Guardians of the Galaxy
Promotional poster for Guardians of the Galaxy.
Genre
Based onGuardians of the Galaxy
by James Gunn & Nicole Perlman
Guardians of the Galaxy
by Dan Abnett
Andy Lanning
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducersCo-executive:
  • Stan Lee
  • Eric Radomski
  • Cort Lane
  • Stephen Wacker

Supervising:

  • Marty Isenberg
  • Harrison Wilcox
Consulting: Steven Melching[1]
Running time21-22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkDisney XD
ReleaseJuly 26, 2015[2]
Related
Avengers Assemble
Ultimate Spider-Man
Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an American animated television series, based on the Marvel Comics team of the same name. It is produced by Marvel Television and Marvel Animation. The series aired on Disney XD and premiered on September 26, 2015 as a part of the Marvel Universe block.

While it serves as a spiritual continuation of the first film's plot,[3] film director James Gunn has stated that it is not a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe nor connected to the feature film or its sequel.[4]

Disney XD later renewed the series for a second season.[5]

Plot

The Guardians of the Galaxy (consisting of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon and Groot) have obtained an artifact called the Spartaxian CryptoCube that is tied to the Spartax race. Inside is a map leading to the Cosmic Seed, a powerful weapon capable of creating a new universe. The Guardians of the Galaxy must find and destroy the Cosmic Seed before it can wind up in the hands of Thanos, his minions Korath and Nebula, the Ravagers led by Yondu, and anyone else who would abuse its power to threaten the universe.

Cast

Principal cast

Additional voices

Crew

Episodes

Shorts

No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original U.S. air date U.S. viewers
(in millions)
11"Origins"TBATBAJuly 26, 2015 (2015-07-26)N/A

In this series of shorts, the origins of the Guardians of the Galaxy are explored:

  • Star-Lord - A young Star-Lord meets the Ravagers led by Yondu upon being abducted by the Ravagers.
  • Groot - The story of Groot's old home planet is told where it was decimated by Ronan the Accuser.
  • Rocket Raccoon - A group of robots on Halfworld enhance a space raccoon into Rocket Raccoon and even tells how he met up with Groot.
  • Drax - It's revealed how Drax ended up in Nova Corps custody after he saved some prisoners from Ronan the Accuser.
  • Gamora - Gamora is freed from Thanos' control while on a mission with Thanos' other minions Nebula and Korath.

Season 1 (2015)

No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original U.S. air date Production
code[12] 		U.S. viewers
(in millions)
11"Road to Knowhere"Leo RileyMarty IsenbergSeptember 5, 2015 (2015-09-05)1010.39[13]

Star-Lord leads his fellow team members Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon and Groot into raiding an alien prison to spring Yondu. They learn from him that Korath the Pursuer has a Spartax artifact that he plans to give to Thanos. After getting the artifact from Korath the Pursuer, the Guardians of the Galaxy head to Knowhere (a colony in the severed head of a Celestial). While Drax, Rocket Raccoon and Groot's stick form meet Cosmo the Spacedog (who is the head of security on Knowhere), Star-Lord learns from an alien broker that he is part Spartax. When Korath the Pursuer's group and Yondu's Ravagers attack the Guardians of the Galaxy to claim the Spartax artifact, Knowhere starts to come to life and ensnare everyone.

Songs: "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "Funk #49" by James Gang
22"Knowhere to Run"Leo RileyMarty IsenbergSeptember 26, 2015 (2015-09-26)1020.51[14]

After the Cosmic Seed caused Knowhere to be briefly awakened and Groot to be overpowered by its energies, Korath the Pursuer snatches Star-Lord and Gamora in order to force Star-Lord to open the box for him by using a parasite that makes Gamora relive her sins. Following the rescue of Star-Lord and Gamora, Thanos leads his fleet into attacking Knowhere in order to claim the Star Seed's box. As Star-Lord uses the Continuum Cortex in Knowhere to fight Thanos' fleet, Groot helps Drax the Destroyer fight Thanos. Eventually, Cosmo uses Knowhere's technology to transport the Guardians of the Galaxy and Knowhere to a distant galaxy. After leaving Knowhere, Star-Lord discovers that the Cosmic Seed's box is a map to the Cosmic Seed.

