks to turn his hit comic into an animated series. He may just be content leaving things as they are. Then there’s the comic, itself. For one thing, Gallagher’s pencil-only style (he doesn’t ink his work, save for posters and covers for the collected trades, which makes it rather unique), might be hard to animate properly and truly capture what many feel is the “essence” of the strip. And while the strip’s been running for several years, only a few days have passed for Piro, Largo and company as of late. A single day can take up months worth of strips to complete, and while an animated format would help speed things up a bit, most audiences would want things to go a little faster. But if it does happen, there’s no doubt Gallagher would make sure his creation was treated right and adapted both to his and the audience’s satisfaction.

2. PvP

   • The comic: Scott Kurtz’s popular webcomic follows the misadventures of the staff of PvP magazine, ranging from ripping into pop culture such as current movies and video games to insane emotional drama. Watch and enjoy the mishaps of a cast that includes family man editor Cole, Mac-loving cynic Brent, lovely online gamer (and Brent’s fiancee) Jade, nerdy intern Francis, his on-off girlfriend Marcy and dim-witted troll (yes, a real troll) Skull as they deal with crazy schemes, romantic office hi-jinks, dealing with Cole’s rich and way-too-perky rival Max Powers, and other general assorted wackiness.
   • Why animate it?: Another popular webcomic, PvP is a daily strip that routinely get thousands of hits each day. Fans just can’t seem to get enough of reading the insane adventures of this group, whether it’s the interesting storylines such as Brent getting a job at a Macintosh store so he can be one of the first to get an iPhone or Jade having to solve a murder mystery that occurs at her high school reunion (sort of a spoof on shows like Murder, She Wrote) or regular running gags such as Brent being attacked by a giant panda. You can’t help but wonder what this would be like animated, getting a spot on one of the “major” networks like Fox or the CW.
   • Will it happen?: Actually, it already has. Creator Scott Kurtz recently got together with Blind Ferret Entertainment to produce PvP: The Series, an animated show available on the internet via a subscription service that debuted in February, 2007. Each episode runs four to six minutes in length and is released on a monthly basis. However, while diehard fans are willing to pay the fees to watch the series, others would prefer something more readily available, as well as longer in length. Kurtz has given no word whether or not he’s been approached by a network for a regular series, but given the strip’s popularity, anything can happen.

3. GET FUZZY

   • The comic: One the most popular newspaper strips in print, Darby Conley’s Get Fuzzy follows the life adventures of advertising exec Rob Wilco and his two pets, lovable dog Satchel and mischievous cat Bucky. Each strip and storyline deals with Rob dealing with the antics of his pets, mostly Bucky and his misguided views on the world and his attempts at taking advantage of the rather trusting Satchel.
   • Why animate it?: Get Fuzzy is funny enough in comic form, so imagine how funny it would be as an animated series on Adult Swim. Viewers would get a kick out of the anthropomorphic animals of the series, who are able to communicate with the humans and produce gags you’d never be able to find with Garfield or Marmaduke. And the antics of Bucky, who has all the sass of Garfield but little-to-none of the brains, would definitely draw fans, whether he’s trying to eat a monkey, continue his rivalry with neighboring ferret Fungo, or trying one of his rather lame get-rich-quick schemes.
   • Will it happen?: This is another one that’s hard to say, since there seems to be no interest on the part of creator Conley to turn his strip into an animated series. For all we know, he seems content on leaving things as they are, and he hasn’t given any sort of word of any plans or network approaches. Still, it wouldn’t be a stretch to turn Get Fuzzy into a series, should Conley get the inspiration or the right offer.

