“ | In this videogame inspired world, K.O. works at Gar’s Bodega, a one-stop shop for all your hero needs. Whether he’s mopping the floor with Lord Boxman’s evil robots or literally mopping the floor, K.O. tackles everything with enthusiasm. | ” |
OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is an American animated series created by Ian Jones-Quartey for Cartoon Network. It is based on the original pilot "Lakewood Plaza Turbo", originally released May 21, 2013 for Cartoon Network's 2013 Summer Shorts project. The series was originally thought be 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. It turns out that the show was picked up earlier and Ian Jones-Quartey needed time to develop the series before it was formally greenlit by Cartoon Network. It is distributed by Warner Bros. Television Studios.
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]
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".
The show is serialized, character-driven, and plot-driven with an overarching story.
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. [8]
While the show was in development in 2015,[9] 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]
In a Reddit AMA, Ian revealed more show title ideas that did not go through, due to some not getting pitched or canned for legal reasons:[11]
- Lakewood Rumble
- Super Lakewood Action Plaza (SLAP for short)
- Knockout Friends
- Radical Knockouts
- PlayFighters
- Turbo Friends Punch
- Friend Fighters
- Punch Buddies
- Super Chuckle Sandwich
- Action Sandwich
- Knockout Club
- Punch Buffet
- Mighty Mall
- Punchtown Heroes
- Streets of Friendship
- Rumble Pack
- Dynamite Shop
- Knockout Pals
Premise[]
Main article: Episode Guide
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 |
France | OK K.O.! Soyons Des Héros
(OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes) |
November 20, 2017[17] |
Italy | OK K.O.! Diventiamo eroi OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes |
November 27, 2017 [1] |
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[18] |
The Netherlands | OK K.O! Jij Wordt Een Held (OK K.O.! You Will Be 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 |
Philippines | 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 |
Cancellation[]
There had been rumors and speculations that OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes was canceled by ratings, reaching to a broader audience, or among other reasons, however, that was not the case.[26] On February 17, 2021, in an interview with the Cartoon Crash Course podcast with Nico Colaleo, Ian Jones-Quartey explained that the show was originally supposed to be one of the first shows to be a streaming exclusive from a streaming service AT&T and WarnerMedia planned to launch earlier, which is now known as HBO Max. It would have been an HBO Max original from the start to rely on streaming views instead of traditional T.V. ratings. However, the anti-trust regulation got the AT&T merger, therefore HBO Max, heavily delayed. It got affected by the former merger's delay which caused the show's third season to be the last season and be reduced from forty episodes to twenty episodes due to not increasing the budget. The show crew was expecting the third season to have forty episodes before they were notified by the network on Spring 2018. Other shows had been affected by the process as well.[27] Although, this show was one of the first to stream episodes on the Cartoon Network app before airing episodes on T.V.
One early indicator that the show was meant to be a Max original is that the show is accredited as "A Cartoon Network Studios Production" as the text appears at the end of the episodes. All other Max originals that are produced by Cartoon Network Studios (i.e. Summer Camp Island, Infinity Train, Tig n' Seek, The Fungies) is also accredited with the same text.
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".[28] It was revealed that there were more episodes planned out if the show continued long.
In 2023, Ian stated the show had been "punished" by executives after the creation of the episode "Crossover Nexus," which had been requested by the executives but then "sabotaged" when a powerful executive disliked the episode. It resulted the episode being cut from 22 minutes to 11 minutes. After the episode's success, the show was "punished,"[29] but Ian stated he held no ill will towards anyone.[30] Ian soon took down both Tweets on the topic to not break his "no whining in Tweets" rule.[31]
Merchandise[]
On February 25, 2023, when a user on Twitter asked Ian Jones-Quartey why there was no official merchandise of the show (aside of the video game and its soundtracks), he stated that when the series began, the network paused all of their licensing deals for non-classic shows. He mentions that he had meetings for merchandise ideas where the process dwindled off.[32] Several licensees had contacted him personally about the ideas, however, the network prevented it from happening. He mentions that the series was not the only one affected as other shows since mid-2010s and afterwards did not have official merchandise either.[33]
On January 22, 2024, Ian stated that he is planning to make a new poster of the show and some other printed merchandise later that year. He created the poll to give insight of what fans want to see being made. The options were: K.O., Rad, and Enid, Heroes vs. Villains, post-show canon, and other characters. The poll was opened for two days. Two days later, the option for "post-show canon" wins.[34]
On March 2024, Ian has revealed a sneak peek of the new poster with the characters' alternative outfits that will be available later for purchase.[35]
There were other ideas of merchandise Ian had thought of:
- An artbook to be made. He responded that there is sufficient material that can be added for the artbook, however, he mentions that there needs to be a publisher, an author, and demand for the book to be made.[36]
- A comic book series to made with OniPress or IDW. The idea was that every issue would have untold short stories starring the side characters of the main show in a format that is similar to shonen manga magazines. It would have featured different logos and art styles for every hero with continuing stories that change every month. For example, a Hue Troop action cover story and a Potato & Colewort gag strip as a backup. K.O. would always be on the cover. However, the ideas for a comic book series were scrapped because Cartoon Network was not invested.[37]
- DVD sets of the show to be made. Ian responded that the show staff lobbied for season box sets of the show but were told multiple times that there was no interest.[38] The only DVDs that were released was OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes: T.K.O. (V1) and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Season 1 (Australian Set).
