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Description

A few weeks ago I got my hands on the teleplay scripts from the X-Men Animated Series S05E07 and S05E08 “Storm Front” where Storm is being kidnapped by Akron to save his dying planet. I have posted one of the scene to my gallery before. You can see it here:

This first episode of this two part series is written by: Mirith J. Colao which featured some groggy peril and a KO (Zap) and armcarry.
As some of you know, I’ve always been VERY curious as to how these KO’s came to be what they were. More so for cartoons than anything else, the quality of the scene is the combined result of:
- the script writers
- storyboard artists
- directors
- voice actresses
A term that's often used in tv shows to pls the fans with something more deviant is "fan service". While that appeals to the broader audience I just can't help but think that based on how good some scenes are executed (think WW Fausta scene) I just can't help but think that there's some writers/staff out there that are in favour of the sleepy community.

George Perez apparently was one of them.

Reading this script from 1995 (almost 30 yrs ago) It’s clear how the overall tone of the script is so much different from what we see now in cartoons. For example, in one of the later paragraphs of the script where Storm is trying to calm the planet down and the script reads:
“PAN up to show his massive arm against her slender one”.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this level of contrast between masculinity and femininity is no longer an active component of many modern day comics.

That’s sad.

I for one really liked the writing of the '80s-'90s.

Based on the level of detail in storyboards I've seen from the S04E01 “One Man’s Worth” episode, I had expected a more detailed definition of the scenes, with regards to Storm's poses movements etc.

So I’m guessing the storyboard artists play a bigger role in making a scene what it is, or perhaps the director (Larry Houston). It’s hard to pinpoint it to a single storyboard artist as there’s at least 10 that have worked on this episode.

Anyway, here’s some excerpts of the X-Men Animated S05E07 script below for those who are interested.

STORM
(TORTURED MOAN! )

Cyclops turns quickly to see:

ON STORM - huddled in a corner, holding her sides, grimacing.

STORM
(struggling)
“Something is very wrong! The sky, the air, the wind! Injured...
Crying... Not of this Earth!”

ON JUBILEE - as she stumbles to Storm and throws her arms around he trying to comfort her.

JUBILEE
“Take it easy, Storm! It's just a bumpy ride.”

STORM

Storm buries her face in her hands.

STORM (Off Screen)
“Agghhhh!”

ON STORM AND JUBILEE - as the tormented Storm tosses Jubilee aside.

FOLLOW JUBILEE as she knocks into a wall of the plane (NOT HURT).

JUBILEE
“Uhn!”

ON STORM - looking down, her hands at her temples, swaying back and forth.
She seems to be going through a troubled, psychotic episode.

STORM
(TORTURED MOAN.)

ON JUBILEE - scrambling to her feet.

JUBILEE
Storm! It's okay! Let me help!

(turns toward cockpit)

Cyke! Please take us down!

FAVOR HATCH - as Storm lunges to it.

STORM
(crazed)
“Stay back! All of you!”

.........................

.........................

STORM
“What are you?! I will not allow it! (CRY!)”

*Storm plummets.*
TRACK STORM - as she tumbles earthward.
UPSHOT FROM BASE OF MONUMENT - As Storm plummets, the large shadowy
figure, seems to appear out of nowhere and catches her.

CLOSE ON STORM - in the arms of a man, dressed in a SLATE BLUE UNIFORM, styled to suggest royalty. We can see his hands are dark and strong.

Storm blinks, weakly struggling to gain strength.

STORM (weak, half-delirious)
“Let me go, I must fight it..”

ON MAN'S HAND - pushes an electric panel on his uniform belt.

ON SKIES - with tip of monument visible. The thunder suddenly stops, and the colored lightning dissolves with the eerie clouds, as if pulled into invisible pockets. The stars and moon shine in the quiet night sky. Only DISTANT SIRENS AND ALARMS break the silence.

ARKON (Off Screen)
“The danger has passed.”

