Heroes United
Heroes Unitedis a series of direct-to-video animatedsuperhero filmsfromMarvel Animation.They are the first full-length direct-to-video CG animated features created by the animation studio.[1]Both films are available to stream onDisney+.[2]
Iron Man and Hulk
[edit]Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United | |
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Directed by |
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Screenplay by |
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Based on | |
Starring | |
Music by | Kristopher Carter Michael McCuistion Lolita Ritmanis |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 71 minutes[5] |
Country | United States |
Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes Unitedis adirect-to-videoanimated film byMarvel Animation.[6]The film is the first long form of animation for Marvel since itsMarvel UniverseTV block and targets children.[7]
Characters
[edit]- Tony Stark / Iron Man(voiced byAdrian Pasdar[8])
- Bruce Banner / Hulk(voiced byFred Tatasciore[9])
- Zzzax(voiced byDee Bradley Baker[10][11])
- Emil Blonsky / Abomination(voiced byRobin Atkin Downes[12])
Production
[edit]The studio used a new process that they invented referred to as a "2-D wrap."[13]This process starts with traditional animation,[14]then scanning into the computer to wrap it around the characters to give texture and weight to backgrounds and strongly emphasize facial expressions.[7][15]
In October 2012, Marvel Animation Studios announced its first DTV production, the direct-to-video filmIron Man & Hulk: Heroes United,which was scheduled to be released on April 23, 2013.[16][17]The release was pushed back to December 2013.[18]The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray, Digital, andDisney Movies Anywhereon December 3, 2013.[19]
Premise
[edit]TwoHydrascientists enlist theAbominationto help them capture the Hulk and siphon his gamma energy into their own version of Tony Stark's arc reactor.[20]By the time Iron Man arrives to investigate, he and the Hulk find themselves facing the newly created energy creatureZzzax.[21][22]They also fight aWendigoand a fleet ofMandroids.[7]
Iron Man and Captain America
[edit]Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United | |
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Directed by | Leo Riley[24] |
Written by | Henry Gilroy Brandon Auman[24] |
Based on | |
Produced by | Ken Duer[24] Kenneth T. Ito |
Starring | |
Music by | Ramin Djawadi(Iron ManThemes) Craig Armstrong(The Incredible Hulkthemes) Alan Silvestri(Captain Americathemes) Guy Michelmore (various themes) |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 71 minutes[23] |
Country | United States |
Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes Unitedis a digital animated film byMarvel Animation.This is the second film in theHeroes Unitedfranchise.
Characters
[edit]- Tony Stark / Iron Man(voiced byAdrian Pasdar[23])
- Steve Rogers / Captain America(voiced byRoger Craig Smith[25])
- Bruce Banner / Hulk(voiced byFred Tatasciore)
- Red Skull(voiced byLiam O'Brien[26])
- Anthony Masters / Taskmaster(voiced byClancy Brown[27])
Production
[edit]The film was in production as of December 2013, as they released a clip of film with an announcement that the film would be released in 2014.[28]It was released on Digital HD, On-Demand, andDisney Movies Anywhereon July 29, 2014.[29][30]
Plot
[edit]TheRed SkullandTaskmasterstrategize a plan to be rid of Captain America, by stealing weapons that belong to Iron Man. After the two heroes' training is complete, the Hydra soldiers infiltrate theHelicarrierand head towards the weapons vault. During their attack, two of the soldiers go in and escape with the Stark Repulsor Cannon. Iron Man flies to reclaim his repulsor cannon while Cap fights with Taskmaster, but to no avail as Taskmaster takes him down and kidnaps him to the base.
The Red Skull steals Cap's superhuman blood to create an army, replicated with the same powers as he has, with a machine called the Neurotransducer. Iron Man learns that not only the hull of the Helicarrier is damaged, but his Mark VI armor was taken by Taskmaster during the infiltration. He finds their base in an abandoned military bunker in the SouthernEstonia.
The serum is fully created, and the Red Skull brainwashes Cap, causing him turn into a pawn calledCaptain Hydraand fights against Iron Man who arrives to rescue him. During the fight, Cap hacks into Iron Man's systems, allowing Taskmaster to gain access to control the Mark VI armor. Iron Man gets Cap back to normal and put up a fake fight to make Taskmaster thinks Cap is still in Hydra's control. After that, Taskmaster announces his plan to Cap about overthrowing Red Skull to rule the world, before being beaten down by the two. As they leave, Taskmaster escapes and activates his Mark VI armor, naming himself the "Iron Master."
Arriving inAntarctica,the two Avengers witness a giant rocket, containing Cap's blood, enough to turn the entire population of the United States into the Red Skull's super-powered army, and an underground facility where they mass-produce the Stark Repulsor Cannon and copy Cap's shield from the real one. They fight off against the remaining Hydra soldiers and shut down production of the facility. Before they can take down the Red Skull, the Iron Master arrives and attempts to kill him, but the Iron Master's armor is in the Red Skull's control and forces him to kill them but is quickly beaten. The superhuman Hydra soldiers arrive to defeat the two avengers. Before they can finish them off, the Hulk arrives to their aid. Iron Man fights against the Iron Master with the Hulk and wins, while Cap goes to confront the Red Skull and to halt the rocket's launch sequence. Cap succeeds in stopping the rocket by sticking his shield into the fuel tanks, causing the rocket to destruct by the launch, and destroying the whole facility in the process. The Red Skull, the Iron Master and the remaining Hydra soldiers get taken into custody byS.H.I.E.L.D.
At the Helicarrier, Iron Man, Cap (asIron Patriot) and the Hulk begin training and end up with the two being beaten by Iron Patriot's heat-seeking missiles. After the two make up, they and the Hulk go out to eat some pie.
