CinemaBlend- Film adaptations of young adult book genres have become increasingly profitable over the years. From Harry Potter to the more recent Hunger Games franchise, the genre has proven time and time again to be a solid cash cow. Despite this, one iconic ’90s book series has yet to make it to the silver screen – until now.
According to The Tracking Board, Universal has plans to adapt the popular Scholastic Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate, into a movie. Animorphs chronicles the adventures of five teenagers caught in the war between two alien species: the Andalite and the Yeerks – parasitic, slug-like life forms who control humans by entering their ear canal. When they stumble upon the ship of a dying Andalite warrior, he grants them the ability to morph into any animal they come into contact with, and recruits them into the battle.
While many recent young adult series center on dystopian futures, Animorphs could set itself apart for a variety of reasons. First – and perhaps most importantly – Animorphs takes place in a contemporary American setting, rather than a distant time. The characters in the series are fighting to preserve a way of life that audiences can quickly recognize and identify with. Despite the fantastical nature of elements incorporated in the Animorphs books, many of the adventures the characters go on take place in schools and suburbs.
This sense of familiarity is assisted by the ensemble nature of the central cast. Similar to Power Rangers, while the Animorphs’ had a leader (Jake Berenson), the series paid equal attention to each member of the team, each of whom came from different gender and cultural background. By not having a central character – like Katniss Everdeen or Harry Potter – the series sets itself apart and primes itself for success. Finally, as the Yeerks eventually begin to view the Animorphs as an Andalite guerilla force – like a sci-fi Red Dawn – the series always maintained a consistent focus on tension and stealth missions rather than overt, bombastic actions sequences.
The Animorphs series was incredibly popular during the time of their publication, producing 54 separate novels – each teen taking turns narrating different books – as well as a television series that ran for two seasons on Nickelodeon. With Sony’s upcoming adaptation of the Goosebumps franchise, this could indicate that ’90s culture is making a serious cinematic comeback.
#CheeseburgerHoldTheCheese
If you don’t know what that means in relations to this Animorphs than you aren’t cool enough in my books.
The 90’s were awesome. Great tv shows. Awesome cartoons, and books kids actually wanted to read. I use to order some of the Animorphs book straight out of the scholastic catalogs that we use to get like one a month in our home room class. Once it became a tv show, i thought it was the best thing ever. I mean that has to be a top 10 dream for kids right? to be able to morph into some animal? Just have a rolodex in your brain of what animals look like after you’ve touched them and just morph into any one when you need it? Don’t see a downside to that at all besides the alien war you get wrapped up in trying to save earth from the aliens in which you got your powers from but thats just a minor inconvenience. All i know is i grew up wishing i was Jake however long that show ran. He’s your classic 90’s white kid. blonde, played some sports, didnt dress weird, could get the girl, main character in a alien race war storyline. Had it all. Tobias if i remember correctly was the weirdo of the group. Kinda emo right? always cool he turned into a falcon and flew away but he was definitely the black sheep of the group. Anyways i hope this movie doesnt stink. The new Goosebumps movie looks awful but i guess if i were a child i would be amused by it, But i want to see Animorphs on a whole new level. I mean they use to let like slugs go into their ear and brain and shit. I want to take that grossness and make it awesome.
P.s- Cheeseburger hold the cheese was the password at the burger joint to get secret access to become one of those alien gross people who let slugs go into their brains. I think about it every time im at McDonalds.
P.P.S- You can watch some episodes HERE
The Ugly Orange 