That wasn't bad actually.
It's very 'Rebels' character-wise - Kaz sounds very much like Ezra, and Jarek is already sounding a bit like Kanan. Neeku is pretty annoying. Sounds like Baymax from Big Hero 6. Story is pretty basic so far, but... I kind of like the return to the podrace setup from ep1 - droids, banners, even Greg Proops back, and although that's not necessarily something I wanted reminding of, it still gives a familiar feel.
The animation... it's going to take getting used to. It just lacks texture. Cell shading leaves characters faces either flat empty areas of colour, or split by shadows in an attempt to add depth. The result on the people is not good. No textures, dirt, hair, scars, wrinkles... big flat areas on the screen of single tones. Poe didn't look much like Poe. I don't know, sometimes it worked, sometimes it bugged me?
The ships look good, so does the flying. (I haven't heard 'Team Fireball' mentioned yet, but there's a reason for the name - Kaz's ship is called Fireball because it blows up 90% of the time).
The hook for me is the setting. We have the beginnings of the resistance, early First Order, leaked plans to attack the New Republic - Leia, Poe, maybe Kylo down the line. TFAs totally lacked any world building or catch-up to where the galaxy was at, so watching the Republic destroyed held less impact, and no one knew who the heck the First Order were. I'm hoping Filoni will use Resistance to do for tFA's what Clone Wars did for the prequel trilogy.
I didn't like Rebels at first. One look at Ezra and co knocking Stormtroopers out with watermelons or something, and I left it. When I went back, it had grown. Clone Wars started as a 'cartoon' spin off. That got dark reeaal quick, and totally changed my outlook on the movies, and meant I could go back and enjoy them.
I want to see where this goes.
This post has been edited by Traveller: 10 October 2018 - 09:30 PM
So that's the story. And what was the real lesson? Don't leave things in the fridge.