The End of El Tigre
On the eve of Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, there is some sad news to report from the Flash animation front. El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera has been canceled. While I haven’t seen any official news yet, I spotted two RIP notes on a pair of blogs, including one where I grabbed this image.
This series, created by Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua, featured an all-star crew that included Roman Laney, Dave Thomas, Gabe Swarr, Ben Jones, Ricky Garduno, Fred Osmond, Luke Cormican, Tod Polson, Katie Rice, Ray Morelli, Gerald De Jesus, Aaron Horvarth, Katrien Verbiest, Eddie Trigueros, Chris Battle, Sean Szeles, Steve Lambe, Tim Yoon and many others. From what I’ve heard, the crew has been plowing forward on a short 2nd season order, but it looks like the axe has fallen. The series pushed the boundaries of what Flash is capable of – with heaps of action scenes and kinetic, lush environments. Heck, it was perhaps the first Flash-animated series to get high marks from Cartoon Brew’s notoriously tough-critic Amid Amidi.
In keeping with Day of the Dead tradition, we shouldn’t mourn the end of the road, but instead celebrate a fantastic series. I’d love to read comments from fans and friends of the crew – as I’m sure you agree with me: El Tigre is an exceptional series. Congratulations to the entire team.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Man, that’s terrible news!
I really enjoyed watching El Tigre.
Hopefully all the artists who worked on the show will know that it is a great show that fell victim to an executive decision.
Maybe the series will be brought back if they show episodes on Adult Swim.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I thought about this when I first heard about the show. Do you think it was a case of seen this and seen that or been there done that becuase of “Mucha Lucha”? Meaning, a show of this type has already been done before. I’m sorry to hear that it had been cancelled. I’m an adult and didn’t get a chance to watch the show as much as I wanted to.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
this show costs to much to make, if people refuse to cut corners by animating and storyboarding economically they wont be able keep up any kind of quality (which i know this production demanded)this show looked amazing because every episode probably went three weeks over its animation deadline.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Actually Anonymous, El Tigre was the ONLY show at Nickelodeon that was ON TIME and ON BUDGET, no matter what you may hear.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:19 pm
It really hurts to see one of the most well done shows in the Flash realm get canceled.
We can only hope that future cartoons use El Tigre as a model for the type of quality that should be invested in a Flash show.
As Arron said, at least we should “celebrate a fantastic series”. So if you haven’t already, go download the first season of El Tigre on iTunes.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
well Sean ill take your word for it, but WHY then is Nick not picking this show up for season 2?
October 31st, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I wrote more about the reasons in the comments section of my blog.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Sean’s right. We never missed a deadline or went over budget.
The show wasn’t picked up because it didn’t out perform Spongebob. Speculate all you want, “Anonymous”, but that’s the truth of it.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Very sad, what does the future hold for flash in the Los Angeles network studios, not much is going on at the moment. It’s getting a bit scary. It’s good that the tigre team still has a few more paychecks to pocket, sometimes we’re not so lucky and they make this decision in between a hiatus. I wish I could say that Foster’s is staffing up, but that isn’t the case. Thanks for the memories.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:45 pm
That sucks! El Tigre was an awesome show, truly an inspiration.
Good luck to all the crew!
October 31st, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Sean and Steve are right, Anonymous. El Tigre was on schedule and on budget.
The reason the show looked so good was the hard work and long hours of an exceptionally talented crew.
And contrary to what some may say, the show enjoyed tremendous support from everyone at Nickelodeon, and especially from the executives.
When all was said and done, we simply didn’t get the ratings to justify the budget of the show.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:58 pm
so sad. You guys ( and gals ) are great ! It was an awesome awesome show.
sad to hear the news .
November 1st, 2007 at 1:52 am
WOAH! What a Halloween scare! THAT was not expected. And knowing someone who animated on it, I feel even more sorry for those who have to go elsewhere.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:16 am
total bummer…I loved the caliber of quality stuff on the show. maybe it didn’t get enough ratings cuz it wasn’t on enough!
November 1st, 2007 at 3:22 am
Man this is really disappointing news. El tigre is great on so many levels and for execs to compare it to spongebob is pretty retarded, at least give it a chance first. I’m sure Spongebob wasn’t an instant hit!! I hate business bullshit!!
November 1st, 2007 at 10:59 am
Man, this sucks…
I don’t get it… Whyyyyy
I didn’t even got the chance to really watch it.
I hope I still get to see the first season in the Netherlands…. Or to buy a dvd somewhere.
The best to the team.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:35 pm
As one of the animation directors in Boulder Media, I can honestly say that El Tigre has been one the most enjoyable shows we’ve ever worked on. I speak for all us folks at Boulder when I say it’s been a privilege to be associated with such a group of talented artists, writers and directors.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Wooowww…I really thought it was doing well, maybe just because I watched it. One of the few new cartoons I’ve been watching and have been really loving the look and animation. I got so excited for this show before it aired just seeing the artwork on blogs, and when it finally aired it lived up to expectations, which is not often nowadays. This is sad news not just for the Flash community but kids’ cartoons.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:37 pm
This is the saddest new I’ve heard all year. An amazing show created by 2 great people and made by a super-star team. It will be missed. Jorge & Sandra: You made a great show that will stand the test of time. When people talk about the early days when Flash “grew up”, they’ll be talking about Foster’s AND El Tigre.
