OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is a superhero comedy animated series created by Ian Jones-Quartey for Cartoon Network. It is based off the original pilot "Lakewood Plaza Turbo", originally released May 21, 2013 for Cartoon Network's 2013 Summer Shorts project. The series was originally believed to not picked up due to its lack of information over the past three years since the pilot's debut, aside from some slight hints and sketches of the cartoon. However, later, the voice actress of KO, Stephanie Nadolny, confirmed that the series is in production; with her having already recorded his voice for five episodes.
On February 4, 2016, a mobile game for Android and iOS was created and the web series had premiered on Cartoon Network's YouTube channel[2] and the CN App.[3]
In 2017, nearly 4 years after the original pilot was released, the show was greenlit[4] and first aired on August 1, 2017.[1]
On December 2017, the second season was confirmed to be released.[5]
On June 2019, the third season was renewed. On August 6, 2019, in an interview with Den of Geek!, Ian Jones-Quartey has stated that season 3 is the final season and will be airing the series finale in 2019.[6] It was further revealed that Cartoon Network did not renew the show after Season 3 and it was not Ian's choice to end the show, but gave the show crew an opportunity to make a planned ending.[7] It was revealed that the reason why OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes ended was not because of ratings.[8]
On September 6, 2019, the series concluded with an hour event with the final three episodes: "Dendy's Video Channel", "Let's Fight to the End", and "Thank You for Watching the Show".
Starting on June 7, 2019, online releases of episodes has been opened up to be streamed on Hulu + Live TV than just limited to the Cartoon Network app.
Origin
While working as a storyboard artist on Steven Universe, Ian came up with an idea for a pitch called "Infinite Guy Generator", where a kid would summon different "guys" every episode to fight the villain's evil guys. When creating the pilot, Ian created a world based on that original idea.
Later, while working as a co-executive producer still on Steven Universe, he used that same idea for a guys generator, that appeared in one episode, which had good reception, coming back later in the second episode of that show.
While developing the OK K.O. mobile game and series, Ian eventually expanded the concept of "guys" to include "gals" and "pals" in this universe. Ian even considered renaming the show "G.U.Y.S. G.A.L.S. and P.A.L.S", but thought it was too long for a title. [9]
While the show was in development, it was under a different name, "Mini Maulers". Dendy was originally an elf before changed into a kappa. It was later changed due to a Cartoon Network show existing at the time with the "MM" initials, likely referring to Mighty Magiswords.[10]
Premise
Main article: Episode Guide 
The series' main protagonists. From left to right: K.O., Enid, and Radicles.
OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is set in the year 201X. A boy named K.O. aims to become the greatest hero as he works at Gar's Bodega, a hero supply shop located in Lakewood Plaza Turbo owned by Mr. Gar, a serious, dedicated manager. Alongside K.O. are his best friends and co-workers, Enid, a relaxed responsible ninja and Radicles, a narcissistic alien slacker. K.O. takes on adventures with his best friend and classmate Dendy and battles for the plaza against Lord Boxman's robots.
Voice Cast
Main article: OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes/Voice Cast
International Releases
| Country | Title | Premiere |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | August 1, 2017 |
| Latin America/Brazil | OK K.O.! Seamos Héroes (LA) (OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes) | September 18, 2017 |
| United Kingdom | OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes | October 9, 2017 |
| Germany | OK K.O.! Neue Helden Braucht Die Welt (OK K.O.! New Heroes in Need of the World) | November 6, 2017 |
| Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) | KO OK! Prostě koukej (Czech Republic) (KO OK! Just Watch) | November 6, 2017 |
| Northern Europe (Nordic) | OK K.O. Vi Er Helte! (Denmark) (OK K.O. We Are Heroes!) | November 6, 2017 |
| Portugal | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | November 10, 2017 |
| Africa | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | November 18, 2017 |
| Poland | OK K.O.! Po prostu walcz (OK K.O.! Just Fight On) | November 2017 |
| Russia and Southeast Europe | Окей, Кей О! Будем героями! (Russia) (OK, K O! Let's Be Heroes!) | November 2017[16] |
| The Netherlands | OK K.O! Jij Wordt Een Held (OK K.O.! You Are a Hero) | December 2017 |
| Korea | OK K.O! 내일은 히어로 (OK K.O.! Hero Tomorrow) | January 1, 2018 |
| Australia | OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes | January 6, 2018 |
| Phillippines | OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes | January 6, 2018 |
| South East Asia | OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes | January 20, 2018 |
| Spain | OK K.O! Let's Be Heroes | February 5, 2018 |
| Turkey | OK K.O! Kahraman Olalım''
(OK K.O.! Be a Hero) | February 5, 2018 |
| Japan |
OK K.O.! めざせヒーロー
| July 1, 2018 |
Trivia
- One of the most well-known qualities about this cartoon is its protagonist, K.O., who is voiced by Stephanie Nadolny; an actor better known for her role as Kid/Preteen Goku, and Kid/Preteen Gohan from the Dragon Ball (1986-1989), Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) and Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997) TV series.
- In the pilot, she even references the anime with her new character's traits. Such as:
- Being really enthusiastic, kindhearted and wholeheartedly righteous.
- Always wanting to pick a fight to test his powers.
- Screams at an incremental rate as he charges up an attack.
- In the pilot, she even references the anime with her new character's traits. Such as:
- The show is often compared to the 2016 anime My Hero Academia as they are both animated superhero adventure series about a young hero-in-training in a world where it's the norm.
- Along with the synopsis, many have pointed out the similarities between the main characters.
- Protagonist K.O and Izuku Midoriya are similar as they are young, prepubescent boys wanting to become heroes in their respective worlds, have a tendency to cry, and a need to help others out.
- Dendy and Tsuyu Asui are similar as they serve as friends to the protagonists with frog-like features.
- Along with the synopsis, many have pointed out the similarities between the main characters.
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is a storyboard driven show, meaning a team of storyboard artists (usually two) are given an outline by the story writers of which they write all of the dialogue and storyboard the episode.
- According to Ian Jones-Quartey, it takes the storyboard artists to draw and write for 5 weeks and revisions department to add details and extra animation for 3 weeks after. [24]
- In an interview with the Talking Simpons, Ian discussed that the show is drawn in pencil as opposed of ink on paper. The animators pencil each frame on paper using a light table and then color them digitally on a layer beneath the transparent linework.[25]
- Storyboards are made with ToonBoom's Storyboard Pro software.
- The show has a few references to another Cartoon Network show, Steven Universe.
- In the Steven Universe episode, "Future Boy Zoltron", an arcade machine references the show's name.
- An anime show within the show features a character named Koala Princess who later appears in "Wisdom, Strength, and Charisma".
- In the OK K.O.! Lakewood Plaza Turbo mobile game, Steven makes a cameo in the "Missing" flyers.
- Toby Jones stated that sometimes when the show crew is tweaking individual frames in the editing phase, they draw a tiny smiley face on them.[26]
- Ian Jones-Quartey stated that all of the story arc plots have been placed into the episodes as they originally planned it as they wanted "way more stand-alone side-character development stories, fun one-off episodes, ridiculous flights of fancy, crossovers, and flashbacks".[27] It was revealed that there were more episodes planned out if the show continued long.
- Often times in the show, characters would say "videos game" instead of "video games" and "sorey" instead of "sorry".
- Ian stated it was a joke from Toby Jones' pilot AJ's Infinite Summer and because it reminded them of early Canadian anime dubs.[28]
- It was revealed that the Lord Boxman and Professor Venomous couple was tough to be shown onscreen but the Enid and Red Action couple was even tougher.[29]
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