a prequel perchance?

[Yuko-san]

I've been thinking. Not everyone is for season 3, while many are for it. And an Ova, while it would be appreciated, might not answer all our questions. So here's an interesting little thought; what if Big O have a prequel? there are quite a few questions that could only be answered by a 3rd season or OVA. But many questions we have about Big O could easily be answered in a 5-6 episode prequel.
Questions like these:
Why does Norman where an eye patch? And what did he mean by "I've been watching you and Big O longer then you realize Master Roger"? (opening to the second season). Why did Roger leave the MP? It was hinted at by Dastun that he may have been using Big O even before he quit. What was the human Dorothy like and how did she die? where did the union come from? Why, other then lose of memories, did Beck become a criminal? Why do all the characters, save Angel and Dorothy, act like they are older then 40? How did Roger become a millionaire when he was a poor homeless man. Are the people of Paradigm even human (ep. 26 for reference).

Do you think a prequel is a good idea? Could it answer all these questions and even some we haven't thought of? Or would it be a waste and not answer anything?

[Professor Vogler]

Personally, there are two things I would like if there was ever a chance to revive The Big O series.

1) A Season 3 which continues the plot from Season 2.
2) A prequel series that takes place in the same Paradigm City, but within the years following The Event. A season about what was happening when the domes were being built, Gordon Rosewater was in charge, and the early anti-gov't underground was active.

I'm currently running an RPG based off of what I think would happen maybe 10 years after The Event. It's an interesting way of seeing the city before Roger Smith.

[Tifaria]

Hmm.  I feel like a prequel may end up ruining some of the mystery.  I mean, I like the idea, but I also really like the ambiguity and mystery that the series sets up.  It would have to be done very carefully.  I feel like sometimes prequels end up being disappointing because the answers they give are less interesting than not knowing.  Another problem is that if you already know how the story ends, a prequel can sometimes feel unnecessary and boring.  But, I do agree that it would be nice to see something that takes place closer to when The Event occurs and doesn't try to show us too much about the characters we're already familiar with.  Show us Gordon Rosewater and what was going on under him, but maybe only hint at some of the other characters, or don't introduce them until towards the end. 

[neoncoyote]

2) A prequel series that takes place in the same Paradigm City, but within the years following The Event. A season about what was happening when the domes were being built, Gordon Rosewater was in charge, and the early anti-gov't underground was active.

This. As much as I love Roger, I would love to see what happened before he came onto the scene and how everyone adjusted during the event (because amnesia? Someone has to properly know how to set up and run a government somehow, right?) and how it effected people personally.

But one with answers about Roger and such would still be an interesting concept too. About his childhood and parents/how he inherited everything (including Big O)/how he became such a stud/etc.

[Yuko-san]

These ideas are better then what I had in mind. maybe we could appeal to Japan Bandai. Big O is actually really popular in Japan (contrary to what we have been told, it was a huge success over there. And a lot of Japanese people want to see it continued. This is according to my native Japanese friend Takako.) I can speak, read and write in Japanese rather well, though you wouldn't know it from my grades (my teacher teaches way to fast for me.) Maybe if we compose a proper Japanese letter and get signatures Bandai would read it, maybe even consider it.

[Professor Vogler]

These ideas are better then what I had in mind. maybe we could appeal to Japan Bandai. Big O is actually really popular in Japan (contrary to what we have been told, it was a huge success over there. And a lot of Japanese people want to see it continued. This is according to my native Japanese friend Takako.) I can speak, read and write in Japanese rather well, though you wouldn't know it from my grades (my teacher teaches way to fast for me.) Maybe if we compose a proper Japanese letter and get signatures Bandai would read it, maybe even consider it.

Well the problem there is that (assuming this information isn't already out-dated) Bandai doesn't currently OWN the rights to another season of Big O. Cartoon Network does... and probably more specifically the people at Adult Swim but I can't remember if it actually can be departmentalized like that.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but several years ago there was a letter-writing campaign called "Save Big O" and it did... stuff... to try and persuade CN to consider another season. It never got anywhere and really stopped being productive after the first year or so of trying.

What would probably be more successful is for someone to actual either interview (or have a meeting with) one of the people in-the-know at CN and see just what their current mentality on their asset (i.e. The Big O anime) happens to be. You have to realize that the budget proposal that would have been Big O III is long gone, so right now it's a matter of viewership and money (I would assume). Passionate fans or not, if it won't bring in the numbers Bleach or Family Guy do, then it probably isn't on their radar... especially 7-8 years later.

[Yuko-san]

These ideas are better then what I had in mind. maybe we could appeal to Japan Bandai. Big O is actually really popular in Japan (contrary to what we have been told, it was a huge success over there. And a lot of Japanese people want to see it continued. This is according to my native Japanese friend Takako.) I can speak, read and write in Japanese rather well, though you wouldn't know it from my grades (my teacher teaches way to fast for me.) Maybe if we compose a proper Japanese letter and get signatures Bandai would read it, maybe even consider it.