DOWN SHOT ON STORM - too weak to open her eyes. She remains in the arms of this man, ARKON, who now speaks.

ARKON (CONT)
“You are safe now.”

Stirred by this voice, Storm's dazed eyes flicker open. Seeing her rescuer's face, her eyes widen.
She can't take her eyes off of him.

STORM
“Who are you? What are you?”

UPSHOT ON ARKON - STORM'S POV - A large, very muscular man, strong jaw, dark skin and steel blue eyes set in a concerned, unsmiling squint.
His short -bluish black hair lies on his aristocratic brow.
He smiles - - not sweetly, but with satisfaction.

ARKON
“I have traveled across dimensions of space to find you.”

ON STORM & ARKON - weak Storm struggles to make sense of it all.

ARKON (CONT)
“My name is Arkon, ruler of Polemachus. My planet is dying. You, mistress of the elements, can save us.”

PULL BACK as
Storm, gaining some strength, struggles to stand.
frowns at Arkon and pulls away from him.

.........................

.........................

ON STORM & ARKON - He holds her other hand up high.
She takes in a big breath and continues.
PAN up to show his massive arm against her slender one.

STORM
“Tortured skies, breathe gentle and clear.”

CROSS CUT WITH - a view of the storming skies.
The torrents of rain abate and the deep colored clouds begin to part, revealing a speck of bright aqua colored sky.

CROSS CUT WITH - a HURRICANE ripping trees out of the ground.
As Storm speaks in a gentle VO, the hurricane spins to a lulling spiral.

STORM (Voice-Over)
“Hurricane winds, punish no more.”

ON STORM - Her eyes squeeze tight.
She droops slightly: This is taking a lot out of her. She struggles to continue

STORM (struggling)
“Floods of destruction, calm your surging struggle.”

ARKON
It's working!

NEW ANGLE - as Arkon turns to Storm who is seated back on the throne in intense meditation. Her weary head leans back. Very weak from this ordeal, she struggles to speak.

STORM
“Must ... concentrate!”

Description

A few weeks ago I got my hands on the teleplay scripts from the X-Men Animated Series S05E07 and S05E08 “Storm Front” where Storm is being kidnapped by Akron to save his dying planet. I have posted one of the scene to my gallery before. You can see it here:

This first episode of this two part series is written by: Mirith J. Colao which featured some groggy peril and a KO (Zap) and armcarry.
As some of you know, I’ve always been VERY curious as to how these KO’s came to be what they were. More so for cartoons than anything else, the quality of the scene is the combined result of:
- the script writers
- storyboard artists
- directors
- voice actresses
A term that's often used in tv shows to pls the fans with something more deviant is "fan service". While that appeals to the broader audience I just can't help but think that based on how good some scenes are executed (think WW Fausta scene) I just can't help but think that there's some writers/staff out there that are in favour of the sleepy community.

George Perez apparently was one of them.

Reading this script from 1995 (almost 30 yrs ago) It’s clear how the overall tone of the script is so much different from what we see now in cartoons. For example, in one of the later paragraphs of the script where Storm is trying to calm the planet down and the script reads:
“PAN up to show his massive arm against her slender one”.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this level of contrast between masculinity and femininity is no longer an active component of many modern day comics.

That’s sad.

I for one really liked the writing of the '80s-'90s.

Based on the level of detail in storyboards I've seen from the S04E01 “One Man’s Worth” episode, I had expected a more detailed definition of the scenes, with regards to Storm's poses movements etc.

So I’m guessing the storyboard artists play a bigger role in making a scene what it is, or perhaps the director (Larry Houston). It’s hard to pinpoint it to a single storyboard artist as there’s at least 10 that have worked on this episode.

Anyway, here’s some excerpts of the X-Men Animated S05E07 script below for those who are interested.

STORM
(TORTURED MOAN! )

Cyclops turns quickly to see:

ON STORM - huddled in a corner, holding her sides, grimacing.

