Young Justice Animated Series To Return For Third Season
By Alex Widen
The long wait for a legion of DC Comics animation fans is over.
As reported via IGN this afternoon, Young Justice will be returning for a long awaited third season. In addition, the show’s original producers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti will return to draft new episodes. All this and more was confirmed in a statement by Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series.
Image by Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Comics
In a statement, Register said, “The affection that fans have had for Young Justice, and their rallying cry for more episodes, has always resonated with us. We are excited to bring the show back for this loyal fanbase and to provide an opportunity for new viewers to discover this excellent series.” No further details were provided by Warner Bros. Animation aside for the fact that production on the series had begun. It is unknown whether the series will air on Netflix or Cartoon Network.
Young Justice’s Tenure on TV Was an Adventure Unto Itself!
This represents an amazing turn of events for the Young Justice animated series. Its two-part pilot episode first debuted on November 26th 2010. The rest of the first season properly began in January 2011. The series chronicles the exploits of the youngest generation of DC superheroes as they branch out from the shadows of their mentors. The initial cast included Robin, Superboy, Aqualad, Kid-Flash, Miss Martian, and Artemis. It soon stretched to include fresh takes on younger heroes such as Zatanna, Rocket, Blue Beetle, Wonder Girl, and Beast Boy, among others.
Image by Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Comics
Young Justice was renewed for a second season, but its airing schedule was often sporadic. The show performed solidly in terms of ratings and quickly developed an avid following. Unfortunately, according to Greg Weisman, the failure of the toy line which coincided with it quelled any immediate approval for a third season by 2013. The series soon went to DVD, Blu-ray, and eventually Netflix. A rigorous campaign to spread the word began from the producers on down.
Combining superhero espionage with humor, romance, and intricate plots, Young Justice juggled the entire DC Universe in new ways. Such is expected of a Greg Weisman production. The former DC Comics editor also has such acclaimed series as Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-Man and Star Wars: Rebels to his credit. Brandon Vietti has produced and directed a variety of TV and video DC animated projects such as The Batman, Batman: Under The Red Hood and Superman: Doomsday.
Returning Soon to a Small Screen near You!
Episodes of an animated TV series often take between eight to ten months to be completed. It’s unknown at exactly what point production began, but it seems probable that Young Justice’s third season will debut in 2017. WB added, “new twists, turns and dangerous new threats for the team.” Most of the series featured “the team” trying to battle a cabal of world shifting antagonists called “the Light.” The cast expanded drastically in Season 2, and likely will do so again.
Image by Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Comics
For three years, Young Justice served as yet another example of a well-produced animated series that ended too soon. Now, through the power of social media and both fan and creator devotion, it lives again. Presumably, DC Comics may reprint the comic book series drawn by Christopher Jones which tied into the series as well. Cast lists and episode listings should arrive in the coming months. For the moment, it’s a triumph for DC fans and lovers of quality animation everywhere!