Well the problem there is that (assuming this information isn't already out-dated) Bandai doesn't currently OWN the rights to another season of Big O. Cartoon Network does... and probably more specifically the people at Adult Swim but I can't remember if it actually can be departmentalized like that.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but several years ago there was a letter-writing campaign called "Save Big O" and it did... stuff... to try and persuade CN to consider another season. It never got anywhere and really stopped being productive after the first year or so of trying.

What would probably be more successful is for someone to actual either interview (or have a meeting with) one of the people in-the-know at CN and see just what their current mentality on their asset (i.e. The Big O anime) happens to be. You have to realize that the budget proposal that would have been Big O III is long gone, so right now it's a matter of viewership and money (I would assume). Passionate fans or not, if it won't bring in the numbers Bleach or Family Guy do, then it probably isn't on their radar... especially 7-8 years later.

true. SBO's campaign is different then what I have in mind. remember they also planned to drive a tomato truck in front of the building. I can't remember if they planned to throw them at Lazo or not however.
What I have in mind is a simple letter asking whether or not they would be able to make a prequel given the standards. I've noticed a recent disinterest in Family Guy. Many people my own age and older sighting that it "just isn't funny anymore" and "the gags are getting old" or "there still making Family Guy? I thought it was dead", and even this "I only watched the chicken fighting episodes, other then that I don't give a rats ass about the show". So most people I know, and even many on online forums find the show to stupid to bother with anymore saying it's become like the Simpson's. As to Bleach a lot of people think that it's become like DBZ, where more episodes are being bumped out when the show could've ended a season or two back and viewers would have been happy with it. I've also seen many forums hating AS for not having better shows, saying that they are looking for real in-depth adult anime with mature topics. Not the lame old comedy shows that are typical of AS.
 
I haven't noticed this with Big O. Big O is actually rising in popularity right now. I find that when I mention it on other forums there will be at least 10-15 people asking me "you like Big O too?! Awesome! Lets talk about it." At the AS forums the Big O section has seen an increase in topics, asking all sorts of questions. Ranging from "I think this character is awesome" to "So what are your thought's about what happened in tonight's episode?" There has been a recent increase of in-depth fan fiction at fanfiction.net, and a large amount of new fan art on Deviant art. New products are also being released in Japan that are Big O related. The new $150 Big O model kit comes to mind, as well as the new $30 konoko sugi SD Big O model kit and toy line that are currently in production. Also, as far as I know, AS only owns the rights to Big O in America, not Japan. Otherwise I doubt the new toy lines and model kits would be in production. I've even heard talk of capsule toy's, though I'm not sure how true the rumors are.

Knowing this I'm sure a letter would get a response. Maybe not the one we are hoping for, but a response none the less.

[Tifaria]

Wow, you are really generalizing there.  I'm pretty sure that Family Guy is the highest rated show on Adult Swim, and their target audience are the highly sought after 18-35 year old males, which I'm guessing includes people your age (as well as mine).  Bleach is, I believe the highest among the anime (I could be wrong, but I know it has very strong ratings, regardless of where it ranks).  Adult Swim doesn't show a lot of anime because no one watches it.  It's really that simple.  I recall them showing a bump saying something along those lines a couple years back.  It was something like, "We would love to show more anime, but no one watches it."  Their comedy shows are what people are watching.  Family Guy, Robot Chicken, even their God-awful live-action shows, tend to get better ratings than the anime they show. 

I wouldn't say that just because you've noticed more people taking an interest in Big O means that they are new to it.  And I don't know where you're getting the idea that there's an increase in fanwork, because when I try to search for Big O fanart on DeviantArt, it doesn't show me anything new, just the popular ones from several years ago. 

My point is, if you intend to write a letter, you're going to need more concrete numbers.  No one's going to listen to a bunch of generalizations with nothing to back them up.  I'll be frank with you, I don't think anyone's going to listen anyway.  If they were interested in continuing the story, they would have years ago. 

[Brooklyn Luckfield]

I think the most depressing thing is reruns of Family Guy get better ratings than Anime. I think FG reruns get around 800k+. I just wish AS would pick up some better Anime. I think Heroic Age, or some other decently paced show would do decently. 

[Professor Vogler]

Could you imagine Baccano! on [as]? I'd love that.

But you know what I'd really love... MORE BIG O. Yeah, still want more of that awesome shit.

[Brooklyn Luckfield]

Could you imagine Baccano! on [as]? I'd love that.

But you know what I'd really love... MORE BIG O. Yeah, still want more of that awesome shit.

Actually, Baccano! would be a great choice. It's very western friendly, but yeah, I'd love some more Big O.

