Cartoon Lagoon Studios Launches

NEW YORK, NY – Longtime Saatchi & Saatchi creative directors Pat Giles and MannyGalán have returned to their animated roots in a big way with the launch of Cartoon Lagoon Studios [1]. The studio's first release is Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon, coming to DVD this November. 

Part puppetry, part animation, this distinctive show promises to plumb the depths of Cartoon Lagoon as characters Wet Willy Jones and Axel Rodd McGee go on an undersea quest aboard the Manta Ray, a cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius C. Cartoon, in a search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made. The show was created by Galán and co-produced with Giles. 

Watch the official trailer for Captain Cornelius Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon:

The series will have its premiere screening at New York Comic-Con [2] (#NYCC) in October 2012.

A portion of the show clearly pays homage to MSTK3000 as the crew searches for the best and the worst cartoons ever made, and make fun of them as they screen them. But it is also much more. Each DVD also features Captain Cartoon’s All Star Revue – a line-up of new and classic cartoons, musical guests, and interviews with leading animators, original skits and commercial parodies. 

“We constructed these segments to help this show feel like it exists in an alternate reality -- like it’s from a TV Universe other than our own,” Galán says. “It’s a Saturday morning or Friday night animation lineup that never existed on TV.”

According to Galán, Captain Cornelius Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon is a big melting pot of pop culture commentary and a nostalgic reflection on animation days gone by.

“The spirit of the show harkens back to a time when kids would wake up before their parents on a Saturday morning with a big bowl of cereal and watch cartoons because that was the only time they were on,” Galán adds. “This is our attempt to recreate what ephemeral appointment television felt like, only put it on ever-ready DVD and digital media.”

Galán and Giles know their cereal and their cartoons. They have been in the kids pop culture business for years, most recently as agency creative directors at Saatchi & Saatchi, New York creating ads for General Mills’ cereals, such as Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Honey Nut Cheerios.

Beyond that the duo has a long pedigree in animation. Giles was the art director for Disney’s Stanley series, and worked on 6 other TV shows, including Doug, and MTV’s Daria. 

Galán worked at Marvel, DC Comics and Archie Comics, before joining Nickelodeon, first in their Consumer Products division, and later in the On Air department where he wrote and directed hundreds of shorts, including the legendary NIckmas series, Captain Nick, and How Angelica Stole Christmas. Galán’s toy line “Dookie-Poo” is an award-winning collection of designer vinyls and plush. They also co-own two small comic book publishing companies, featuring the indie-hit Monkeysuit series, and Combination Platter collections. 

But Cartoon Lagoon is the culmination of years of hard work -- half of which was spent in Manny's basement. 

“Manny started building a submarine in his basement, about two years ago. He would mention it now and again, you know, this goofy thing,” Giles says. “Next thing I know this stunning miniature submarine stage appears. It was amazing.” 

The show features some noteworthy talent, including legendary voice actor Chris Phillips as “The Captain”; director Euralis Weekes; and head writer Steve Borst (Robot Chicken, MAD).

“We had a great time making this and we’re thankful that so many talented folks were interested in helping us create this modern day tribute to the things we hold so dear,” Galán says. 

Source: Cartoon Lagoon Studios