PHIL LAMARR:Actually, I havent seen the new stuff yet!
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Oh man!
Ive seen the scripts, obviously, and the storyboards.
But I havent seen the finished animation.
Apparently only the journalists get to see that!
But when we first started on the show, there actuallywasfinished animation, even before we started recording.
A proof of concept sort of thing, and I got to see that before we started recording.
And that was amazing because I was like, Oh…Oh!…OH!
And thats why the script is only three pages long!
Yeah, so coming at it this around was a very different process.
So it wasnt a case of, Whats it going to be this time around?
It was more, How are we going to do it?
Oh, on Adult Swim?
Tell me when to show up.
How close was that to coming together?
I mean, actors are usually thelastpart of that puzzle.
The gap between getting financing for a feature film and pulling in voice actors is pretty massive.
I certainly never saw one.
Yeah, I dont know if you could fit this story in two hours.
It would have to be truncated in some way.
Although, maybe he had a different concept when he was thinking about it as a feature.
I think its just some sort of weird entertainment company mentality now: You cant do flat animation.
Maybe Im biased though.
No, I mean there is such a beautiful look to it all, even if it is flat.
Its stuff that seemed ahead of its time 15 years ago and actually feels more appropriate with todays sensibilities.
Like of course its coming back now.
It makes perfect sense to return.
Its interesting because when we first did the show everything was still pretty much analogue.
It was all painted backgrounds.
Each storyboard artist also came up with each storythey were writers.
There was no separate writing staff and artistic staff.
It was all one.
That in itself was incredibly unique.
Its interesting because the problem with digital animation at this point is that you dont get the personalization anymore.
An artist cant get his style in there because its not his hand.
Its a keyboard, or a mouse, or a Wacom pen.
Nowadays, very few people have that.
Its not going to change.
Were you thinking about this property a lot during the time that it was gone?
Did you have any idea the fandom and love for the series was so severe?
Im trying to remember when it started.
I mean, I always knew that the show was good.
There was just no doubting that.
Thats how I knew that there was a market for this and fandom.
People were still responding to this show even though it wasnt out there in a significant way.
People were still finding it and just diving into it wholeheartedly.
Whenever Genndy would talk about bringing it back in some form, Id be like, Absolutely!
Also, how could it never have an ending!?
We need to find out does he defeat Aku?
Does he get back to the past?
Its interesting becauseFuturamais another one of my favorite shows, and it also went away and came back.
Well, the premise itself has a question mark in it!
If Homer stops on Cerseis island youd be like, What are you doing!?
Youve got to get back home!
Does he get back to his wife?
you gotta know these things.
Thats the story that we set up.
Theres a man thats on a quest to get back and defeat this demon.
Its a question.Futuramaisnt really a question.
Its just a life.
An exploration of a world, and youre right that its certainly less urgent in that way.
How is Jack, or the show, different in this return?
Well I dont know if it shatters things so much as it raises questions
Okay, fair enough.
And those are the big questions that hes asking himself.
Its funny because people have gone to me, Ooh, its on Adult Swim.
It has different concerns.
Its looking at things from a different perspective than it is originally.
One of those big questions is, This is who I thought I was.
Now all these things have happened.
Am I still that person?
And those are the questions that Jack is asking himself, which is very unusual for a hero.
A hero is unquestioning and does whats right.
He doesnt go, Is this right?
Yeah, its a really nice touch to throw into the mix.
The show definitely gets a little harsher and sees Jack dealing with the repercussions of his actions.
And for me, thats what makes this show a continuation rather than a reboot or a sequel.
Its not like we start with Jack defeating Aku and then another bigger baddie comes along.
Thats the sequel-itis version of it.
This is the story down the line and its been amazing to play.
Do you have a favorite episode from the original series?
Oh gosh, there are so many…I love Jack Learns to Jump Good.
I mean, the first episode
The movie?
We did it as three individual episodes put together.
Akus Fairy Tales is another favorite.
We did so many that are just really, really greatAll of the Scotsman episodes!
Jack and the Haunted House has such a beautiful design style to it, too.
Aquaman, hes been around a while though.
Doing those voices is a very different sort of thing.
To me, withSamurai Jack, Im just a part of it.
Im a third of the character at the most.
Theres the voice, the design, and theres the writing.
On the topic ofYoung Justice, thats another cancelled program thats going back into production.
Has any work begun yet on that?
Can you say anything there?
Not for me, but of course my characters arent central to the story.
But I hope that I get to come back and play in that world.
I think Greg Weisman issucha good writer.
Its always great to voice characters and be a part of his world.
Lastly, what are you most excited for people to see in this return toSamurai Jack?
Hmm, I dont think I can say.
Theres something in the story that Jack experiences that Icant waitto see peoples reactions to.
Samurai Jacksfifth season premieres March 11that 11pm on Adult Swim