4. NINJA HIGH SCHOOL

   • The comic: Ben Dunn’s signature title is the reason we have “American manga” in the first place. While spoofing and paying homage to popular anime and other pop culture, Ninja High School also has a more serious storyline dealing with the crazy high school life of Jeremy Feeple when he becomes the object of affection for ninja girl Ichi-kun (aka “Ichy Koo”) Ichinohei and alien princess Asrial. The series later shifted focus to new character Yumei Katana and her adventures in Hawaii as written and drawn by Katie Blair. The series has shifted back to the original cast and setting of the fictional Quagmire (where ninjas, aliens and giant monsters show up regularly), with Jeremy’s brother Ricky taking over as main character as he hones his ninja skills, along with others, in an homage to Naruto while dealing with similar romance problems.
   • Why animate it?: How can we not? Ben Dunn is the father of “American manga”, so what better way to pay tribute to this long-running (the series just made it past the 150th issue mark) title by putting it into animated form. With the plot centered around the original cast of Jeremy, Ichi and Asrial, it would not only do well on Cartoon Network but also even on Fox or the CW. Containing spoofs/homages to pop culture, romantic hijinks, major action and serious dramatic comedy, this is one that would be a hit.
   • Will it happen?: While Dunn had once planned for an animated series based on his other better known title, Warrior Nun Areala, those plans fell apart due to lack of capital. That has probably made the creator hesitant to do something similar with Ninja High School. No plans have been announced, and Dunn probably seems content on getting back on track with his original series after doing other projects such as the Marvel Mangaverse and other, short-lived original titles Heaven Sent and The Agents. But if his fellow creator Fred Perry can do something with Gold Digger, who can truly what the future holds for an animated NHS?

5. GOLD DIGGER

   • The story: one of the first and most popular “American manga” comics out there (second to Ben Dunn’s Ninja High School), Fred Perry’s Gold Digger focuses on the adventures of Gina Diggers, a super-genius archaeologist and treasure hunter who is often joined by her bodyguard and adopted sister Brittany, the last of the werecheetahs. The sisters’ adventures (which also includes their various allies and family members) takes them to fantastic locations such as Atlantis, El Dorado, the fantasy-style dimension Jade and others, dealing with monsters, dragons, supervillains, rival explorers and others… all in Gina’s thirst for knowledge, which has made her earn her unflattering nickname. Saving the world now and then (sometimes unintentionally) doesn’t hurt, either.
   • Why animate it?: Gold Digger has been running since 1991, making it one of the longest and enduring independent comics out there. Each issue has something for everyone, whether its adventure and action in the style of Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings-style fantasy, parodies and homages to pop culture and anime and lots of gut-busting comedy and other emotional drama like its sister book, Ninja High School. Of course, the large cast of sexy women (one of Perry’s trademarks is his ability to draw shapely, well-endowed female characters) doesn’t hurt, either. Having a spot on TV would both boost the comic’s popularity and make for a big draw for any network, whether it’s the Sci-Fi Channel or Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network.
   • Will it happen?: Here’s another one that’s already happened. A few years ago, Fred Perry began work on a direct-to-DVD adaptation of his initial Gold Digger storyline “Time Raft”, which introduced Gina and Brittany and their first nemesis, the dragon Dreadwing. Doing all the work himself on his computer, Perry has released two parts to DVD and is working on the third. Of course, doing this sort of thing by your lonesome is both time consuming and slow going, especially with Perry’s regular GD work and other projects that includes the GD Tangent online comics. While having a bigger budget and staff to work with would help free up his time, Perry is known for wanting to have a more “hands on” approach when it comes to his signature creation. Here’s another one that we’ll just have to wait to see what happens.