Song: "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray
33"One in a Million You"James YangSteven MelchingOctober 3, 2015 (2015-10-03)1030.76[15]

After the Guardians of the Galaxy narrowly escape a planet that Fin Fang Foom was on, Rocket Raccoon accepts an offer to work for the Collector, while the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy look for special Pandorian Crystals needed to power the map to the Star Seed. What the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy do not know is that the Collector has plans to add Rocket Raccoon to his collection of alien creatures due to him being the last of his kind.

Song: "Walk Away" by James Gang
44"Take the Milano and Run"Jeff WamesterAndrew R. RobinsonOctober 10, 2015 (2015-10-10)1040.37[16]

The Guardians crash land on a space station called Conjunction, which is run by Grandmaster. The Grandmaster seeks to have Drax and Gamora fight each other in the Conjunction Arena. The Guardians of the Galaxy look for Pandorian Crystals from Star-Lord's old contact named Lunatik. They must also keep themselves from being busted by Nova Corps member named Titus.

Song: "The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy
55"Can't Fight This Seedling"James YangDavid McDermottOctober 17, 2015 (2015-10-17)1050.35[17]
On a planet where the next Pandorian Crystal is, the Guardians of the Galaxy find a race of aliens that are under attack by the rock like Rexians. They fight them off. Afterwards, the Guardians go on a journey to save Groot. Groot becomes infected with the same parasitic fungus that possessed the Rexians. They also try not to get into conflict with a persistent Titus.
66"Undercover Angle"Jeff WamesterMarsha F. GriffinOctober 24, 2015 (2015-10-24)106TBD
Titus apprehends the Guardians of the Galaxy when they try to infiltrate the Nova Corps Headquarters on Xandar even after preventing Supergiant from escaping from her prison and preventing a spaceship from crashing. As part of a deal with Titus, the Guardians infiltrate a notorious gang of weapons dealers called the Black Order (the same group that Supergiant works for which also consists of Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, Corvus Glaive, and Black Dwarf) who have been sighted on the desert planet of Eilsel 4. The Black Order plans to obtain the Universal Weapon that was previously used by Ronan the Accuser and give it to Thanos.
77"The Backstabbers"James YangAndrew R. RobinsonNovember 7, 2015 (2015-11-07)1070.36[18]
Since Ronan the Accuser has been dead, Nova Prime informs the Nova Corps that there is a power vacuum left by Ronan the Accuser's death where Korath the Pursuer, Nebula, and Gamora have been competing to be Thanos' new general. The other Guardians of the Galaxy members do not know it yet, but Gamora has come up with a plan to pit Korath the Pursuer and Nebula against each other by pretending to betray the Guardians of the Galaxy.
88"Hitchin' a Ride"Jeff WamesterDavid McDermottNovember 14, 2015 (2015-11-14)1080.34[19]

While at an abandoned mining facility on an unnamed planet, the Guardians of the Galaxy are attacked by super-evolved Symbiotes. They end up running into Yondu's Ravagers who are after the Cosmic Seed's map while trying to avoid the Symbiotes. After escaping both enemies, the Guardians of the Galaxy are unaware that one Symbiote stowed away. The Symbiote ends up possessing Groot, trapping Gamora and Drax in a cocoon, and changing the destination to Hala so that the Symbiotes can invade other planets. While Rocket Raccoon goes to great lengths to save Groot, Star-Lord must go to great lengths to protect the Cosmic Seed map even when the Ravagers catch up.

Song: "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb
99"We Are Family"James YangSteven MelchingNovember 21, 2015 (2015-11-21)1090.34[20]

Rocket Raccoon is abducted and taken back to his home planet Halfworld. Rocket finds that all the animal life including his family have become just as enhanced as he is. When the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive on Half World, they end up helping Rocket Raccoon to fight the evolved turtle Pyko who leads his fellow evolved creatures Ranger (who is Rocket Raccoon's brother), Blackjack O'Hare (an evolved hare), and Wal Rus (an evolved walrus) on a rebellion against the Halfworld Robots that evolved them.