[Char Aznable]

MOAR!
Because MOAR!
*too lazy to find the demotivational poster right now*

[Yuko-san]

lol for Char.
Also Tifara click the newest button under search bar on DA. In the past 3 weeks some really interesting new Big O work has been added. Saw a pretty awesome pic of Shwarwald on there.
And yes I may be in the 18-35 age range, but all my guy friends, and even some girl friends, have stated that Family Guy is stagnated. I have a friend that used to watch every episode, even reruns, but he himself stated the "it's just not funny anymore, it has become like ATHF or 12oz mouse. To stupid to bother watching." My anime loving friends, who love stuff like Bleach and DBZ, have said that Bleach is getting old fast, and trying to imitate DBZ. The Buu saga should come to mind here. A big fat ass piece of play doh was the bad guy. I quit watching AS all together, practically because I don't have cable or satellite, I even quit watching clips on the site, but also because most the stuff on there is shit. Just plain shit. Does anyone even remember the dumb "Tom goes to the Mayer" show or that one show where they put some kid on a leash and starved him? (Can't even remember the name, but the graphics looked like a kid puked on a piece of paper).

That's not to say I don't like some shows. Robot chicken I find hilarious, but I couldn't watch it all the time. the original 25 episodes of Bleach I thought were good. GITS is awesome, and I do like inuyasha. And Big O is obvious, but most of there stuff looks like a kid did it. I don't wanna watch a kid made show. I want to watch a mature show with a point to it.

[Brooklyn Luckfield]

lol for Char.
Also Tifara click the newest button under search bar on DA. In the past 3 weeks some really interesting new Big O work has been added. Saw a pretty awesome pic of Shwarwald on there.
And yes I may be in the 18-35 age range, but all my guy friends, and even some girl friends, have stated that Family Guy is stagnated. I have a friend that used to watch every episode, even reruns, but he himself stated the "it's just not funny anymore, it has become like ATHF or 12oz mouse. To stupid to bother watching." My anime loving friends, who love stuff like Bleach and DBZ, have said that Bleach is getting old fast, and trying to imitate DBZ. The Buu saga should come to mind here. A big fat ass piece of play doh was the bad guy. I quit watching AS all together, practically because I don't have cable or satellite, I even quit watching clips on the site, but also because most the stuff on there is shit. Just plain shit. Does anyone even remember the dumb "Tom goes to the Mayer" show or that one show where they put some kid on a leash and starved him? (Can't even remember the name, but the graphics looked like a kid puked on a piece of paper).

That's not to say I don't like some shows. Robot chicken I find hilarious, but I couldn't watch it all the time. the original 25 episodes of Bleach I thought were good. GITS is awesome, and I do like inuyasha. And Big O is obvious, but most of there stuff looks like a kid did it. I don't wanna watch a kid made show. I want to watch a mature show with a point to it.

Tom goes to Mayer was pure trash but apparently it was popular enough to get Tim and Eric their own show and several spin offs, some of which have been canned, so some good news. Every joke in Tom goes to Mayer was always based on the fact that Tom was a goody goody. Example: while on a trip to a Dam he calls it the "Darn". Grade A comedy gold I tell you.

[Tifaria]

lol for Char.
Also Tifara click the newest button under search bar on DA. In the past 3 weeks some really interesting new Big O work has been added. Saw a pretty awesome pic of Shwarwald on there.
And yes I may be in the 18-35 age range, but all my guy friends, and even some girl friends, have stated that Family Guy is stagnated. I have a friend that used to watch every episode, even reruns, but he himself stated the "it's just not funny anymore, it has become like ATHF or 12oz mouse. To stupid to bother watching." My anime loving friends, who love stuff like Bleach and DBZ, have said that Bleach is getting old fast, and trying to imitate DBZ. The Buu saga should come to mind here. A big fat ass piece of play doh was the bad guy. I quit watching AS all together, practically because I don't have cable or satellite, I even quit watching clips on the site, but also because most the stuff on there is shit. Just plain shit. Does anyone even remember the dumb "Tom goes to the Mayer" show or that one show where they put some kid on a leash and starved him? (Can't even remember the name, but the graphics looked like a kid puked on a piece of paper).

That's not to say I don't like some shows. Robot chicken I find hilarious, but I couldn't watch it all the time. the original 25 episodes of Bleach I thought were good. GITS is awesome, and I do like inuyasha. And Big O is obvious, but most of there stuff looks like a kid did it. I don't wanna watch a kid made show. I want to watch a mature show with a point to it.

I searched through 1440 submissions on DA, dating back to Feb. 28.  I only found seven Big O pieces, three by the same artist. 

Look, I get it, you and your friends don't like Family Guy and you're tired of Bleach.  Great, I get it, you're all too mature for that stuff, whatever.  But the fact is, there are literally hundreds of thousands of other people who DO like those shows and are giving them huge ratings that the network can't ignore.  Some people just want to watch something crudely animated that is also funny and doesn't make them tear their hair out trying to figure out what is going on.  Or, as you call it, "a kid made show". 

The thing is, every time they air anime, it gets dismal ratings.  Now, that this may be due to the time slot that they banish their anime to, or because they choose anime that no one wants to see anyway, etc.  But there's no way of knowing and they don't really care anyway.  All they see are numbers.  So in order to speak their language and get through to them, you need numbers to show them.  You can't just make up arbitrary statistics like "Everyone my age hates Family Guy" or "Big O is more popular now".  How can you prove it?  That's all I'm saying.