Homem-Aranha - A Nova Série Animada

Spider-Man 2003 is a cel-shaded cartoon series for adults that aired on MTV and in syndication. It features amazing computer animation and the story-line is not the worst, though it does leave on a mini- cliff hanger. The action is interesting and fast-paced but not so much that you can't absorb scenery details and what's happening on the screen. I recommend that you give this series a try, as long as you watch the episodes in the correct order sequence.

I have determined the order in which to watch Spider-Man 2003. (I voted it an 8, but only if you watch the entire series in the correct order.)

Spider-man 2003 comes in a 2-disc set: disc 1 is A, disc 2 is B. Episodes are numbered, as on the discs. Copy and print this for your records.

Disc 1 (A) 3 4 1 5 2 6 7 8

Disc 2 (B) 2 1 3 4 5

If you can watch the episodes digitally, without discs, then watch the episodes in this sequential order (base this sequence on Wikipedia's list of episodes for Spider-Man 2003):

5. Law of the Jungle --- 2. Sword of Shikata --- 1. Heroes and Villains --- 3. Keeping Secrets --- 9. Royal Scam --- 4. Tight Squeeze --- 6. Head over Heels --- 10. The Party --- 7. Spider-Man Dis-Sabled --- 11. Flash Memory --- 8. When Sparks Fly --- 12. Mind Games I --- 13. Mind Games II

I was fortunate enough to catch this new animated Spider-Man series very early in its' national MTV exposure. At first I was taken aback by the new animation - it reminds me of the Dreamcast game Jet Set Radio. Now don't get me wrong...just because I say I was taken aback doesn't mean I wasn't impressed. It's very fluid, flashy, and stylish. Spider-Man does all the things you'd expect him to do. The selection of color for the animation is rather eye-catching too. I couldn't complain. I wouldn't doubt kids and early adolescents being impressed by it.

As for the story, I only saw two back-to-back episodes, but they were rewarding for what they were. The voice acting has some big names credited and they certainly don't disappoint either. Perhaps nothing quite outstanding, but after all, the show is young and there is always room for improvement.

At first I was unaware which station this new series was being shown on. To be honest, I didn't even realize it was MTV until after the episodes were finished airing. Surprise, surprise. It's fairly obvious that the show is somewhat tailored to an MTV crowd, but don't let that be a drawback to a new, inspired reincarnation of the Spider-Man animated series.

High marks all across the board.

I was very impressed with this show when I first viewed it on MTV. As a Spider-Man fan, I was intrigued by the changes made here with the characters from Spidey's comic history, but find them all acceptable. Of course, after I found out the Ultimate Spider-Man comic team was responsible for the series, that explained the changes.

I have no problem with the series at all except one. I hear it may not be continued. As Mr. Damien says in the Shikata episode, "Why in the hell not?" This series really captures the spirit of Spider-Man and the animation dazzles, in my opinion. If MTV is not going to continue the series, then I would sincerely hope that another network will. It would be a shame to have this die a premature death.

After being burned by how the two Fox Kids "Spider-Man" cartoons were cut short before the plot lines were resolved, I was ready for a whole new incarnation of the wise-cracking webslinger in the red-and-blue pajamas.

At first, I was dismayed when I learned the entire thing was going to be done in computer animation. Come on! I didn't like the computer animation in neither the Spider-Man nor the Hulk feature films. I'll be scourged if computer animation will ever capture human motions as fluidly and as flawlessly as either live action or cell animation. If this series is going to be saved, it would have to be by the virtue of the story lines.

Luckily, it delivered in that avenue. Unlike the earlier incarnations of Spiderman on television, the writers either focused TOO much on pointless dialogue which can easily be conveyed through the actions of the characters, or as in the 1994 version, a lot of action (good) but a lot of superfluous dialogue was crammed in as well (bad). Here, they understood that the TV show does NOT always have to resemble a d**m comic book and actually utilized the cinematography offered through this medium (as well as the appropriately requisite dialogue) to convey the constant drama that is the dual life of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Plus the fact that they take "liberties" with the language and themes by virtue of it being broadcast on Empty-V is an added bonus.

Speaking of the cinematography, the dizzying exhilarating web-slinging action almost makes up for the religious use of computer animation. The 1994 Spider-Man was enhanced by computer animation during the action sequences, so you can't really blame these people for taking the genre to its logical conclusion. Yet the characters still have that robotic feel to them, a major drawback to the CGI world that must be resolved before it's fully accepted.

The show still looks promising, and I will definitely place this among the shows to watch - a statement that is rare considering the channel it's being shown on.

*** out of **** stars.

This cartoon was awesome, especially for a show that utilizes so much computer-generated imagery skillfully combined with traditional hand-drawn animation. "Spider-Man" is everything a reader of the original Marvel Comics created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko could want - everything they could ever want - on hyper-drive. "Spider-Man" comes to us from comic book artist Brian Michael Bendis, who has received some pretty strong accolades for his work on Marvel's recent "Ultimate Spider-Man" title.

As a reader of Spider-Man comic books, the new animated series "Spider-Man" features one adrenalin-charged action sequence after the other, and then slows down to focus on the characters and their personal matters, which is what the original Spider-Man comics did to completely change the game after the character made his debut in "Amazing Fantasy #15" in 1962. And this show also features one of the best electronic soundtracks I've ever heard for a cartoon (too bad it's not for sale anywhere).

As we find in this series, which is more or less a follow-up to "Spider-Man" (2002), Peter Parker (Neil Patrick Harris) is now a promising student at Empire State University, together with gorgeous, on/off would-be girlfriend Mary Jane Watson (Lisa Loeb) and rich-boy best pal Harry Osborn (Ian Ziering). Peter divides his time between hitting the books as Everyman Peter Parker and hitting the streets as New York City's favorite wall-crawling vigilante superhero Spider-Man.

In "Spider-Man," a slew of familiar characters get brilliant, hyper-stylized makeovers, including Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin, Kraven the Hunter, The Lizard and Electro, plus some new villains including a Japanese samurai swords-woman, a trio of high-tech ex-KGB terrorists, and a Robin Hood-esquire would-be costumed crime-fighter.

And "Spider-Man" also features some pretty high-priced voice talent, including Michael Clarke Duncan (who played The Kingpin in 2003's "Daredevil"), Ethan Embry, Eve, Gina Gershon, and comedienne Kathy Griffin. This show is something that comic fans have been waiting for, since the animated series that aired in 1994 is no longer in production. This "Spider-Man" has been on hiatus for four years now; when's he coming back?!?

10/10