Song: "Funk Funk" by Cameo
1010"Bad Moon Rising"Jeff WamesterMatt WayneNovember 28, 2015 (2015-11-28)1100.30[21]

The Guardians of the Galaxy encounter a living moon called Mandala which starts to make Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot act like they were before they all met as a way for Mandala to play with them. Star-Lord must work to get them back to normal even when Nebula uses Mandala's life-giving powers and a special seed to resurrect Ronan the Accuser.

Song: "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
1111"Space Cowboys"[22]TBATBAFebruary 21, 2016 (2016-02-21)111TBD
1212"Crystal Blue Persuasion"[23]TBATBAFebruary 28, 2016 (2016-02-28)112TBD

Production

Marvel was rumored to be considering starting a new animated series with another Spider-Man show or a Guardians of the Galaxy show. The appearances of the Guardians in Avengers Assemble and Ultimate Spider-Man were supposed test runs for their own show. Comicbookmovie.com indicated in January 2014 that the Guardians series was selected for development.[24]

On July 26, 2014, at San Diego Comic-Con, a week before the release of the Guardians of the Galaxy film, Marvel Animation announced the Guardians of the Galaxy animated TV series with a trailer featuring Rocket Raccoon and Star-Lord.[25] With the success of the live action film, Marvel and Disney XD announced that they were moving forward with the animated series at New York Comic Con, where they showed some test footage.[26] It is intended to air in 2015 as part of the Marvel Universe block on Disney XD.[1]

Advanced previews of the show started airing on Disney XD on August 1, 2015. A full preview of the series aired on Disney XD on September 5, with the official one-hour premiere on September 26.[27]

Each episode is named after or a reference to a popular song from the 60s, 70s, or 80s.

Music

In late August, it was revealed that licensed songs from the 70s would be used to augment the tone and soundtrack of the series.[28]

In September, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Mix Vol. 1 (Music from the Animated Television Series) was announced, a collection of 12 songs featured in the show’s first season.[29]

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Hooked on a Feeling"Blue Swede2:53
2."Funk #49"James Gang3:56
3."Drift Away"Dobie Gray3:57
4."Walk Away"James Gang3:34
5."The Boys Are Back in Town"Thin Lizzy4:28
6."Shake Your Groove Thing"Peaches & Herb5:33
7."Funk Funk"Cameo4:47
8."Joy to the World"Three Dog Night3:39
9."I Will Survive"Gloria Gaynor8:01
10."Rocky Mountain Way"Joe Walsh5:16
11."So You Are a Star"Hudson Brothers3:48
12."Don't Stop Me Now"Queen3:30
Total length:50:42

Adaptations

The animated series is to be adapted into a comic book series Marvel Universe: Guardians of the Galaxy, using the episode's art work with writing and letter by Joe Caramagna.[30]

Reception

Ratings

Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes Premiered Ended Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere viewers
(in millions) 		Date Finale viewers
(in millions)
1
Saturday 9:30 p.m.
 26
September 5, 2015
 0.39[13]
TBA
 TBA 0.51

Critical response

Critical and fan reception for the series has been relatively positive. Nerdist gave the show a positive review stating "this was a pretty solid introduction to the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series".[31] ToonZone said "the premiere was pretty good, but the episodes that followed have shown real promise".[32] Screenrant wrote "Disney XD’s Guardians of the Galaxy delivers an exhilarating action-packed adventure."[33] The Nerd Repository praised the series stating "Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is an absolute blast and probably the best thing Marvel Animation has done in a long while."[34]

Conversely, IGN said "the show seems too concerned with adhering to the style, tone and look of the movie and not with leaving its own mark on the characters."[35] The A.V. Club gave the premiere a "B-" ranking, writing that "Disney XD has a very specific demographic they’re aiming for, which leaves “Road to Knowhere/Knowhere to Run” somewhat clunky and awkward."[36] The Solute stated "There’s certainly potential for interesting stories to be told within Marvel’s cosmic realm, especially when told in the medium of animation, but Guardians Of The Galaxy is far far from realizing that potential right now."[37]

