I thought I was excited about Genndy Tartakovsky directing the sequel to 1982's
The Dark Crystal, but so is Martha, who first reported the news over at Cinematical. If you're not up to
speed on who Genndy Tartakovsky is, he's the man behind such popular animated series as Dexter's Laboratory,
Star Wars: Clone Wars, and Samurai Jack. He's proven himself as a prolific and imaginative force, so
it will be interesting to see what he brings to this film, which will combine some CG animation elements (from
Tartakovsky's own Orphanage Animation Studios) with mostly puppet elements. Brian Froud, the artist who designed the
characters for the first movie, will be returning for this one. David Odell, who wrote the original script, is also
co-writing the film.
This combination of new and old talent gives me high hopes for this one, though I am somewhat concerned that the decision to use CG backgrounds rather than actual sets could take away from the raw, organic quality of the first feature. Here's hoping Tartakovsky and the rest of the crew give us something to stir our imaginations and not some sterile piece of bland digital perfection.
Production on The Power of the Dark Crystal, which will be about a young girl made of fire who steals a piece of the crystal in order to re-ignite the sun, will begin production underway this summer.
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