FALLING ALL OVER AGAIN<\/h2>\n
GrimBrother One: So to start off, what would you say sets\u00a0Halo: The Fall of Reach \u2013 The Animated Series<\/em>\u00a0apart from both the beloved novel and the comic series?<\/strong><\/p>\n Frank O\u2019Connor:\u00a0<\/strong>Well, apart from the fact that it\u2019s fully animated, beautifully scored, dense with the rich suite of Halo audio, sound and visual effects and artfully directed by the folks at Sequence, I\u2019d say this is a faithful adaptation of a beloved novel. We\u2019ve always been careful to make sure that we take full advantage of the media in which we present and so in the case of Fall of Reach, that means building what\u2019s effectively the origin story of much of what we understand to be the Halo universe.<\/p>\n Without getting into the weeds, we\u2019ve been careful to align with the novel where it makes sense, but in visualizing the universe \u2013 which has evolved so much in the intervening years \u2013 we were presented with a few challenges, but also a lot of opportunities. So you\u2019ll see a few differences, choices of Covenant ship, weapons and so on, but it adheres tightly to the core canon, with a few flourishes here and there to fill in gaps or smooth over previous errors.<\/p>\n Kiki Wolfkill:\u00a0<\/strong>This is an adaptation of the origin story of John and Blue Team that is firmly-grounded in both the novel and comics. As with any adaptation, we focused on how best to tell the story through the medium it is being retold through. Sequence is known for their powerful but lyrical visual style and so\u00a0Halo: The Fall of Reach<\/em>\u00a0is told through the voice of those animations, through an amazing score, and through a suite of talented voice actors. 343 has always loved exploring different creative perspectives and all of these tools gave us the ability to express the legend through a slightly different and very emotionally-compelling lens. Our goal is to bring John and Blue Team\u2019s story to life in a different way both for those already familiar with the story and for those who may only know Master Chief as an armored Spartan.<\/p>\n GRIM: Can you speak to any challenges that are specific to the development of an animated piece such as this one as opposed to the development of a novel or comic?<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>I actually think that the main challenge is being forced to drop inner monologue, but that also gives the artists and director the opportunity to show more than the claustrophobic confines of a novel permit. That in itself however brings up a challenge all adaptations go through \u2013 does the new media match the reader\u2019s imagination and vision of the content? Or does it exceed it? Obviously the latter is the best result.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>Hmmm\u2026 the budget looks a little different \ud83d\ude09 It\u2019s an incredibly fun challenge to adapt from the written page into animated visuals \u2013 if a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the right visual shorthand to deliver on the detail and description that words have the luxury of time to deliver? How do you fit a novel into just an hour? Often it meant strenuous \u2013 and sometimes combative conversation \u2013 between ourselves as well as with Sequence to distill down to what the heart of the story is\u2026 what is most important to relay to ensure that the viewer not only understands plot but also feels\u00a0connected<\/em>\u00a0to the characters and the story.<\/p>\n GRIM: It can absolutely be a challenge, but certainly no more daunting than it is rewarding. Now let\u2019s talk about the about the timing of this series in particular. Why did we feel it was important to revisit this specific story as we lead up to\u00a0Halo 5: Guardians<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>Guardians focuses so heavily on Blue Team in some ways, that we felt almost obligated to explain to players why these characters, who you\u2019ll meet anew in the game anyway, are so important to the history of the series. And really, this is something we\u2019ve always wanted to make, regardless of the timing.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>The theme of family and the bonds that exist between soldiers (and even AI) has always been intriguing for us. We left the Master Chief at the end of\u00a0Halo 4<\/em>contemplating a future without Cortana. Who can the Master Chief trust? In\u00a0Halo 5: Guardians<\/em>, John is reunited with Blue Team who represents a different kind of family for him \u2013 what is their bond and how was it forged?\u00a0Halo: The Fall of Reach<\/em>\u00a0explores not just John\u2019s origin story but also that of Blue Team itself.