From the onset, TRON: Uprising has a lot going for it. The animated series boasts a truly impressive cast of actors lending their voices to the denizens of the Grid as well as a look and feel that pushes the series beyond the normal animated fare currently on television.
Unlike programs such as Young Justice, Green Lantern: TAS or even Disney XD's recently launched Ultimate Spider-Man, TRON: Uprising is working with an underdeveloped mythos in a world that has been briefly explored by film narratives intent on seeing human characters escape from the confines of the Grid, rather than explore it. While initially narrow in its scope, TRON: Uprising does offer an intention to peel back the layers both feature films left largely untouched. And for people who were expecting more from TRON: Legacy, this animated program certainly seems ready to fit the bill.
For starters, Uprising looks amazing and the character design is truly fantastic. But does that mean the series has anything more to offer than something pretty to look at? Well, yes and no. Unlike its feature-film predecessors, Uprising has some extraordinary action and dynamic fight choreography (such as a disc battle atop a speeding train with illuminated signs whizzing past). Here, in the world of computer animation mixed with traditional cell shading, the light trails of the speeding machines and the highlights of everyone's suits play against the simple, monochromatic black of the rest of their bodies. Uprising's character design is its biggest attribute; it is distinctive and stylish, and it works. Each character is defined either by broad shoulders or impossibly long legs (or a combination of the two), which serve to accentuate their bizarrely lanky, yet decidedly fluid bodies.
Every character has a unique, slightly alien look to his or her design. The main character, Beck (Elijah Wood), feels like the quintessential hero barring a slight resemblance to Morrissey, while the majority of his male acquaintances seem to have more of an outlandish, one-of-a-kind quality to their faces. Meanwhile, the female character design is where the aesthetic really defines itself. Mara (Mandy Moore), Paige (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and Perl (Kate Mara) have their personality seemingly defined by the composition of their faces. Mara is bright, adventurous and optimistic, while the other two maintain a more sinister, dangerously alluring appeal, one obscures half of her face with a slightly androgynous hairstyle, and the other is one step away from becoming a smoldering femme fatale.
The lion's share of the credit for any early success of Uprising is due to art director Alberto Mielgo, and character designer Rob Valley, the artist behind the equally impressive Gorillaz music videos. If some of the character movements and body styles seem familiar, it's because Valley also worked on MTV's Aeon Flux, which the producers have claimed was an influence on Uprising from the start.
But Uprising's design isn't limited merely to the programs we are meant to form an attachment with. The show's aesthetic allows the creators to offer some new designs and tricks that weren't seen before in either of the previous films; namely, that of frenetic action set pieces illuminated by the walls of light cycles or simply the luminescence of each individual's body suit. In one particular sequence, Beck and fellow prisoner Cutler (Lance Reddick, Fringe) are tethered to one another and must do battle with three light cycles for the pleasure of a massive audience and the series main antagonist, General Tesler (Lance Henriksen). The sequence is thrilling and moves at a good clip (this is a half-hour program, after all), but it also works to shrug off the mostly languid approach to action both of the feature films had.
Beyond looking great, what does TRON: Uprising have to offer fans of the series? Well, initially, the thought of watching what would ultimately be a failed revolution against Clu (Fred Tatasciore) might come across as somewhat pointless. After the pilot episode Beck's Beginning and now the series premiere, however, Uprising has developed into the familiar, but still quite alluring tale of a seemingly ordinary individual rising to meet his destiny. The story is so simple, effective and inviting, that it causes one to wish the premise of Uprising had become the plot for Legacy.
The series is now set to develop its own mythos that ties into the already established lore of the TRON universe. What's interesting is that without a truly human component (i.e. either of the Flynn boys) acting as the stranger or sage of the Grid, the programs are allowed to go about their own storylines. They are free from having to deal with an interloper desperate to escape the confines of their world, and that serves to make each program all the more interesting. No longer are they background characters, obliviously carrying on while a tyrant and a human battle for the future of their world; they are now active participants in the future of the Grid. Perhaps this view is a tad over-ambitious for a series like Uprising - but to be honest, in two half-hour segments, an animated program has managed to craft a more intriguing premise filled with more distinctive characters than were found in Legacy.
Throw in a rich, moody score by Joe Trapanese that is at once reminiscent of Batman Begins while still very much embedded in the TRON universe, and TRON: Uprising is shaping up to be a memorable addition to a series many had thought long past its prime. As it stands, TRON: Uprising may afford fans an exploration into the possibilities of not only the Grid, but of the larger TRON universe as well.
