As much as I enjoyed the Ruby Spears Mega Man toon, I would have liked the show a lot more if it had looked a little something like this------>No, that's not a still from the "Upon a Star" OVA, rather, a snap shot of the precursor to the Ruby Spears toon that most of us know and love.
Before production even began on the MM cartoon, Capcom distributed a short five minute promotional VHS featuring animation and character designs similar to that of the games. The VHS was later sent out to several networks in an attempt to "sell the show."
Once a network picked up the show, the animators, for one reason or another, decided to change the animation style to the one seen today. Notably, scenes from the promo can still be found within the final product's opening titles.Years after the show's conception and cancellation, many still ponder the location of this promotional tape. I've been told from numerous sources that at least two copies of the tape exists, one of which currently resides in the hands of an "unknown MegaMan fan."
Hopefully, one day, this unknown fan will reveal himself and distribute the promo online for all to enjoy. Until then, let us enjoy what we got instead.(click the link to be amused)
For more information about the promo video, check out the MegaMan Homepage's write up.
Image credit: MMHP
The Holy Grail of Third-Party Megaman Productions?
ReplyDeleteWhile I doubt the cartoon would be as memorable without all its stylistic changes, this still interests me. Very much, in fact. Bad-quality screenshots be damned!
Hmm, know what? I have that.
ReplyDeleteI should talk to my staff about getting it uploaded.
Thanks for the reminder. I need to work on some transcripts of the original series bible, too.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
Miranda Paugh has a copy of it (She runs MMHP) but she refuses to admit to having it and yet she did a private screening of it in her hotel room for a select few at Anime Expo New York. She is just being a bitch and greedy.
ReplyDeleteShe got it without my knowing too as I specifically was NOT to share it! Had I known this was going to happen with Mandi, I never would have let my ex have even a partial copy because it wasn't hers to hoard or upload and it still isn't.
DeleteGood thing I never shared the full tape so I can always spot the copies from the one I made for my ex - missing the game promos.
If you can dump the full thing, is be happy to post it here with full credit to you. Very curious to see it.
DeleteGet in touch with me if you'd like rockman20xx@yahoo.com
@ david oxford:
ReplyDeleteThat would be dandy! Much appreciated :)
A bit of a stretch here, but in the Mega Man Homepage link, third image from the left, the one with Wily.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that shot exactly like the Rockman 7 promo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w9pcshsYQs&fmt=18
I've seen screenshots of these at MMHP at well. If what anonymous says it's true, then shame on her for keeping it to herself >(
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this version of the cartoon would've still had MegaMan going "sizzling circuits!" and Roll would still desiring to kick robot butt alongside MegaMan XD
@oxford:
ReplyDeleteYou have the series bible too?! *dies* Getting both the vid and bible uploaded would make you a god among RS-MM fans, man. :DDD
@anonymous: I got the impression that Mandi DIDN'T have a copy of the VHS.
Yep, I have both. The reason I never did anything with them is because I WAS going to do something with them, alongside a partner who provided me the video, some years ago before I became head of MMN. Things just never quite got rolling, and so it all just kind of fell by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteGuess I have something new to work on now...
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
And who was that? Because it wasn't me and I own the original.
DeleteIf anyone has the original promo, PLEASE don't keep it to yourself! I'm sure a lot of people want to see it.
ReplyDelete