Heroes United is a series of direct-to-video animated superhero films from Marvel Animation. They are the first full-length direct-to-video CG animated features created by the animation studio.[1] Both films are available to stream on Disney+.[2]
The studio used a new process that they invented referred to as a "2-D wrap."[13][14] This process starts with traditional animation,[15] then scanning into the computer to wrap it around the characters to give texture and weight to backgrounds and strongly emphasize facial expressions.[7][16]
In October 2012, Marvel Animation Studios announced its first DTV production, the direct-to-video film Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, which was scheduled to be released on April 23, 2013.[17][18] The release was pushed back to December 2013.[19] The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, Digital, and Disney Movies Anywhere on December 3, 2013.[20]
Premise
Two Hydra scientists enlist the Abomination to help them capture the Hulk and siphon his gamma energy into their own version of Tony Stark's arc reactor.[21] By the time Iron Man arrives to investigate, he and the Hulk find themselves facing the newly created energy creature Zzzax.[22][23] They also fight a Wendigo and a fleet of Mandroids.[7]
The film was in production as of December 2013, as they released a clip of film with an announcement that the film would be released in 2014.[29] It was released on Digital HD, On-Demand, and Disney Movies Anywhere on July 29, 2014.[30][31]
Plot
The Red Skull and Taskmaster strategized a plan to be rid of Captain America, by stealing the weapons that belonged to Iron Man. After the two heroes' training was complete, the Hydra soldiers infiltrated the Helicarrier and headed towards the weapons vault. During their attack, two of the soldiers went in and escaped with the Stark Repulsor Cannon. Iron Man flies to reclaim his repulsor cannon while Cap fights with Taskmaster, but to no avail as Taskmaster takes him down and kidnapped him to the base.
The Red Skull stole Cap's superhuman blood to create an army, replicated with the same powers as he has, with machine called the Neurotransducer. Iron Man has been reported that not only the hull of the Helicarrier is damaged, but his Mark VI armor is taken by Taskmaster during the infiltration. He found their base in an abandoned military bunker in the Southern Estonia.
The serum was fully created and the Red Skull brainwashed Cap, causing him turn into a pawn called Captain Hydra and fights against Iron Man who arrives to rescue him. During the fight, Cap hacks into Iron Man's systems, allowing Taskmaster to gain access to control his Mark VI armor. Iron Man gets Cap back to normal and put up a fake fight to make Taskmaster thinks Cap is still in Hydra's control. After that, Taskmaster announced his plan to Cap about overthrowing Red Skull and to rule the world, before being beaten down by the two. As they leave, Taskmaster escapes and activates his Mark VI armor, naming himself the "Iron Master."
Arriving in Antarctica, two of the Avengers witnessed a giant rocket, containing Cap's blood, enough to turn everyone in the world into his super-powered army, and an underground facility where they mass-produced the Stark Repulsor Cannon and copied Cap's shield from the real one. They fight off against the remaining Hydra soldiers and shut down production of the facility. Before they can take down the Red Skull, the Iron Master arrives and attempts to kill him, but the Iron Master's armor was in the Red Skull's control and forced him to kill them, but is quickly beaten. The superhuman Hydra soldiers arrived to defeat the two avengers. Before they can finish them off, the Hulk arrived to their aid of assistance. Iron Man fights against the Iron Master with the Hulk and won, while Cap goes to confront the Red Skull and to halt the rocket's launch sequence. Cap succeeds in stopping the rocket by stuck his shield into the fuel tanks, causing the rocket to destruct by the launch, and destroying the whole facility in the process. The Red Skull, the Iron Master and the remaining Hydra soldiers survived and escaped, but taken into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D.
At the Helicarrier, Iron Man, Cap (as Iron Patriot) and the Hulk began training and end up with the two being beaten by Iron Patriot's heat-seeking missiles. After the two make up, they and the Hulk went out to eat.
Reception
Critical response
Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United
John-Michael Bond of The Daily Dot wrote, "Marvel excels at telling patently ridiculous stories in a way that draws you in, and this animated tale of mad scientists run amok is a shining example. Reimagining the origin story of the Hulk villain Zzzax, a being of pure energy and onomatopoeia, this adventure focuses on the humorous partnership that arises when Iron Man and the god of smashing team up. Computer effects make the animation occasionally look a little odd, but it’s highly stylized art—and what comic fan could turn their nose up at that?."[32] Troy Blackburn of Screen Rant ranked Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United 16th in their "16 Best Marvel Animated Movies" list.[33] Brent McCluskey of Mic ranked Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United 45th in their "50 Netflix Superhero Movies and TV Shows to Binge Watch in 2017" list, calling it one of the "50 best superhero movies and TV shows on Netflix in 2017."[34]
Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United
John-Michael Bond of The Daily Dot wrote, "Marvel’s Heroes United movies are lighthearted fare, designed to show off the joys of a superhero team-up while telling a big action story full of laughs. Centering on the dueling hubris of the Avengers two leaders, Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United follows our heroes as they takedown Red Skull and an army of Hydra super soldiers. The computerized animation takes some getting used to, but Clancy Brown is a joy as the villainous Taskmaster. If you’re looking for a good film for your kids, Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United fits the bill."[32] Joe Garza of /Film said, "Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United is carried by the wonderful chemistry between the two heroes as they continually compete to show up each other, which only makes the moments of them fighting together as a team all the more satisfying."[35]
Brian Costello of Common Sense Media gave Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United a grade of three out of five stars, calling it a "noir" take on Captain America and Iron Man.[36] Troy Blackburn of Screen Rant ranked Captain America:Heroes United 14th in their "16 Best Marvel Animated Movies" list.[33] Brent McCluskey of Mic ranked Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United 47th in their "50 Netflix Superhero Movies and TV Shows to Binge Watch in 2017" list, calling it one of the "50 best superhero movies and TV shows on Netflix in 2017."[34]
In 2013, Diamond Select Toys released a Tony Stark / Iron Man minimate and a Bruce Banner / Hulk minimate inspired by the Heroes United incarnations of the characters.[39][40]
^"Voice Of Hulk – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources((cite web)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"Voice Of Zzzax – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources((cite web)): CS1 maint: postscript (link)
