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by **sdsichero** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:13 am

What the--?

I'm not super surprised there is potential for a new Hulk movie (especially if the TV series does well)... but The Avengers cartoon on Cartoon Network? Is this guy correct?

Marvel's Five-Year Plan For The Avengers To Rescue The Movies

Five years ago, Marvel executives developed a comprehensive plan involving four superheroes to culminate with one “uber” movie, says Marvel’s Paul Gitter. “We took the superheroes — Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and Hulk — that we felt were the most relatable, relevant, and aspirational to build into one package. Every Marvel movie since 2008 was created with the full intention of this super franchise.”

Yet, promoting a movie with four spotlight-hogging superheroes is not without its challenges. “It’s definitely a complex brand,” says Marvel’s Paul Gitter. “Instead of just one, you have four ingredients [Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor] to brand merchandise and get SKUs [at retail].”

As a result, The Avengers emphasizes the “Core Four” rather than any one specific superhero in TV and print advertisements. And there’s a concentrated focus to showcase all members equally on Avengers merchandise.

Marvel is also releasing individual character merchandise in “waves” to help ensure superheroes receive their turn in the spotlight. For example, the first wave of The Avengers toys by Hasbro (which holds the toy license for the property) is heavy on Iron Man and Captain America. The second wave will see an increase in toys for Thor and the villain Loki, while the third wave will emphasize the least known characters, Hawkeye and Black Widow, says Hasbro’s Daniel Benkwitt. Retailers will also receive “surprise” boxes of Avengers toys in which the character SKUs are just randomly thrown together.

Marvel executives have been “pleasantly surprised by the phenomenal response” to this green superhero, and expect this fan affinity to further strengthen once the movie opens. “His sales are up in a major way. We repositioned him from where he was always misunderstood to now depicting him in a more heroic and aspirational manner,” says Gitter.

If Hulk’s successful turnaround continues, Gitter says Marvel “will spin him off to a stand-alone program next year,” supported by a big budget franchise movie in 2015. The entertainment studio is also exploring ways to promote Hulk as a “corporate icon,” similar to MetLife’s usage of Peanuts’ Snoopy, where The Hulk’s image conveys a message about channeling strength to overcome workplace challenges.

While The Avengers’ May 4 opening marks the end of the current multi-year plan, Marvel has already developed a detailed marketing strategy for the next five years. Whereas this approach saw the feature film as the finish line, the upcoming campaign will “synergize” the Avengers into a “multi-platform brand that can live 365 days a year.” To that end, Marvel is introducing digital initiatives, new print and comic book titles, and The Avengers animated TV series on the Cartoon Network in 2013. Iron Man 3 hits theaters next year, and Captain America and Thor sequels are in the works. Although the Black Widow isn’t yet scheduled for her own stand-alone movie, the character’s lifestyle will inspire a collection of athletic gear and beauty products.

Emphasis mine. Lots more other stuff at the article link.

by **habitual** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:48 am

I agree that makes no sense, especially in light of Loeb's recent close mouthed response regarding Avengers EMH on XD.

:smt017

Hab

by **rdrsfn82** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:41 am

I don't understand that at all and it seems like a mistake. I can't imagine Disney would want to put a show like that on Cartoon Network. If they stop Earth's Mightiest Heroes and do a new Avenger show, I can't see anyway it's not on XD.

by **Thor-El** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:15 am

Yeah this just sounds a lot like someone blowing smoke about things he doesn't know a lot about. Just making a lot of guesses and assumptions.

by **sdsichero** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:37 am

Tee-Roy'd wrote:Yeah this just sounds a lot like someone blowing smoke about things he doesn't know a lot about. Just making a lot of guesses and assumptions.

He's with Marvel though. I just hope he (or the article writer) made a mistake about CN.

by **AaronW** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:54 am

The Avengers show now is so great, too bad they are apparently redoing it.

by **KingPagla** » Tue May 01, 2012 11:57 am

sdsichero wrote:
He's with Marvel though. I just hope he (or the article writer) made a mistake about CN.

That wasn't a quote. It was just the writer making a mistake.
This is a business / marketing article and I'm sure the guy's just as much, if not more concerned with licencing Hulk as corporate icon (stupid idea IMO) and Black Widow apparel than cartoons.

by **sdsichero** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:19 pm

KingPagla wrote:That wasn't a quote. It was just the writer making a mistake.
This is a business / marketing article and I'm sure the guy's just as much, if not more concerned with licencing Hulk as corporate icon (stupid idea IMO) and Black Widow apparel than cartoons.

Understood. I do want confirmation on this and am not ready to assign the mistake (if it is) to anyone just yet.

EDIT: I tried to send an email at the article but there was no addressed. Tried one of their forms instead. Also asked about it in the cup o joe thread at a different website.

by **misac** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:29 pm

I hope they do another Hulk movie, I loved the last one. A guy at work saw it yesterday and said he stole the movie.

They should try the Avengers thing with other characters. Do Power man, Iron Fist, then Misty and Collen and finish with Heroes for Hire.

by **Amoebas** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:41 pm

If Hulk’s successful turnaround continues, Gitter says Marvel “will spin him off to a stand-alone program next year,” supported by a big budget franchise movie in 2015. The entertainment studio is also exploring ways to promote Hulk as a “corporate icon,” similar to MetLife’s usage of Peanuts’ Snoopy, where The Hulk’s image conveys a message about channeling strength to overcome workplace challenges.

Oh yes - Let's have a corporate icon for going postal on your peers. :lol:

by **KingPagla** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:55 pm

sdsichero wrote:
Understood. I do want confirmation on this and am not ready to assign the mistake (if it is) to anyone just yet.

EDIT: I tried to send an email at the article but there was no addressed. Tried one of their forms instead. Also asked about it in the cup o joe thread at a different website.

It's an easy mistake to make for someone who knows nothing about comics or cartoons.
Even if it was a quote from the Marvel guy, he's in charge of consumer products and refers to the movie as "the big commercial in the sky" (and that is a quote); he shouldn't be trusted as a reliable source on anything creative or programming related

by **sdsichero** » Tue May 01, 2012 4:26 pm

KingPagla wrote:It's an easy mistake to make for someone who knows nothing about comics or cartoons.
Even if it was a quote from the Marvel guy, he's in charge of consumer products and refers to the movie as "the big commercial in the sky" (and that is a quote); he shouldn't be trusted as a reliable source on anything creative or programming related

It's something that could get you in trouble though.

Imagine him doing an actual press conference and referencing the wrong company they are dealing with numerous times :lol:

by **draco x** » Tue May 01, 2012 4:36 pm

misac wrote:I hope they do another Hulk movie, I loved the last one. A guy at work saw it yesterday and said he stole the movie.

They should try the Avengers thing with other characters. Do Power man, Iron Fist, then Misty and Collen and finish with Heroes for Hire.

I doubt they will do another Hulk movie anytime soon even though the last one was kinda decent. The Hulk is like Punisher when it comes to movie as they always fall short of expectations.