<\/p>\n GRIM: Should fans expect to experience or notice any cool connections or inclusion from previous Halo fiction?<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>We\u2019ll actually have a whisper of connection to\u00a0Halo 5: Guardians<\/em>\u00a0directly, but that\u2019s a subtle nod only book readers will even notice; overall it\u2019s definitely a properly encapsulated version of the original story.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>Yes indeedy.<\/p>\n GRIM: Whoa Kiki, easy on the detailed spoilers! Shifting gears a bit to the actual production process itself, how has working with SEQUENCE on this project differed from working with them on something like the Terminals (seen in\u00a0Halo: Anniversary, Halo 4,\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Halo 2: Anniversary<\/em>)?<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>This series is artistically going to share a lot with Sequence\u2019s previous style, so you\u2019ll see some continuity for sure, but the scale and fidelity of the animation for this is more ambitious than Sequence\u2019s already gorgeous, dreamlike tradition \u2013 and this is fully animated and mostly 3D. It\u2019s just a\u00a0 lot more work, and not just in animating, but in shading and texturing the painterly style. It\u2019s hard work.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>This animated series is different from the Terminals in that it is a 60-minute single-arc story that has much more visual complexity \u2013 particularly around characters \u2013 than the Terminals previously had. Telling that long a story across 3 episodes and mapping the emotional arc across that amount of time is a challenge, especially given how beloved a story this is. The guys and gals at Sequence have been doing a fantastic job in evolving their own style and storytelling methods to rise to this challenge \u2013 they are very passionate about delivering on a great experience.<\/p>\n GRIM: Do we plan to show John\u2019s face?!<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>You\u2019ll certainly see plenty of\u00a0young<\/em>\u00a0John.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>You\u2019ll also see his arms and legs.<\/p>\n GRIM: Again with the spoilers! So before we close for today, what is the biggest thing you hope fans will take away from\u00a0Halo: The Fall of Reach \u2013 The Animated Series<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n FRANK:\u00a0<\/strong>I think as a primer for the worlds we\u2019ve built over the last 15 years, Fall of Reach has always been a fantastic foundation, and this simply makes it more accessible than ever before.<\/p>\n KIKI:\u00a0<\/strong>I hope it will feel like coming home for those who already know the story, like hearing a favorite tale by the campfire again but told from a new storyteller. For those who do not know the story, I hope it builds a new connection to our universe and to the man inside the Mjolnir. The\u00a0Fall of Reach<\/em>\u00a0novel was the first piece of Halo content I read after playing\u00a0Halo: Combat Evolved<\/em>\u00a0and it started my own love affair with the universe which until then had been framed just by the game. That novel is part of why I personally am so passionate about Halo storytelling and I hope this animated series can do the same for other players and viewers.<\/p>\n GRIM: Well, can\u2019t think of any way to say it better than that. Thanks so much to the both of you for sharing your thoughts with the fans today!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n Raid on Apex 7<\/strong><\/p>\n Each ringworld in the Halo Array is 10,000 kilometers in diameter. Their inner surfaces are sculpted with mountains and valleys, covered by water and vegetation, and stocked with animals. This thin layer of life on each ring conceals machinery for spreading death at a galactic scale – generators and focusing arrays designed to create a wave of energy that kills all sentient creatures as part of the Forerunner\u2019s plan to stop the parasitical Flood. With only two of the Array’s six remaining rings located, the UNSC has prepared quick-reaction plans to secure and disable these installations as soon as they are found. Spartans in particular must be constantly tested and familiarized with the structures and enemies that could be found on these ancient weapons of mass destruction to ensure a quick shutdown.