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40 of the Most Interesting Animated Black Characters Ever to Hit Television

There are very few animated TV shows that have compelling and memorable Black characters at the forefront. In the 1990s and early 2000s, there were Black people dominating the cinemas, live-action TV and animated television. Now that we are 15 years into the new millennium, that small number has become microscopic. Will there be more great Black animated TV shows in the near future?  That is unknown, but we can take a look at those who have made an impact on children and adult lives. However, characters like Cleveland Brown of The Cleveland Show will not be featured on this list because he is voiced by a white actor. Also characters from 2000s’ DC Comics shows like Cyborg from Teen Titans, Aqualad from Young Justice, John Stewart from Justice League: The Animated Series, Static Shock and Bumble Bee from Teen Titans and Young Justice have been covered on Blerds before so they won’t be on the list. Moreover, here are some of the most interesting Black animated characters.

The Prouds star in ``The Proud Family'' Thursday on Family Channel.

The Entire Cast of Proud Family

This early 2000s animated series was created by animator Bruce W. Smith for the Disney Channel. The star of the show was actress Kyla Pratt as high school teen Penny Proud. We followed her misadventures with her friends and wacky — yet loving — family.

Fat-Albert--The-Junkyard-Gang-stock1388

The Entire Cast of Fat Albert

Comedian Bill Cosby created this animated show in 1972 when there weren’t a lot of Black animated characters on TV. The series was animated by Hanna-Barbara Studios and it lasted until 1985 with 110 episodes in total.

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Kickstarter Campaign Started for Feature Film ‘Bar Star City’

Author of “Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi and Fantasy Culture” Ytasha L. Womack is embarking on completing her first trippy feature film, Bar Star City. After reading the description for myself, I got the sensation of experiencing one of those really late-night Adult Swim bumpers on a roller coaster. Or a fever dream of the Chalmun Cantina, with Black people:

A goddess, a war veteran and the captain of a spaceship meet in a bar…

We’ve all gone to bars and met unique, quirky personalities. But what happens when seemingly ordinary people are quite extraordinary? This film follows several not-so-ordinary regulars of a bar that’s become a home for the galactic and well-traveled.

A sci-fi film with Afrofuturist themes, Bar Star City looks at love, deception, memory and alienation among a group of bar regulars who just want a place to call home.

The Kickstarter campaign to get the funds to really make a cinematic classic piece of Afrofuturist history has 16 days left to raise $9,500. For science-fiction fans who dare to dream, this Bar Star City teaser produces an aesthetic; it asks questions and thrives on our curiosity with its images and soundtrack that is worth the investment.

Womack’s book on the movement is an innovative read that builds a case for Afrofuturism’s history, present, and daring future in our stadium of artistic expression. Bar Star City is such an exciting next step for Womack and Black science-fiction cinema. Donate, share, and rave about this proposal to your clans far and wide.

 

Source: graveyardshiftsisters.com

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‘All New Ghost Rider #9 Masters Action’ — Review

Well, I’m happy to report that “All New Ghost Rider” is still delivering on what it promised from Day One. There are few books out there that do cartoonishly violent, ridiculous, over-the-top action as well as this one. Felipe Smith has been consistently killing it, crafting a slightly younger chapter of the “Ghost Rider” legacy.

This issue picks up with Robbie Reyes not quite in control of things. Eli Morrow, who isn’t quite the friend Robbie thought he was, has taken the wheel and set out to close a few old accounts with the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider is out looking for a rematch with Morrow to teach him that there’s no school like the old school. Smith does a pretty good job pacing what is mainly a passing of the torch to the next generation. It’s a nice change to see the Rider’s other side having slightly different, more human aims (even if they’re as douche-y as Morrow’s are), making for a more reluctant team up almost akin to supernatural “48 Hours.”

Damion Scott’s pencils are the best suited to follow up Tradd Moore’s anime-invoking style. The battles are consistently epic and detailed, the downside being that this can sometimes result in Chris Bachalo Disease (meaning panels can be SO detailed at times, you can get lost in figuring out what’s what).

Bottom Line: Rider vs. Rider has been an excellent platform toward the new one proving itself (as a character and a book) with enough tidbits to keep us looking forward to next time. 8 out of 10.

Source: Oz Longworth at blacknerdproblems.com