For the last couple years, Lionsgate has been distributing a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon superheroes from Marvel Comics. The quality of their Marvel Animated Features has varied from release to release, but they've always remained fairly consistent with the comic books, using heroes like the Avengers, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange as their focus.

Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow is the fifth release in this series. It's the first one to go a more creative direction, imagining a futuristic scenario involving second generation superheroes. Given the cover art and concept, I was a little dubious of the film going in. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this little animated feature. Out of the 3 Marvel Animated Features I've seen, this was by far the most original and satisfying. It's not Pixar quality, but as straight-to-video animation goes, this isn't too bad.

Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow works best as a What If? exercise. For those unfamiliar with Marvel Comics, What If? was a comic book series that presented storylines involving changes to established Marvel continuity. In this case, what if the Avengers died in battle and their children, years later, continued their legacy? In the film, most of the Avengers die fighting the robot menace Ultron (well-conceived here with a booming voice). Ultron lays waste to and takes over much of the world. Tony Stark (Iron Man), however, hides the Avengers' children from Ultron and raises them himself, assumedly hoping to one day have a new superpowered team to take down Ultron.

The kids are young teenagers at the start of the film. James, the son of Captain America and the Black Widow, has an energy shield reminiscent of his father's shield. He's kind of a boring character. More interesting is Azari, the son of the Black Panther and Storm. Azari is the best-conceived new character: he's got his father's prowess and can create neat electrical fields that apparently come from his mother's ability to manipulate weather. There's also Torunn, daughter of Thor, and Pym, son of the Wasp and Giant-Man. Both are well-conceived but basically child-like versions of their parents in terms of powers and temperament. Later, they come upon the son of Hawkeye, who goes by the same name and has the same bow and arrow as his father.

Of course, the group ends up taking on Ultron. They also find time to team up with an aged Hulk and battle android versions of their parents controlled by Ultron. The inevitable final showdown takes place in a desert. The conclusion is full of action but seems a little boring set in the arid landscape. The climax would have been more visually interesting had it occurred in the apocalyptic cityscape that served as the setting for the middle third of the movie.

The animation is fairly pleasing here. Backgrounds are detailed and often interesting - except in the ending. As a villain, Ultron is well-realized and menacing. Character movements aren't as herky-jerky as they were in earlier Marvel Animated Features, although they still look awkwardly prominent in relation to the backgrounds.

Ultimately, this is a fairly fun stand-alone movie. It seems aimed for children, and I think they would enjoy it. Longtime Marvel fans, though, may get a kick out of seeing this next generation of heroes. Recommended.

The DVD

Video:

Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow is given a 1.78:1 widescreen presentation. It is anamorphic. The image looks very sharp, with great colors.

Sound:

There are two language tracks on this DVD: English and Spanish. Both are Dolby Digital 5.1. The English track is aggressive during action sequences, with booming explosions and a melodramatic score dominating the end of the movie. Dialogue is always clear, though, and the mix is well-presented.

Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.

Extras:

Trailers precede the main menu for Ultimate Avengers 2, Invincible Iron Man, Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning, Forbidden Kingdom, Hulk Vs. Thor, and Hulk Vs. Wolverine. There's also additional trailers collectively available in a Trailers link in the sub-menu for Spectacular Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Ultimate Avengers.

The DVD also comes with the following short features: Legacy: The Making of Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (10:49), Kid Power: Next-Gen Marvel (9:42), First Look: Hulk Vs. Wolverine (3:53), and First Look: Hulk Vs. Thor (3:16). The first two are interesting shorts with the talent involved in the making of the feature discussing it and young heroes in the Marvel Universe in general. The latter two are basically glorified trailers of the next two Marvel animated features that Lionsgate will be distributing early next year. All the extras mentioned in this paragraph are in anamorphic widescreen.

Final Thoughts:

Juvenile at heart, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow has enough superhero action to please children - and enough nods to Marvel Comics continuity to please older comic book fans conversant in established Avengers continuity. Recommended.

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