Entertainment

Sony's Animated 'Ghostbusters' Movie Points to 'Ghostbusters' Saturation

It'll be the first animated incarnation in nearly 20 years.

by Sean Hutchinson
twitter.com/paulfeig

Sony has announced it’s developing an all-new Ghostbusters animated feature film, which means that bustin’ makes them feel good not once, not twice, but in three separate ways. Other than the animated movie, the new lady-focused live-action reboot led by director Paul Feig and another dude-centric update to be directed by Marvel mavens the Russo Brothers will round out a new sort of Ghostbusters universe. All three will be produced by original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman.

No specifics are known about the project other than that Sony will begin taking pitch ideas soon, so writers who ain’t afraid of no ghosts better put pen to paper if they want their shot. Though The Wrap is reporting that the studio wants the cartoon to be told from the perspective of a ghost, and that said ghostbusting doesn’t necessarily need to take place in New York City. At least they’re trying new things?

The animated movie will be the first illustrated incarnation of the Ghostbusters since 1997, when the short-lived animated series Extreme Ghostbusters ran in syndication for one season. Extreme told the story of original Ghostbuster Egon Spengler recruiting a new college-aged generation to capture ghosts. Most fans are probably familiar with The Real Ghostbusters, which continued the animated adventures of Spengler, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Winston Zeddemore from the movies, and last ran on ABC in 1991.

The decision to capitalize on the property through animation makes sense for Sony. It previously announced it’s developing an animated feature based on Spider-Man from The Lego Movie directors Philip Lord and Christopher Miller. Ghostbusters is just another way the studio can branch off its franchises, and it seems Sony wanted to cover all the bases to make sure men, women, and children get their supernatural-fighting fix.

Will it work, or will it just be too much ectoplasmic cinematic saturation? The first new Ghostbusters installment, starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones hits theaters on July 15, 2016.

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