STORM
(struggling)
“Something is very wrong! The sky, the air, the wind! Injured...
Crying... Not of this Earth!”

ON JUBILEE - as she stumbles to Storm and throws her arms around he trying to comfort her.

JUBILEE
“Take it easy, Storm! It's just a bumpy ride.”

STORM

Storm buries her face in her hands.

STORM (Off Screen)
“Agghhhh!”

ON STORM AND JUBILEE - as the tormented Storm tosses Jubilee aside.

FOLLOW JUBILEE as she knocks into a wall of the plane (NOT HURT).

JUBILEE
“Uhn!”

ON STORM - looking down, her hands at her temples, swaying back and forth.
She seems to be going through a troubled, psychotic episode.

STORM
(TORTURED MOAN.)

ON JUBILEE - scrambling to her feet.

JUBILEE
Storm! It's okay! Let me help!

(turns toward cockpit)

Cyke! Please take us down!

FAVOR HATCH - as Storm lunges to it.

STORM
(crazed)
“Stay back! All of you!”

.........................

.........................

STORM
“What are you?! I will not allow it! (CRY!)”

*Storm plummets.*
TRACK STORM - as she tumbles earthward.
UPSHOT FROM BASE OF MONUMENT - As Storm plummets, the large shadowy
figure, seems to appear out of nowhere and catches her.

CLOSE ON STORM - in the arms of a man, dressed in a SLATE BLUE UNIFORM, styled to suggest royalty. We can see his hands are dark and strong.

Storm blinks, weakly struggling to gain strength.

STORM (weak, half-delirious)
“Let me go, I must fight it..”

ON MAN'S HAND - pushes an electric panel on his uniform belt.

ON SKIES - with tip of monument visible. The thunder suddenly stops, and the colored lightning dissolves with the eerie clouds, as if pulled into invisible pockets. The stars and moon shine in the quiet night sky. Only DISTANT SIRENS AND ALARMS break the silence.

ARKON (Off Screen)
“The danger has passed.”

DOWN SHOT ON STORM - too weak to open her eyes. She remains in the arms of this man, ARKON, who now speaks.

ARKON (CONT)
“You are safe now.”

Stirred by this voice, Storm's dazed eyes flicker open. Seeing her rescuer's face, her eyes widen.
She can't take her eyes off of him.

STORM
“Who are you? What are you?”

UPSHOT ON ARKON - STORM'S POV - A large, very muscular man, strong jaw, dark skin and steel blue eyes set in a concerned, unsmiling squint.
His short -bluish black hair lies on his aristocratic brow.
He smiles - - not sweetly, but with satisfaction.

ARKON
“I have traveled across dimensions of space to find you.”

ON STORM & ARKON - weak Storm struggles to make sense of it all.

ARKON (CONT)
“My name is Arkon, ruler of Polemachus. My planet is dying. You, mistress of the elements, can save us.”

PULL BACK as
Storm, gaining some strength, struggles to stand.
frowns at Arkon and pulls away from him.

.........................

.........................

ON STORM & ARKON - He holds her other hand up high.
She takes in a big breath and continues.
PAN up to show his massive arm against her slender one.

STORM
“Tortured skies, breathe gentle and clear.”

CROSS CUT WITH - a view of the storming skies.
The torrents of rain abate and the deep colored clouds begin to part, revealing a speck of bright aqua colored sky.

CROSS CUT WITH - a HURRICANE ripping trees out of the ground.
As Storm speaks in a gentle VO, the hurricane spins to a lulling spiral.

STORM (Voice-Over)
“Hurricane winds, punish no more.”

ON STORM - Her eyes squeeze tight.
She droops slightly: This is taking a lot out of her. She struggles to continue

STORM (struggling)
“Floods of destruction, calm your surging struggle.”

ARKON
It's working!

NEW ANGLE - as Arkon turns to Storm who is seated back on the throne in intense meditation. Her weary head leans back. Very weak from this ordeal, she struggles to speak.

STORM
“Must ... concentrate!”