Mega Man: Fully Charged has been garnering the attention of both old fans and less-familar viewers since it was revealed a couple of months back. With the animated series set to debut, on Cartoon Network, next month; Joe Kelly, a writer for Man of Action Studios, recently sat down with Comicbook.com to discuss why both those who are fond of the franchise, and those who are only just being introduced to it, should be excited.
Seeing as many hardcore fans have voiced their woes regarding the redirection at younger audiences, as well as the aesthetic and creative decisions in general, Kelly has stepped in to attempt to calm those worries. Firstly, Kelly went into the show's inception:
We were approached by Dentsu Entertainment USA, which had already struck a deal with Capcom to make a Mega Man show and then brought co-producer DHX Media in. We were immediately excited about adding a chapter to the 30-year history of an iconic character and jumped on in.
According to Kelly, from the start Fully Charged was intended to be aimed at children, rather than those familiar with the retro video games, "the show was intended for a younger audience from the start. Mega Man is an ideal superhero for kids. A perfect fit."
On the topic of the art-style and new look, which many Mega Man fans aren't too pleased with, Kelly had this to say:
As with every animated show, the art style went through many iterations before we landed where we did with Mega Man: Fully Charged. Capcom specifically asked us not to just copy what they are doing/have done with the franchise. They wanted a show that stood on its own for a new audience. We get it, it's not the thing someone loved and remembered. Instead, it's a way to expose a character that might otherwise sit on a shelf to someone new. That said, the show is packed to the gills with easter eggs, homages and characters from the games, so there is something for everyone who gives it a shot.
Not only will there be references to previous titles in the franchise, but there will be appearances from familiar foes - as Kelly went on to add:
Again, Capcom encouraged us to explore new ways to tell Mega Man's story, and we did while keeping certain touchstones from the last 30 years intact. Mega Man is a young hero, just learning the ropes. He's got a family. He fights Robot Masters ... to tell you more would spoil it! We promise that there will be familiar faces, though some of them will appear in very unexpected ways.
It looks like the animated show will not only be a fun introduction for new audiences but also a tribute to past iterations. What do you think about Kelly's comments? Are you looking forward to Mega Man: Fully Charged?