The Return of Elmo Aardvark in the Twenty First Century!

The following are excerpts from a speech given by Mr. Will Ryan at a March 15, 2000 press conference at the Parker Center in downtown Los Angeles.

The dreams of generations of animation lovers are about to be answered by renegadecartoons.com! America's original animated star, Elmo Aardvark, is back on the screen. But not on the big screen. And not on the small screen. Rather, on the 72 dpi pixilated computer screen, which is as ubiquitous today as was once the mighty buggy whip to our forebears.

Watch a movie! The entire first episode of Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective! © Will Ryan

Worldwide access to Elmo Aardvark's new adventures is important and appropriate. After all, he's beloved in the four metaphorical corners of the globe and all points in between. The vehicle for Mr. Aardvark's latest comeback is Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective! -- and you can find it exclusively on renegadecartoons.com. (Those of you who have seen the "teaser" campaign -- the billboards on the Sunset Strip, the animated displays over Times Square, the blimps, the balloons, the bubble gum and so on -- now know the significance of the word "Renegade!" under the familiar Elmo Aardvark visage.)

The program is a co-production between Renegade Animation, producers of much of the finest high-end animation in the United States, and SnappyToons Amusement Company, the venerable studio which has been associated with Elmo Aardvark over the centuries.

Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective! represents a number of firsts in animation history, not the least of which is the fact that it is the Internet's first weekly animated series. From Hollywood. (The entire series is produced one hundred percent on pure Burbank soil!) And only the finest animation ingredients are used in the process -- acknowledged world-class talent in every area of production. Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective! contains more laughs per square inch than any other animated series.

How did this historic new series come about? Well, like many origin stories, certain details are by now shrouded in mist and legend. But, seeing as I was there, I believe I can provide some data to cheer those in need of first-hand factual impressions. As I recall so clearly, the genesis of this series involved an exploding planet, a visit to an abandoned subway station, a Welsh rarebit dinner, years of study in Tibet and a radioactive spider. Following the years of study in Tibet I was amazed to discover that I had the ability to cloud women's minds so they could see right through me. But that's only part of the story. The rest of it, in all its inspiring glory, you can discover for yourself as every Wednesday, renegadecartoons.com presents another exciting, action-packed installment in the electrifying adventures of Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective!

Like so many recent works of fiction, Elmo Aardvark's new series is based on a true story. Few people realize that Gene Autry's first starring vehicle, the Saturday afternoon serial The Phantom Empire, was also based on a true story. And those of you who subscribe to The New England Journal of Medicine may be aware that many motion pictures up for the Oscars nowadays claim to be based on true stories as well. It is my belief that the phrase "true stories" is finally on the verge of garnering the patina of hokum which glows so conspicuously on the façades of older, more time-tested oxymorons. But I fear I may be digressing.