Dark Cystal Sequel Announced

What do Skekses, Clone Troopers, Samurais and super genius grade
schoolers have in common? As of yesterday, Genndy Tartakovsky.
Animation buffs know the name as the creative force behind the Emmy
award winning Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series’
on Cartoon Network. His success in the toon business has opened dozens
of doors, including those of his new studio: Orphanage Animation. An
announcement yesterday by the Jim Henson Company will have him opening
new doors, specifically to those of the house that Jim built.

Lisa Henson, co-CEO of the Jim Henson Co, announced yesterday that
Tartakovsky will direct the sequel to the wildly imaginitive The Dark
Crystal, entitled Power of the Dark Crystal. Set hundreds of years
after the events of the first movie, the world of Gelflings once again
begins to fall dark. A mysterious girl of fire befriends a Gelfling
outcast to help steal a shard of the legendary crystal in the hopes
that it will reignite the dying sun at the center of the planet.

Acclaimed fantasy artist, Brian Froud, will return to develop and
design characters for the new film as will David Odell to write the
screenplay. Tartakovsky: “The original Dark Crystal was one of the most
inspirational and imaginative pictures of its time, so it’s a real
honor for me to be able to bring the world of The Dark Crystal to a
whole new generation.”

Expected for a 2007 release, the film
isn’t the only direction planned for the characters and the world of
the Crystal. An animated television series (presumably helmed by
Tartakovsky), a manga series (japanese comics) in addition to all the
licensed merchandise one would expect.

Most of us here over
at MG are looking forward to it, and speaking personally, the outlook
for the sequel is good considering those behind it. Here’s hoping.