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The Tron universe has existed for three decades, and Disney XD's Tron Uprising is a new and welcome addition to its science fiction lore. Tron Uprising is an animated story about a young program working as a mechanic in Argon City, a metropolis located in a remote corner of the Grid. The Grid, a digital world of personified computer programs, is quickly being taken over by a corrupt program named Clu. Tron Uprising addresses wonderfully thought provoking themes such as self-determination versus fate, what freedom truly means, and different perspectives of perfection. The art style is frenetic, the colors are bright and the action sequences evoke a palpable sense of danger. The voice acting is stellar; Elijah Wood and Bruce Boxleitner bring a truly emotional and honest performance that pushes Uprising beyond the normal Saturday morning cartoons.
Argon city has escaped much of Clu's tyranny, but General Tesla has arrived and he intends to subjugate the entire city. Through brutality and coercion, General Tesla is taking over Argon without any kind of resistance. Beck, voiced by Wood, decides to fight back. He joins with Tron, voiced by Boxleitner, and learns guerrilla warfare from one of the best. Slowly forming a resistance, Beck dons the guise of Tron to fight back. He is quickly labeled a Renegade by the military, and turned into an enemy of the state. With the populous undecided as to whether or not the Renegade is actually helping at all, Beck learns no one is safe. Each episode follows the season's story arc of a gradual build to full revolution. The individual stories in each episode are deeper than the often seen 30 min wrap up, where all is well by the end. A play for the long game is being made, while each episode does have a focused topic, such as the repercussions of vengeance, or a friendship being tested, the story of revolution against tyranny is never forgotten.
The concepts and themes explored in Tron Uprising are some of the most interesting on television today. The Grid has existed without change for a long time, but Uprising begins with a world in flux. There are new programs called Iso's, these programs are spontaneously formed from the Grid, they have no set programing or creator. They challenge the core concept of programs in the Grid that a program is designed and created for one task; breaking from that role is looked down upon. Concepts like the definition of perfection and beauty are deconstructed as the dictator program Clu uses his army lead by General Tesla to conscript and control all programs, making them perfect. In Clu's mind, a unified submissive populous is the only way to achieve perfection and beauty. The writing avoids cliches, and focuses on relationships between the main character and the programs he calls friends.
Uprising's art style is reminiscent of Aeon Flux, with elongated limbs, and stark shadows. The addition of cell shading and a touch of computer animation drive home the concept that this is a digital world. Argon's streets resemble circuitry, and the buildings are more like computer chips than skyscrapers. The action is frenetic and thoughtfully choreographed. The fight sequences in Uprising bring to mind the intensity shown in Spectacular Spider-Man. The danger is real, as we see friends of the main character die in the first episode.
The main character Beck, voiced by Elijah Wood, works as a mechanic, while Tron voiced by Bruce Boxleitner, lives in exile. It was great to hear Mr. Boxleitner's voice coming from Tron; it strengthened the connection between both of movies. Wood allows his character Beck to be a young program full of insecurity and brash decisions, but also interlaces a moral integrity and maturity that pushes Beck to make the sacrifices needed to lead a revolution. The character Paige (voiced by Emmanuelle Chriqui), is one of the more interesting characters, as we see her morally conflicted between serving as Tesla's field commanders, her admiration of the Renegade and her desire to do what's right. All of the voice actors are supported by an intelligent script. The story stays fun and interesting without falling into the repetitive nature of most serial TV shows.
In conclusion, I highly recommend watching Tron Uprising. It can be found on Netflix, but beware; it is easy to spend an entire weekend watching this show. With its fast paced action, deep examination into interesting themes and concepts, and the wonderful voice acting of an intelligent script, Tron Uprising has quickly become one of my favorite animated series.
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Tron: Uprising, an arrestingly-captivating new animated original series on the Disney XD channel, brings viewers back into the grid with the dynamic visuals, electrifying music and gripping storytelling that rekindled audiences with digital dazzle in Tron: Legacy.
Set between the original Tron and Tron: Legacy, Tron: Uprising focuses on mechanic-turned-renegade Beck (voiced by Elijah Wood), a deft programmer living in the stunning Argon City. Beck's free-thinking society is soon threatened by the menacing General Tesler (Lance Henriksen), one of the evil CLU's cohorts, who aims to take charge of the metropolis. Once his friend is derezzed, or the Tron version of someone being killed, Beck avenges his death by disguising himself as believed-to-be-dead hero Tron and inspiring a revolution. In the intense prologue special, Beck's Beginning, we see this as almost an origins story, provided with heavy exposition to better understand the characters and storyline.