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:17 am
truly Tigre looked great and continues to inspire what us flash rascals can do. It isn’t sad, let us just go onwards, deliver the good stuff to the ever more thisty people.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:17 am
Nickelodeon execs prove how idiotic they are once again! someone said they loved the show, and they cancelled it anyway… proves they don’t even trust themselves… this show was SOOO awesome and creative and had potential for lots more fun! and every kid would have loved some tigre toys if they were available.. is there any chance that another network can pick this up?? man i hope so.
the fact is, if this hasn’t yet turned a profit, it eventually would have and given Nick a reputation for high quality, fun and action.. what show are they making there now? i thought spongebob was finished like 4 years ago, WTF? are they going to keep making those until they get as bad as the later Ren and Stimpy (the ones after they fired the creator).. man i’ve got to go throw up and cancel my nickelodeon magazine subscription, and return my avatar toys!
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
It was fun while it lasted. I would like to give “proper respects” to the folks at Boulder Media and 6 Point Harness. A shipping package is useless if there isn’t a good studio to animate it. Thanks guys. Hope to work with everyone again soon.
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
YAY THAT WAZ A STUPIED SHOW YAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:05 am
The fans aren’t giving up on this yet! We’re gonna start writing letters! El Tigre deserves more than this!
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:09 am
That’s just terrible! i live in Singapore and they HAVE NOT released it in Singapore! Its extremely unfair for those in South East Asia and the other places which have not watched them.
I managed to see 6 episodes and it was so funny! I’m only a kid and the animation and storyboarding is extremely well done. Plots and everything. My classmates don’t know much but they like the way the characters were all designed.
I told my friend and she was devastated. I love drawing El Tigre very much. I’m still drawing it and I never stopped.
This is an EXTREMELY scary thing to hear during Halloween. We all hope that El Tigre would be released in Asia sooner or later. I have enjoyed the time spent with this show so much.
WHYYYY did they cancel it? I heard a DS game was coming out and it was related to El tigre!
This is extremely disappointing. I hope the team will get credit. Take care. Adios Me Amigo
November 6th, 2007 at 3:47 am
aww, weak-sauce again! I just got here on El Tigre, and I gotta say, these folks have been so awesome to work with- *sniff* Thank you Sandra,Jorge & crew for a great show!
mm
November 27th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
My five year old is going to be crushed…the only thing he wanted for Christmas or his birthday was an El tigre action figure. Looking for one was how I stumbled on this bad news. Sad, sad
November 29th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Look, the show was average. Sometimes average shows get canceled. This show was not great.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
JOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU NEED TO
GET A BRAIN FROM A WORM, THEN YOU’LL KNOW HOW FRIKKEN STUPID YOU SOUND, BUTTHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!
NICK SHOWS IDIOICY YET AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CANADIANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Growl*
HE MUST BE A TERRORIST CANADIAN WITH THE PSEUDONYM
KNOWN AS “JOSH”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 pm
This is the best news I’ve heard in months!
December 4th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
hip hip hooray!!
December 6th, 2007 at 1:44 am
This show was pretty bad – the end was inevitable
January 1st, 2008 at 9:49 pm
GRRRRRR! I hate this news. I heard on
Youtube that it will show episodes on
January.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
A MERICLE OCCURED ONE DECEMBER DAY’07, EL TIGRE POPPED UP ON THE FRIKKEN TV!!!!!!!!!!! I THOUGHT I WOULD FAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TTO http://www.nick.com/eltigre/index schedule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TURBONICK WORKS 2!!!!!!!!
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
That was a crappy show anyway. Bring Ren and Stimpy back instead of these “filler” shows.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
So what’s with this new episode that just came out? I can only assume that it’s supposed to be the ‘finale’, but it wasn’t specifically said. I suppose I’m holding out a false hope that it might be back, but *sigh*…this show deserved better. Maybe you could take it online, Homestar-style. Make it a bit more ‘adult’. Not in an Adult Swim on CN way, but again, a Homestar way.
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
im from the UK so i got the show this year but it still sucks the fact that they cancelled it, it was awsome irelivent of what others say in fact its so great if i won the lottry i would buy a tank and spray it orange and put El Tigre logos on it, then i’d ship it to america and drive it to nick’s ‘HQ’ and give em some said,and if need be it spend the rest of the lottry winnings to keep the show going.
That is how much i love El Tigre
IT F***ING RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
ME ENCANTA EL TIGRE
May 10th, 2008 at 9:23 am
calumUK, you suck.
How and where would you just buy a tank anyway?
And you think you can just ship it to America?
And it’s probably gonna get hard to get to Nick’s HQ.
You can’t just drive a tank on the highway or something like that.
August 21st, 2010 at 5:06 pm
i really enjoyed that show the storyline is great and good animation and the only show on nick that had some mexican charaters or culture by that matter (besides dora) el tigre will be missed
and a little message to the haters i don’t know your talking its a good show and if you don’t like then don’t talk smack you guys just shut up you got nutthin nice to say then don’t say it at all