Broadcast

Guardians of the Galaxy aired on Disney XD in the United States and Disney Channel in Canada on September 5, 2015 as a preview, and officially debuted on September 26.[38] The series premiered on Disney XD in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 7 and on Disney XD in Australia and New Zealand on November 8.[39][40]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ng, Philiana (October 10, 2014). "'Guardians of the Galaxy' Animated TV Series Coming in 2015". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Goldman, Eric (July 6, 2015). "Guardians of the Galaxy Animated Series Poster Reveal". IGN. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Barnes, Brooks (October 10, 2014). "Disney Pins Hopes on 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Show". nytimes.com. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Lussier, Germain (December 9, 2014). "Interview: James Gunn Talks 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Blu-ray and Franchise Future". /Film. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ NYCC 2015: Disney XD Renews "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy"
  6. ^ a b c d e f Truitt, Brian (February 19, 2015). "Guardians of the Galaxy 'Assemble' again on TV". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "We Are Family". Guardians of the Galaxy. Season 1. Episode 9. November 21, 2015. Disney XD.
  8. ^ "Bad Moon Rising". Guardians of the Galaxy. Season 1. Episode 10. November 28, 2015. Disney XD.
  9. ^ a b "Take the Milano and Run". Guardians of the Galaxy. Season 0. Episode 1. July 26, 2015. Disney XD.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Take the Milano and Run". Guardians of the Galaxy. Season 1. Episode 4. October 10, 2015. Disney XD.
  11. ^ Vanessa Marshall (August 24, 2015). "@IAmCreeSummer Hey Nebula, GuuuRRRRLLLLL!!!! You are amazing! xoxo". Twitter. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy episodes". Disney-ABC Press. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (September 9, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Ratings (& Network Update): 9.5.2015". SHOWBUZZDAILY. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  14. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 29, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.26.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  15. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 6, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.3.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  16. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 13, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.10.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  17. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 20, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 10.17.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  18. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 10, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.7.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  19. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 17, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.14.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  20. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 24, 2015). "EXPANDED SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.21.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  21. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 2, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.28.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  22. ^ "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy : Space Cowboys". Zap2It Listings. Zap2It. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  23. ^ "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy : Crystal Blue Persuasion". Zap2It Listings. Zap2It. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  24. ^ Shaw-Williams, H. (January 3, 2014). "Rumor Patrol: 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Animated Series in Development at Marvel". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  25. ^ Rivera, Joshua (July 26, 2014). "Marvel announces new 'Guardians of the Galaxy' animated series". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  26. ^ Graser, Marc (October 10, 2014). "Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' TV Show Heads to Disney XD". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  27. ^ Koch, Dave (August 2, 2015). "Guardians of the Galaxy Release Imminent". Big Cartoon News. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  28. ^ http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/08/25/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cartoon-licenses-real-70s-hits-like-the-movie/
  29. ^ https://marvel.com/news/tv/25080/marvel_music_presents_cosmic_mix_vol_1_out_on_october_16
  30. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (November 13, 2014). "Marvel Announces New Guardians of the Galaxy Comic". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  31. ^ Marnell, Blair. "Guardians of the Galaxy Animated Series Review: "Road to Knowhere"".
  32. ^ B-A, Gervaise. "Review: "Guardians of the Galaxy" Animated Series - Let's Blow Stuff Up!".
  33. ^ Griffin, David. "Guardians of the Galaxy Series Premiere Review: Hooked on a Feeling".
  34. ^ Wilson, Kyle. "TV Review. 'Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy' - The Nerd Repository".
  35. ^ Schedeen, Jesse. "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: "Road to Knowhere" Review - IGN".
  36. ^ Johnson, Kevin. "Guardians of the Galaxy "Road to Knowhere/Knowhere to Run"".
  37. ^ Laman, Douglas. "Guardians of the Galaxy Series Première Review".
  38. ^ "Get Ready Canada! Disney Channel Arrives on September 1!". Corus Entertainment. August 11, 2015.
  39. ^ Ellwood, Greg (October 15, 2015). "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy coming to Disney XD". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  40. ^ DisneyXDAU (October 9, 2015). "#GuardiansoftheGalaxy will premiere 8 Nov in AUNZ on @Foxtel". Twitter. Retrieved October 18, 2015.

External links

Guardians of the Galaxy
Animated TV series based on Marvel Comics properties
Former Disney XD original programming
Categories