<\/em><\/p>\n Raid on Apex 7 is a combined-arms Warzone simulation set on a location occasionally referred to within Section Three as \u201cProject BLACKBALL\u201d \u2013 a ring environment crafted by ONI\u2019s top War Games team to train both scientific and military teams expected to operate on known or recently discovered Halo rings. One of a set of linked environments that highlight specific areas and facilities of interest (e.g. Library and Cartographer sites), Apex 7 is a composite of high-value research archives found on Delta and Gamma Halo, and assumed to have existed on Alpha Halo. Specialized UNSC fast-response teams composed of Spartan-IV operatives are drilled to either defend or seize Apex 7 under a myriad of threat profiles ranging from hostile Forerunner resistance to Covenant occupation, all while utilizing the full range of UNSC weapons and vehicles. As October draws near we look forward to revealing more information about Raid on Apex 7 and the other incredible large-scale Warzone environments that will be shipping with Halo 5: Guardians!<\/p>\n Speaking of MegaBloks, this Sunday they will be hosting a very cool panel at SDCC that will show off some extremely rad new Halo pieces, as well as offer insight into how you take a galaxy-spanning franchise and convert it into buildable and toy-box-fillable form.<\/p>\n Building the Halo Universe with the Collectible Mega Bloks Series (Room 24ABC: Sunday, July 12, 2:00 p.m. \u2013 3:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n With over 65 million Halo game titles and over 35 million Mega Bloks Halo sets sold, some of the world’s biggest Halo fans bring our universe to life through construction, helping to shape this legendary world in their own way. Fans can expect teasers of the new Mega Bloks Spring ’16 line and a look back at the history of Halo and Mega Bloks, info on how the games become builds with behind-the-scenes stories and making-of moments, why Halo chose Mega Bloks, and what’s next for both brands.<\/em><\/p>\n While there are no plans for streaming, we\u2019re working with the folks at Comic-Con to make the VoDs available following not just the MegaBloks panel, but today\u2019s fiction-focused Halo panel as well.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n If you do happen to be on the show floor, our very own cast-happy community commander Bravo put together an awesome guide to all the Halo goodness going on during SDCC. To see for yourself, check out the\u00a0latest Community Update posted earlier this week\u00a0<\/a>for all the details. Fiction fans in particular who are attending will probably want to focus on some of our awesome partners who help us bring the Halo story to you all year long! If so, here\u2019s where you can find them\u2026<\/p>\n Simon and Schuster – Booth 1128<\/strong><\/p>\n Stop by the Simon & Schuster booth (which prominently features\u00a0Halo: Hunters in the Dark\u00a0<\/em>in their booth design) to tell them how much you appreciate all the Halo book love this year! While you\u2019re there you can purchase copies of\u00a0Halo: Hunters in the Dark<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Halo: Broken Circle<\/em>, and check out some cool\u00a0Halo 5: Guardians\u00a0<\/em>trailer action on their booth monitors.<\/p>\n Dark Horse \u2013 Booth 2615<\/strong><\/p>\n Be sure to check out the Halo UNSC Pelican Dropship Replica at the Dark Horse booth! Fans of the UNSC’s most prominent aerial-based troop and material transport will love the soon-to-be-available authentic, fully painted 6″ miniature replica. And it looks even snazzier in an SDCC exclusive bronze finish!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n Also at the panel today, we showed off a handy graphic that helps fans understand how some of the recent fiction all ties into the storyline of\u00a0Halo 5: Guardians.\u00a0<\/em>Even for hardcore fans, getting a chance to see this all in one place is nice, so check it out! Clicky to biggie.<\/p>\n The Sangheili are a proud warrior race of biped saurians who once served as the enforcers of the Prophets, but now chart a new destiny among the stars.<\/p>\n The Focus Rifle is a long-range, precision weapon that repurposes existing, active Forerunner machinery \u2013 in this case, beam emitters installed in the Forerunner\u2019s Sentinel Aggressor drones.<\/p>\n Source Link<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BY\u00a0GRIMBROTHER ONE ISSUE 32 Greetings canonheads, and welcome back to another round. The fodder flavor this Friday is full of fiction-fries \u2013 in other words, San Diego style. That\u2019s right, this week is all about the San Diego Comic Con, … Continue reading RING AROUND THE BLOK<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nSHOW BUSINESS<\/h2>\n
FULL CIRCLE<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n–GRIM<\/strong><\/p>\nNEW UNIVERSE ARTICLES THIS WEEK!<\/h2>\n
SANGHEILI<\/a><\/h4>\n
FOCUS RIFLE<\/a><\/h4>\n