6. ZITS

   • The comic: Created by writer Jerry Scott and artist Jim Borgman, Zits is a slice-of-life daily strip focusing on the life of 15-year-old Jeremy Duncan. Every day, readers can enjoy Jeremy’s living in modern suburbia, going to high school, playing with his rock band, goofing off with his best friend Hector, having his on-again-off-again relationship with girlfriend Sara and dealing with his parents, who he sees as old, unhip, not “with it” and only there to embarrass him.
   • Why animate it?: What makes Zits popular is that just about everyone and their kid brother relates to it, because no matter who they are, probably everyone can relate to Jeremy. Who, growing up, hasn’t dealt with school, relationships, parents and dreams vs real life? It’s like The Wonder Years for the modern generation. An animated series based on this would fit right in on Fox next to The Simpsons and Family Guy, despite being a little more down-to-earth.
   • Will it happen?: Though it continues to be popular, running in over 1,500 newspapers worldwide, Scott and Borgman have announced no plans to animate their strip. And given the joint ownership of the title, it would take an agreement between the two to see a series launched. And since the pair have been known to disagree on what direction to take the strip and whether or not to tackle more serious, real world issues, it makes the possibility of an animated series that much less likely.

7. SINFEST

   • The comic: It’s a bit hard to describe Tatsuya Ishida’s popular webcomic. It basically deals with human nature, in particular religion and sexuality, as seen through the eyes of the characters Slick (a short, self-proclaimed pimp and ladies’ man), Monique (a sexy vixen who is often the object of Slick’s “affections”), Squigley (an anthropomorphic pig who is Slick’s sidekick and loves porn, booze and weed), Seymour (an uber-devote Christian whose faith tends to get on the others’ nerves) and Lil’ Evil (a Devil fanboy who wants to be just like his idol and frequently feuding with Seymour). The strip tends to poke fun at life and pop culture, and sometimes even religion, as God (portrayed communicating with the other characters via hand puppets, sometimes to antagonize them), the Devil, Jesus, Buddha and a Dragon who represents Asian religion are also regular characters. Occasionally the strip heads off into the “funny animal” territory by featuring the adventures of the smart-cat-dumb-dog duo of Percival and Pooch.
   • Why animate it?: If there was a series that was made to be adapted for Adult Swim, Sinfest is it. With such late-night programming such as Morel Orel and Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil already tackling sensitive issues and poking fun at them, the addition of Sinfest would hardly be that shocking. An animated version, done in the same cartoony manga-style art that Ishida uses, would make the already funny strip a whole lot funnier, whether sticking with the main storyline or going off to deal with Percy and Pooch or even “alternate” tales such as “Ninja Theater”, which features the characters in a Asian movie-type setting.
   • Will it happen?: This is another one that’s hard to say. If he’s planning to have his webcomic animated, Ishida hasn’t said anything. And admittedly, it would be hard to do. Given the various storylines and Ishida’s tendency to venture into different directions with the title on occasion, it might be hard for viewers to keep track of what’s going on. Especially given Adult Swim’s habit of only allowing 12 minutes of episode time for its original shows, so it would make it hard for Sinfest to get a lot of stuff in.

8. USAGI YOJIMBO

   • The comic: You’ve probably heard of the character from his appearances with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but Stan Sakai’s creation is a unique force all his own. Set in a world of samurai-era Japan but populated with anthropomorphic animals, Usagi Yojimbo (which literally means “Rabbit Bodyguard”) is no funny animal book, though there are some humorous moments that provide some laughs. Telling the adventures of samurai rabbit Miyamoto Usagi, the comic follows the young ronin as he travels the country on a warrior’s journey, occasionally hiring out his services and defending those in need from bandits, corrupt officials and even supernatural beings of folklore, sometimes even getting caught up in schemes greater than he realizes.
   • Why animate it?: After having appearances in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons (both the old series from the “80s and the more recent one), it”s about time Usagi got his own show. Adapting directly from the comics, an animated series would keep the story as serious as it gets, with all the battles in their full right down to the last death. And since there’s little-to-almost-no blood (character deaths are signified by a goofy-looking skull that floats above them), it could still make an early morning slot on Cartoon Network or the Kids’ WB on the CW, which is where all the cool cartoons are these days. And since there stories that focus on tasks such as pottery, sword-making and takes on Japanese folklore, it presents good educational value for viewers.
   • Will it happen?: While Usagi and other cast members of the comic book (such as rhino bounty hunter Gen and cat-girl samurai Tomoe) have appeared in the Ninja Turtles cartoons, there seems to be no plans to produce an Usagi Yojimbo animated series. There were plans a few years back to produce a series based on Space Usagi, a futuristic spin-off of the original story, but those were scrapped after the failure of Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Wars. Right now, Stan Sakai seems focused on the main series and an upcoming fourth Space Usagi mini-series. But with plenty of merchandise such as T-shirts and PVC statues based on his character out there, one can’t rule out an animated series just yet.

