Jubenhimer
Member
Last Summer, Cartoon Network uploaded an original short to its YouTube channel and VOD platforms called Trick Moon, created by OK KO storyboard artist, Geneva Hodgson. The premise is, in a kingdom a anthropomorphic animals, The prince has been trapped in a moonstone by a traitorous Wizard, and now its up his younger siblings, Trick Shot and Pocket to protect him from dangerous threats to the moonstone. The pilot gained a cult following among animation fans thanks to its intriguing premise and character designs, with the short sitting at 2 million views on YouTube at the moment.
I'll be honest, the idea behind the show is neat. I think we do need more fantasy shows right now, and the premise and story hooks of the pilot are interesting. Unfortunately all this intriguing lore is ruined by an annoyingly fast and quippy tone that clashes heavily with the relatively serious premise. While some of the jokes land, the short often feels like it's trying way too hard to be witty or clever. Trick Moon's core problem is that it can't seem to pick a writing style and stick with it. It's too silly to be a straight adventure show, yet it's not ridiculous enough to be satirical. It's just all over the place tonally.
It looks pretty though. The character designs are the typical CN-CalArts fare, but it still manages to be a bit more distinct visually than other shows on the network currently.
Despite the popularity the pilot received online, Cartoon Network ultimately decided not to move forward with Trick Moon as a full series. Hodgson explained in a tweet that Trick Moon was actually one of the many casualties of "Corporate Restructuring". While she didn't elaborate any further, everyone knew exactly what she meant by that.
Since 2019, Cartoon Network has been under the jurisdiction of Warner Bros. Entertainment, as part of its new Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics unit, a byproduct of massive and ongoing restructurings sweeping throughout all of WarnerMedia following the AT&T takeover. This move caused many executives at the network to leave including CN/[as] president Christina Miller, who was replaced by former ABC Family president, Tom Aschiem, as well as CN's CCO and CN Studios President Rob Sorcher, who was promoted out of Cartoon Network, to a higher position within WB. Animation takes a long-ass time, so what likely happened was that Cartoon Network had every intention of turning Trick Moon into a full show if it was successful on YouTube, similar to how Infinity Train and Victor and Valentino were greenlit based on the YouTube success of their Shorts. But by the time Trick Moon actually premiered and gained a following, the executives that backed the project had left CN, and the new management that came in probably weren't all that interested in it.
This actually happens a lot in the industry, so while fans are disappointed, most understand it. Personally, I don't see why everyone thought this was so great. It's a neat concept bogged down by a haphazard tone and sugar-high pace. If it was picked up, it would need some massive re-tooling to make it work. As it stands, I don't miss it.
I'll be honest, the idea behind the show is neat. I think we do need more fantasy shows right now, and the premise and story hooks of the pilot are interesting. Unfortunately all this intriguing lore is ruined by an annoyingly fast and quippy tone that clashes heavily with the relatively serious premise. While some of the jokes land, the short often feels like it's trying way too hard to be witty or clever. Trick Moon's core problem is that it can't seem to pick a writing style and stick with it. It's too silly to be a straight adventure show, yet it's not ridiculous enough to be satirical. It's just all over the place tonally.
It looks pretty though. The character designs are the typical CN-CalArts fare, but it still manages to be a bit more distinct visually than other shows on the network currently.
Despite the popularity the pilot received online, Cartoon Network ultimately decided not to move forward with Trick Moon as a full series. Hodgson explained in a tweet that Trick Moon was actually one of the many casualties of "Corporate Restructuring". While she didn't elaborate any further, everyone knew exactly what she meant by that.
Since 2019, Cartoon Network has been under the jurisdiction of Warner Bros. Entertainment, as part of its new Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics unit, a byproduct of massive and ongoing restructurings sweeping throughout all of WarnerMedia following the AT&T takeover. This move caused many executives at the network to leave including CN/[as] president Christina Miller, who was replaced by former ABC Family president, Tom Aschiem, as well as CN's CCO and CN Studios President Rob Sorcher, who was promoted out of Cartoon Network, to a higher position within WB. Animation takes a long-ass time, so what likely happened was that Cartoon Network had every intention of turning Trick Moon into a full show if it was successful on YouTube, similar to how Infinity Train and Victor and Valentino were greenlit based on the YouTube success of their Shorts. But by the time Trick Moon actually premiered and gained a following, the executives that backed the project had left CN, and the new management that came in probably weren't all that interested in it.
This actually happens a lot in the industry, so while fans are disappointed, most understand it. Personally, I don't see why everyone thought this was so great. It's a neat concept bogged down by a haphazard tone and sugar-high pace. If it was picked up, it would need some massive re-tooling to make it work. As it stands, I don't miss it.
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