The revolt starts with Beck exploding a giant statue of CLU; haven't we seen that type of upheaval before? and then we see science-fiction play out in full force. Tron is not deceased. He is alive! The thick-voiced Bruce Boxleitner reprises his role as Tron, enlisting Beck to lead others in this fight against oppression. Show everyone that as long as Tron lives, there is still hope, he tells the young guy, unsure of his own abilities. Once Tesler and his brigade recruit volunteers for the perilous games in the coliseum, the game entirely changes. This is just the treacherous initiative Beck needs in order to fully-commit to his game-plan of fulfilling the desires of Tron. And so begins the uprising.
In the most recent episodes aired, a two-part thrill ride that explores Beck's mission, Tron trains the rebel in the secluded canyons he calls home. Lightcycle races and deep conversations are punctuated by Beck's eventual capture to fight in the coliseum. He partners with another commanding programmer, Cutler, to escape this threatening territory. Meanwhile, a sub-plot involving Beck's friends Zed (Nate Corddry) and Mara (Mandy Moore) focuses on naive Zed falling for an alluring girl named Perl in a night-club. Soon Perl steals Zed's boss' lightcycle, and it's up to the two friends to retrieve the bike.
What makes Tron: Uprising such a dynamic piece of programming is its high production value, mixed with quality in nearly every aspect of the show. Whereas Legacy suffered from overly-complex ideas that went unresolved, Uprising has the advantage of delving into more of the back-story. Placing this series' timeline in between the two films was an intelligent design, as we can now follow what is happening at a more comfortable pace. Nevertheless, the rhythm to Uprising is always fast and surprisingly-compelling.
Like a joy ride, thrills and spills are interposed with some quieter moments, but somehow the excitement manages to continue at the same rate no matter the speed. The characters display more depth than meets the eye. Each looks distinctly-different, with variations of the glowing suits, and the voice talent is top-notch. Boxleitner's role as the imposing Tron, though limited, brings the necessary authority, while Wood delivers as protagonist Beck. Despite the solid casting, at times it seems like action scenes take over dialogue portions. That is where Legacy and its film predecessor succeeded most, and Uprising is no exception.
While this may just be an animated television show, it almost feels like a vigorous mini-series. Credit the fantastic art direction for much of that, as every vista signals wow moments. From the scenes set against the mountainous hideaways to the towering landscapes, the attention to detail stuns the eyes. The kinetic atmosphere, full of glows and rays that radiate the murky landscape, possess fantastic imagery. In one scene Beck temporarily takes cover from CLU's army by hiding in a pile of snow. That looked neat. In another, he and Cutler are locked together and forced to battle against their opponents in the shiny, massive coliseum, an additional example of the painstakingly-developed stylized look. Everything here seems thought-out for the right reasons.
Similarly, the musical score stresses intrigue and amazement, elements that made Legacy so astounding to the ears. There's good reason why, as Joseph Trapanse, who composes the score for Uprising, served as arranger for Daft Punk's music in Legacy. Certain cues carry from the film to the series, but some discrete rhythms cycle in for good measure.
Each of the already-aired three episodes, or rather, the prologue special and two-part episode moved at a brisk pace, never lingering too long on one action scene or set-piece. Integrating computer-generated imagery to characters that are more-or-less two-dimensional (though they are contextually rounded characters) add great depth to this world, known for being multi-layered and vibrant. Some elements fail to work as intended, as the club scene was more laughable than amusing � again, this is a children's show, so some leeway is expected. Dialogue cliches appear several times each episode, most notably when Beck and Tron converse. Perhaps some of the silliness and whimsy carry charm in an otherwise-bleak environment.
I cannot remember the last time I watched a "cartoon series" where I was continually in awe and engrossed by everything that filled the screen. Disney has long aimed to develop a franchise for boys, and with Pirates of the Caribbean fading in appeal and many other wannabe versions of that brand's appeal failing, Tron may be Disney's best hope. Well, that is, in conjunction with the Marvel properties that they are leveraging in full force on Disney XD. This possesses practically all of the components of an entertaining action series, with magnificent vistas, stimulating skirmishes, interesting characters and even some subtlety when the scene requires. Whether the forthcoming episodes retain this high energy and extreme stimulation remains unknown, but Tron: Uprising has already demonstrated a dedication toward superior creativity and value. Guesses are that we're all want to remain on the Grid for many cycles to come.