9. CEREBUS

   • The comic: Quite possibly the longest-running and most successful independent comic book ever made, Dave Sim’s Cerebus (also Cerebus the Aardvark) ran for a whopping 300 issues. Debuting in 1977, it chronicled the adventures of Cerebus, a cynical bipedal grey aardvark, on the fictional world of Estarcion. It started as a bit of spoof of Conan the Barbarian, but soon went to tackle serious issues such as politics and religion, the comic had Cerebus using some rather brutal and, to many, heartless tactics to get his point across. The final, 300th issue of the series was released in March, 2004, with Cerebus dying rather anti-climatically of a broken neck when he fell out of bed.
   • Why animate it?: Why the hell not? The fact that it ran for 300 issues, with Dave Sim doing practically all the work himself, is reason alone to give this award-winning and landmark series an animated adaptation. The seriousness of some of the issues and material (at one point, Cerebus becomes Pope and, after blessing a woman’s baby, hurls it away to make a point that “you can get what you want and still not be very happy”) would make it a candidate for Adult Swim, but an even better place might be Showtime or HBO. Wherever the channel, the show would have an audience as fans would tune in to watch.
   • Will it happen?: Unlikely, for several reasons. For one, Sim hasn’t said anything regarding any plans, and he may content to relax after completing the series. Also, while an issue of the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in which Cerebus was a guest star was adapted in the recent animated series, Cerebus made no appearance save for a cameo of a character that resembled him. This shows a reluctance on Sim’s part to animate his character, even if he was given the right offer.

10. CALVIN AND HOBBES

    • The comic: Bill Watterson’s successful daily strip ran for years, following the antics of six-year-old Calvin and his stuffed tiger/imaginary friend, Hobbes. Long before Bart Simpson was the world’s best known troublemaker, Calvin was causing all sorts of mischief, often as the results of his flights of fantasy, with his buddy Hobbes (who appeared as a real tiger to Calvin when alone but as a plain stuffed animal in the presence of others) right beside him. While providing humourous moments provided by Calvin and his wild imagination (whether its his “Spaceman Spiff” fantasies or his use of cardboard boxes as high tech devices like his “Transmogrifier”), the series also tackled sensitive issues like death when Calvin found an injured baby raccoon that later died.
    • Why animate it?: As successful and funny as it was, it seems like a no-brainer to give Calvin and Hobbes their own series or special or two right alongside Garfield and the Peanuts gang. Even Bill Watterson has admitted that the series would work better in animated form to help bring some of the action-based gags to life. An animated series on Saturday mornings, or even in a prime-time slot, would help generate new interest in the still-popular strip, which ended in 1995. Animated holiday specials for Christmas and such would be an even better choice, providing humor and having some moral lessons for Calvin to learn.
    • Will it happen?: Even after nearly twelve years since finishing the strip, Watterson seems rather reluctant to return to it to help produce an animated version. He is also known for having serious anti-marketing issues, producing no merchandise for the strip save for the book collections, a couple calendars and a T-shirt for a traveling art exhibit (those T-shirts and window decals of Calvin urinating on a particular logo are unauthorized). He has even admitted that the thought of hearing Calvin’s voice would be “very scary”. So this is one where fans would have to be content with what we have, though, like Calvin, we still have our imaginations.

And there you have it. Could any of these happen? Who can say? But until the creators get the inclination and/or get the right offer, we can still enjoy these titles on the printed page and/or screen.