Must-watch: THE ROCKETEER animated fan film – it’s like Dave Stevens took over Pixar and Aardman for a day

Must-watch: THE ROCKETEER animated fan film – it’s like Dave Stevens took over Pixar and Aardman for a day

Get ready for the coolest thing you’ll see all day.  On June 21, I was in Hollywood for the 20th Anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures’ live action version of THE ROCKETEER. The big screen adaptation of Dave Stevens’ classic comic book hero came out in the same day in 1991, and premiered at the El Capitan Theatre… which is where they showed the 20th Anniversary screening, ever so appropriately. In the last few months IDW Publishing is doing what they can to continue Dave’s legacy in comic book form releasing a new Rocketeer anthology comic called “The Rocketeer Adventures”, which is already selling out at local retailers. Well, if you’re like me and just can’t get enough of Cliff Secord’s wacky adventures, get ready to smile when you watch this new fan film by animator John Banana. This was uploaded just in time for the 20th Anniversary of the film, and in many ways captures the same spirit and adventuresome sensibility the Joe Johnston movie had. But what I really love is how much this feels like it actually could be a modern day kids film. Just imagine, Disney still holds the rights to make Rocketeer movies… can you imagine if they got Pixar involved and produced a CGI-animated movie of THE ROCKETEER? It’s probably more likely at this point than another live action treatment.  They should have John Banana direct it!  I only wish Dave were alive to see this, as he most likely would have been grinning ear to ear.

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If you’re watching on a phone, and ONLY in that scenario (I want John to get VIMEO hits), then you can see the YouTube upload of this, which I think is in no way connected with the creator… but here ya go.

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.