OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes

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 be a failed pilot 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 renewed 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, caming back later in a 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]

Premise

Main article: Episode Guide

OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes sets in the year of 201X, K.O. aims his goal into becoming 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 relaxing responsible ninja and Radicles, a narcissistic alien slacker. K.O. takes on adventures with his best friend and classmate Dendy and battles the plaza against Lord Boxman's robots.

Voice Cast

Main Cast

• Stephanie Nadolny and Courtenay Taylor as K.O.
• Ashly Burch as Enid
• Ian Jones-Quartey as Rad
• Kate Flannery as Carol
• Dave Herman as Mr. Gar
• Jim Cummings as Lord Boxman

Major Supporting Cast

• Melissa Fahn as Dendy, Mikayla
• Ian Jones-Quartey as Darrell
• Kari Wahlgren as Shannon
• Robbie Daymond as Raymond
• Chris Niosi as Ernesto
• Dave Herman as Jethro

Supporting Cast

• Courtenay Taylor as T.K.O., Blue Power, Hon Dew
• Ashly Burch as Gladys, Ms. Mummy, Foxy, Rippy Roo, Baby Teeth, Cherry, Glitter Starlight, Congress Woman, Gertie ("I Am Jethro")
• Melissa Villasenor as Gertie, Ginger, Punching Judy, Drupe, Potato, Mega Football Baby, Shy Ninja, Biki, Phoebe, Punching Trudy
• Carol Kane as Ginger ("One Last Score")
• Dave Herman as Brandon, Mad Sam, Beardo, Steamborg, Heroic Guy, Box-Gar
• Ben Jones as A Real Magic Skeleton
• Ian Jones-Quartey as Crinkly Wrinkly, Cookie Man, Gregg, URL, Carl, Cool Sun ("Dendy's Video Channel")
• Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Dynamite Watkins, Miss Quantum
• Kali Hawk as Red Action
• Chris Niosi as Nick Army, Pird, Neil
• James Urbaniak as Mr. Logic, Joff
• Johnny Wu as Joff ("Be a Team")
• Steven Ogg as Laserblast, Professor Venomous, Shadowy Figure
• Marina Sirtis as Cosma
• Kari Wahlgren as Vormulax, Barista Pup, Chill Cat, Mrs. Gnarlio, Tumbles, Small One, Holo-Jane ("Presenting Joe Cuppa")
• Michael-Leon Wooley as Cool Sun, Ted Viking, Bell Beefer, Galgarion, Big Bull Demon
• Cole Sanchez as Colewort, Topher
• Lara Jill Miller as Fink, Cantalop
• Robbie Daymond as Co-Bruh, Rex Th' Bunny
• Melissa Fahn as Krissa, Genesis
• Andrés du Bouchet as Joe Cuppa
• Reshma Shetty as Elodie
• Melodee Spevack as Foxtail
• Dana Snyder as Doctor Greyman
• Melanie Chartoff as Sunshine
• Ron Funches as Sparko
• Erica Mendez as Black Strategy
• Carrie Keranen as Yellow Technique
• Jamie Marchi as Green Guts
• Parker Simmons as Plazamo, Lad Boxman, Skateboard Nerd, Fish Dude, Gary, Mimic, Acting Coach, Gerald Nametag, Darrell's Deep Voice
• Nichole Bloom as Pepelina, Carla, Nanini, Bobo
• Dave Fennoy as Guards, Ofrang, Bernard, Spanky
• Melique Berger as Theodosia, Wilhamena
• Joe Nipote as Crudde, Corn Shepherd ("Parents Day")
• Tony Revolori as Chameleon Jr., Dolph Finn
• Clancy Brown as Pavel, Mr. Cardsley
• Robbie Rist as Gnarlio, Corn Shepherd ("We've Got Pests")
• Kath Soucie as Peej, Gnarlio Jr.
• Justin McElroy as Billiam Milliam
• Michael Donovan as The Director
• Jonathan Davis as Succulentus
• Diedrich Bader as Cupid
• Lola Kirke as Holo-Jane ("Your World is an Illusion")
• Larissa Gallagher as Miss Pastel, Koala Princess, Demon Queenie
• Kurt Angle as Chip Damage
• Richard McGonagle as Chameleon Sr.
• Michael Sinterniklaas as Hero
• Wallace Shawn as Wally the White
• Ali Wong as Twisty
• SungWon Cho as Johnny, Jack Wacky, Teamster
• Jim Cummings as Boxman Jr., Gar-Man
• Candi Milo as Combo Breaker
• Bob Bergen as Scoutmaster
• Paul Rugg as Cantalop, President of the Universe
• Nick Bakay as Warlock
• Keith Silverstein as Ted Viking ("We Are Heroes")
• Karen Strassman as Foxy ("We Are Heroes")
• JB Blanc as Coach
• Betsy Zajko as Cosma ("Deep Space Vacation")
• Constance Shulman as Dr. Sphinxsen
• Barbara Goodson as Small Calf Demon

Guest Cast

• LeVar Burton as Kwame
• David Coburn as Captain Planet
• Tessa Auberjonois as Dr. Blight
• Russi Taylor as Phantasma
• Pat Musick as Elsa Frankenteen
• Susan Blu as Sibella
• Natalie Palamides as Winnie
• Kristen Li as Tanis
• Estelle as Garnet
• Tara Strong as Ben, Raven
• John DiMaggio as Four Arms
• Michael Dorn as Strike
• Roger Craig Smith as Sonic the Hedgehog
• Colleen Villard as Miles "Tails" Prower

Former Cast

• Stephanie Nadolny as K.O. (pilot, couple of shorts, and few episodes)
• Mena Suvari as Enid (pilot)

International Releases

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.
• 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 serves as friends to the protagonists with frog-like features.
• 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. ^[23]
  • In a 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 line work.^[24]

• • 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 whom 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 are tweaking individual frames in the editing phrase, they draw a tiny smiley face on them.^[25]
• Ian Jones-Quartey stated that all of the story arc plot has 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".^[26] There were a couple of planned episodes that was not fully produced:
  • There was originally an episode team up with the cast of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, a Cartoon Network show from the start of Season 1. However, the idea was dropped and the story was not finished due Martin Croker's death in 2016.^[27]
  • One planned episode was revealed that Fink getting enrolled in KO's class at Lakewood Public School.^[28]
  • Another planned episode revealed by Toby Jones was "more fun, weird self-contained mission episodes, a riff on 'A Cure For Wellness' set at Billiam Milliam’s golden spa pyramid that turns people gold."^[29]
  • Garnet from Steven Universe would have been back to the plaza from an episode concept called "Summer of Garnet" where she joins the bodega crew.^[30]
    • The concept was that the "Powie Zowies" from OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes briefly get activated long enough for KO to summon Garnet, but are deactivated before she can go back. So she spends a whole summer hanging out fighting bots with K.O., Rad, and Enid. She moves in with KO and Carol.
• Often times in the show, characters would say "videos game" instead of "video games" and "sowwy" instead of "sorry".

Videos

O.K. K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Ian Jones-Quartey's Special Announcement! Cartoon Network

OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes - New Series (Promo)

Cartoon Network USA OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes "Coming in August" (2nd ver.) Promo

Season 2 New Episodes in May OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (Promo)

Cartoon Network - New OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Continuity (May 12, 2019)

Greatest OK K.O.! Crossovers OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Cartoon Network

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Reference Sources