"I think dead and possibly buried. Or even cremated."
These were the words used by Joss Whedon in a recent
interview with TV Guide's Mike Ausiello regarding his many projects,
including the animated show. Unfortunately, it seems that work involving the
show has ended, possibly due to Joss' growing film career and Jeph Loeb's
departure. It remains unlikely that the show's premise will be resurrected,
but this section of the Resource aims to highlight what could have been a
follow-up to the hit live action show.
The original plan for Buffy: The Animated Series
first came about during Buffy's fourth season, where Joss Whedon and
current Smallville producer Jeph Loeb came up with a premise for an
animated show. Set during the live action show's first season, the series
would tell the stories that live action could never tell, but with one
twist: the show would also feature a ten-year old Dawn and would therefore
be a showcase for the altered events that were hinted at when the character
was initially introduced.
While the show was still on the drawing board, an initial presentation piece
was produced, with cast members Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and
Anthony Stewart Head reprising their roles as Xander, Willow and Giles
respectively. While Sarah Michelle Gellar opted out of voicing the animated
Slayer, Giselle Loren, a veteran who had voiced the character in a video game,
took the role. There was no other word on cast involvement, but David
Boreanaz did express interest.
The show would have be written by various Mutant Enemy writers, including Doug
Petrie and Jane Espenson, and would have featured several early characters, such
as Cordelia Chase, Jonathan Levinson, Principal Snyder and Joyce Summers.
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