''Hellboy Animated'' is a straight-to-DVD anime-inspired

superhero film Superhero film/movie is a film genre categorized by the presence of superhero characters, individuals with extraordinary abilities who are dedicated to fighting crime, saving the world, or helping the innocent. It is sometimes considered a sub ...

series based upon the ''

Hellboy Hellboy is a superhero created by Mike Mignola and appearing in comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in ''San Diego Comic-Con Comics'' #2 (August 1993), and has since appeared in various miniseries, one-shots ...

'' comic books by

Mike Mignola Michael Mignola (; born September 16, 1960) is an American comic book writer best known for creating ''Hellboy'' for Dark Horse Comics, part of a Hellboy Universe, shared universe of titles including ''B.P.R.D.'', ''Abe Sapien'', ''Lobster Johns ...

. Both films are

anthologies In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and ge ...

and contain the full-length titles named '' Sword of Storms'' and '' Blood and Iron'', received the signature of

and

Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro Gómez (; born 9 October 1964) is a Mexican filmmaker, author, and artist. His work has been characterized by a strong connection to fairy tales, Gothic fiction, gothicism and horror fiction, horror often blending the genres ...

Production

Like the live-action films, it was co-produced by

Revolution Studios Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC (operating as Revolution Studios) is an American independent motion picture and foreign sales company headed by Chief Executive Officer Scott Hemming, founded in 2000, and based in Los Angeles, Los Ang ...

. The animation was done by Japanese animation studio Madhouse. Both films were distributed by

Anchor Bay Entertainment The revived Anchor Bay Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company owned by Umbrelic Entertainment co-founders Thomas Zambeck and Brian Katz. Anchor Bay Entertainment markets and releases "new release genre ...

, instead of

Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...

(first film),

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

( second film), and Lawrence Gordon Productions (both live-action films). A third film was being planned but was never greenlit. Both films were re-released in

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as a double feature by

Lionsgate Home Entertainment Lionsgate Studios Corp. (simply known as Lionsgate Studios) is a Canadian-American film and television production and distribution conglomerate, domiciled in Vancouver, British Columbia, and primarily based in Santa Monica, California. It was f ...

on April 12, 2019.

Cast

Ron Perlman Ronald N. Perlman (born April 13, 1950) is an American actor. His credits include the roles of Amoukar in ''Quest for Fire (film), Quest for Fire'' (1981), Salvatore in ''The Name of the Rose (film), The Name of the Rose'' (1986), Vincent in th ...

, who played

in the live-action films, reprises his role in the animated version. Selma Blair and

John Hurt Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 28 January 2017) was an English actor. Regarded as one of the finest actors of his time and known for the "most distinctive voice in Cinema of the United Kingdom, Britain", he was described by David Ly ...

also reprise their roles from the film

Liz Sherman Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Sherman is a fictional character appearing in the '' Hellboy'' comic book series created by Mike Mignola. A firestarter, she becomes a ward of the B.P.R.D. at age 11 after burning her family to death in a traumatic accid ...

and Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, respectively. The voice of

Abe Sapien Abraham Sapien, born Langdon Everett Caul, is a fictional character in the comic book series ''Hellboy'', created by Mike Mignola. He takes his name from "''Ichthyo sapien''", the fanciful species designation chosen for him by his colleagues in ...

is Doug Jones, who played Abe in prosthetic work in the live-action movies but did not provide the voice for the first film (Abe's vocals for that film were done by an uncredited

David Hyde Pierce David Hyde Pierce (born David Pierce; April 3, 1959) is an American actor. Known for his portrayal of psychiatrist Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Frasier'' from 1993 to 2004, he received four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting A ...

). He did, however, voice the character in the second film. Kate Corrigan is voiced by Peri Gilpin. Music is by Christopher Drake.

Films

''Sword of Storms''

In ''Sword of Storms'' (2006), Hellboy and Kate Corrigan are dispatched to

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

to solve the mystery of a professor possessed by the Japanese demons Thunder and Lightning. The demons wish to get their hands on a powerful haunted sword, which will free them, and allow them to unleash their

brothers A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingl ...

and destroy the world. While Hellboy is sent into an alternate dimension, facing Yokai on the way, his B.P.R.D. teammates, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman, try to stop one of the Dragons on the first wave of the coming chaos.

''Blood and Iron''

''Hellboy: Blood and Iron'' (2007) deals with Professor Trevor Bruttenholm's experience with a vampiress (the blood countess) in 1934 and the present day. Hellboy also faces off against

Hecate Hecate ( ; ) is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, or snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depicted as three-formed or triple-bodied. She is variously associat ...

Short films

''Iron Shoes''

This short film was included as a bonus feature on the DVD for ''Hellboy: Blood and Iron''.

''The Dark Below''

This short film was released in 2010 on various streaming services, with Hellboy voiced by Zebulon Pike.

Comics

As with the DC animated universe's spin-off comic books,

Dark Horse A dark horse is a previously lesser-known person, team or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, that is unlikely to succeed but has a fighting chance, unlike the underdog who is exp ...

released three volumes under the ''Hellboy Animated'' range. These continued the adventures of the animated characters. *'' Hellboy Animated'': ** ''The Black Wedding'' (80 pages, January 2007, ) contains: *** "The Black Wedding" (written by Jim Pascoe with art by Rick Lacy) *** "Pyramid of Death" (written by Tad Stones with art by Fabio Laguna) ** ''Judgment Bell'' (80 pages, June 2007, ) contains: *** "The Judgment Bell" (written by Jim Pascoe with art by Rick Lacy) *** "The Menace of the Mechanical Monster" (written and drawn by Tad Stones) ** ''The Menagerie'' (80 pages, December 2007, ) contains: *** "The Menagerie" (written by Jason Hall with art by Rick Lacy) *** "Small Victories" (written by Nate Piekos with art by Fabio Laguna) Additionally, a minicomic titled ''Phantom Limbs'' (written by Jim Pascoe with art by Rick Lacy) was included with the DVD of ''Sword of Storms''. Another minicomic, ''The Yearning'' (written by Jim Pascoe with art by Ben Stenbeck) was included with the DVD of ''Blood & Iron''.

Merchandise

Gentle Giant Ltd, famed for its statues, has been given the license for the Hellboy Animated action figures. A first-look Hellboy figure shrink-wrapped to a copy of the ''Blood and Iron'' DVD was released as a

Best Buy Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was r ...

exclusive.

References

External links

Official ''Hellboy Animated'' production blog
{{Hellboy Film series introduced in 2006

Animated Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby image, still images are manipulated to create Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on cel, transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and e ...

Action film series Fantasy film series Adventure film series Animated film series Revolution Studios films