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United
[edit]John-Michael Bond ofThe Daily Dotwrote, "Marvel excels at telling patently ridiculous stories in a way that draws you in, and this animated tale of mad scientists run amok is a shining example. Reimagining the origin story of the Hulk villain Zzzax, a being of pure energy and onomatopoeia, this adventure focuses on the humorous partnership that arises when Iron Man and the god of smashing team up. Computer effects make the animation occasionally look a little odd, but it’s highly stylized art—and what comic fan could turn their nose up at that?."[31]Troy Blackburn ofScreen RantrankedIron Man and Hulk: Heroes United16th in their "16 Best Marvel Animated Movies" list.[32]Brent McCluskey ofMicrankedIron Man and Hulk: Heroes United45th in their "50 Netflix Superhero Movies and TV Shows to Binge Watch in 2017" list, calling it one of the "50 best superhero movies and TV shows on Netflix in 2017."[33]
Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United
[edit]John-Michael Bond ofThe Daily Dotwrote, "Marvel’sHeroes Unitedmovies are lighthearted fare, designed to show off the joys of a superhero team-up while telling a big action story full of laughs. Centering on the dueling hubris of the Avengers two leaders,Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes Unitedfollows our heroes as they takedown Red Skull and an army of Hydra super soldiers. The computerized animation takes some getting used to, but Clancy Brown is a joy as the villainous Taskmaster. If you’re looking for a good film for your kids,Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes Unitedfits the bill. "[31]Joe Garza of/Filmsaid, "Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes Unitedis carried by the wonderful chemistry between the two heroes as they continually compete to show up each other, which only makes the moments of them fighting together as a team all the more satisfying. "[34]
Brian Costello ofCommon Sense MediagaveIron Man and Captain America: Heroes Uniteda grade of three out of five stars, calling it a "noir" take on Captain America and Iron Man.[35]Troy Blackburn ofScreen RantrankedCaptain America:Heroes United14th in their "16 Best Marvel Animated Movies" list.[32]Brent McCluskey ofMicrankedIron Man and Captain America: Heroes United47th in their "50 Netflix Superhero Movies and TV Shows to Binge Watch in 2017" list, calling it one of the "50 best superhero movies and TV shows on Netflix in 2017."[33]
Sales
[edit]Year | Adult swim | Number | Gross (US$ sales) |
Units (US sales) |
Ref. |
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2013 | Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United | 1 | $717,031 | [36] | |
2014 | Iron Man and Captain America: Heroes United | 2 | [37] |
In other media
[edit]Merchandise
[edit]- In 2013,Diamond Select Toysreleased a Tony Stark / Iron Manminimateand a Bruce Banner / Hulk minimate inspired by theHeroes Unitedincarnations of the characters.[38][39]
References
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- ^abcZahed, Ramin (December 19, 2013)."Brain Zoo Works on Marvel's 'Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United'".Animation Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2014.RetrievedJuly 26,2014.
- ^Wheatley, Cliff (December 17, 2013)."Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United Blu-ray Review".ign.IGN Entertainment, Inc.Archivedfrom the original on August 25, 2014.RetrievedJune 26,2014.
- ^Hayes, Britt (October 4, 2012)."First Look: 'Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United' Marvel Animation's First Film".ScreenCrush.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^abcTruitt, Brian (December 1, 2013)."Iron Man, Hulk team for animated 'Heroes United' movie".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 14,2014.
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{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^"Voice Of Zzzax – Behind The Voice Actors".Behind The Voice Actors.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-16.Retrieved2023-08-16.Check marks indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^Warmann, Amon (November 18, 2013)."'Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United' Images and Clip: Hulk Gets His Own Armor ".Screen Rant.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-30.Retrieved2023-08-10.
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{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^MacReady, Melody (December 28, 2022)."Every Animated Marvel Movie, Ranked According To IMDb".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-06-24.Retrieved2023-08-10.
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- ^"TRAILER: Watch Marvel's Iron Man & The Hulk Team Up In 'Heroes United'".Vibe.October 15, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^Goellner, Caleb (March 4, 2013)."Link Ink: 'Iron Man & Hulk' Coming In December, 'Transformers' Deleted Scenes And A Lego Fortress Of Solitude".ComicsAlliance.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^Wolfe, Jennifer (November 6, 2013)."'Marvel's Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United' Heads to Disc December 3 ".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^Wolfe, Jennifer (December 19, 2013)."Brain Zoo Teams with Marvel TV for 'Heroes United'".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^Couch, Aaron (October 13, 2012)."Iron Man and Hulk Team Up in 'Heroes United' Trailer".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on August 11, 2014.RetrievedJune 26,2014.
- ^Schedeen, Jesse (April 20, 2013)."The A-Z of Iron Man".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-04-27.Retrieved2023-08-10.
- ^abcLabrecque, Jeff (July 25, 2014)."Iron Man and Captain America make a wager in new 'Heroes United' movie".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 26,2014.
- ^abc"Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United".iTunes.Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 3,2015.
- ^Wolfe, Jennifer (July 28, 2014)."Watch: Iron Man and Captain America Join Forces for 'Heroes Unite'".Animation World Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-08-10.Retrieved2023-08-10.
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{{cite web}}
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:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^[citation needed]placeholder
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External links
[edit]- 2013 films
- 2014 films
- Film series introduced in 2013
- 2010s direct-to-video animated superhero films
- Animated films based on Marvel Comics
- Captain America films
- Animated superhero crossover films
- Direct-to-video animated films
- Films directed by Eric Radomski
- Hulk (comics) films
- Iron Man films
- Marvel Animation
- Marvel Entertainment franchises
- Direct-to-video film series
- Disney direct-to-video animated films