- T-shirts and a P.O.I.N.T. Prep junior novelization.[39]
- A M.U.S.C.L.E. style collectible figures of the whole cast, which would have eventually made full action figures of the main characters.[40]
Potential Anime Spinoff Limited Series[]
On May 16, 2021, Ian Jones-Quartey revealed that there were a couple of ideas for a spinoff series. One, in particular, he wanted to do was an anime spinoff starring Red Action and the Hue Troop. He posted a poster for the limited spin-off series. It would have been directed by Mira Ong Chua. They were close to the making of the spinoff series.[41] The illustration for the poster was done by Christine Liu.[42]
On June 14, 2022, a user asked Ian for an update on the Red Action anime spinoff in time for the show's fifth anniversary. Ian responded to the user saying that he hesitated on posting more Red Action anime content because he believes that creating a thread on a pitch that did not occur "is like admitting defeat." He wishes that it could get picked up in some way in the future. Hours later, he is confident about the idea, claiming that "it's the kind of show that would be ahead of its time." He expresses that there is a big demand for the show and collaborating with Mira Ong Chua made it special.[43]
There would have been a sixth ranger added to the team and their color motif would have been puce.[44][45]
Comic-Con Events[]
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes held a panel on July 21, 2017 at San Diego Comic-Con and attended by Ian Jones-Quartey, Toby Jones, Kate Flannery, and Courtenay Taylor. Panel was moderated by IGN's Alanah Pearce and there was an autograph area for limited signing. A Cartoon Network booth was also shaped like Gar's Bodega, with exclusive blind boxes.[46]
- They had had one panel at the New York Comic Con on October 7, 2017. It was a combined panel titled "Cartoon Network Presents: Let's Be Heroes!" featuring Ian Jones-Quartey, Ashly Burch, and some staff members from Teen Titans Go! and Ben 10. There was sneak clips, Q&A, and news about the shows.[47]
- On July 21, 2018, the show did not have a panel, but took part in the "Cartoon Network Creators: Drawing on Inspiration" panel. [48] "Crossover Nexus" was then announced.[49]
- The show took part of the "Cartoon Network: First Look Panel: Creators & Artists" on July 19, 2019.[50] A preview clip of "Let's Meet Sonic" was then released. [51]
Streaming[]
OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes has been entirely available on Hulu since March 1, 2020 and HBO Max since September 1, 2020. On August 18, 2022 at 9pm PST, the series, as well a couple of Cartoon Network shows have been removed from HBO Max due to the parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, which was a merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., saving on residual payouts from the company's cost cuts as well as an upcoming strategy to merge HBO Max with Discovery+ as a combined streaming service.[52] On August 20, 2022, Owen Dennis, creator of Infinity Train, one of the shows that got affected by the removal, stated that the shows are not being written off for taxes and the end date is the beginning of September 2022.[53]
On September 9, 2022, Cartoon Network's Twitter account indirectly acknowledges the removal of the affected shows by providing them alternatives to digital services such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, etc.[54] On September 30, 2022, Cartoon Network released a short video on Twitter and YouTube of its iconic shows the day before its 30th anniversary. The short video includes the show and the other affected shows.[55]
On August 18, 2022, the affected shows got videos from the Cartoon Network YouTube channel privated due to the mandate from Warner Bros. Discovery.[56] On October 14, 2022, the videos are no longer privated.[57]
On December 6, 2023, the series (along with some Cartoon Network and Adult Swim shows) has been available on Disney+ through the Hulu/Disney+ bundle due to being available on Hulu. This came after from The Walt Disney Company purchasing the remaining stake of Hulu from Comcast. On October 1, 2024 the series has been removed from Hulu and Disney+ as Hulu's streaming rights to the show expired.
Trivia[]
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is inspired by many anime and manga tropes and styles as well as video game references. One example is that whenever a scene freezes in some episodes, it shifts to a painterly/pastel quality for a second, which is known as a "dezaki" named after anime director and screenwriter Osamu Dezaki. The technique is sometimes referred as "postcard memories".[58]
- 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:
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes is a storyboard-driven show, meaning a team of storyboard artists (usually two) is 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 the revisions department to add details and extra animation for 3 weeks after. [59]
- In an interview with the Talking Simpsons, Ian discussed that the show is drawn in pencil as opposed to ink on paper. The animators pencil each frame on paper using a light table and then digitally color on a layer beneath the transparent linework.[60]
- The direction is due to being based on the idea of a world of notebook doodles and amateur fan-art coming to life.[61]
- 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.
- Unlike other Cartoon Network programs, the show lists the production code assigned to an episode within the episode's title cards. Also, the beginning credits does not appear immediately after the theme song.
- 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.[62]
- 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.[63]
- 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.[64]
- On September 15, 2022, Ian Jones-Quartey posted the official specific inking brush that was made for production of the show and can be downloaded and used for some digital art programs (since the brush is used for Adobe Photoshop). John Pham created the brush.[65]
Gallery