Storm Hawks

Infobox Television
show_name = Storm Hawks


caption = A promotional image for "Storm Hawks".
genre = Animation / Action
runtime = 22 minutes approx.
creator = Asaph Fipke
producer = Nerd Corps Entertainment
executive_producer = Asaph Fipke
Ken Faier
voices = Samuel Vincent
Matt Hill
Colin Murdock
Chiara Zanni
Scott McNeil
Lenore Zann
Cathy Weseluck
Nicole Oliver
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = CAN
USA
network = Cartoon Network, YTV
first_aired = May 25, 2007
last_aired = Present
num_episodes = 32
list_episodes = List of Storm Hawks episodes
website = http://www.stormhawks.com/
imdb_id = 1043820
tv_com_id = 73579

"Storm Hawks" is an animated television series created by Asaph "Ace" Fipke and made by Nerd Corps Entertainment in conjunction with Cartoon Network and YTV. It premiered on Cartoon Network on May 25, 2007. It started to air on YTV in September 2007. It started to air on Cartoon Network in the UK in 6 August 2007. In Poland it started to air on Cartoon Network on 10 November 2007. Internationally, it first aired on ABC1 in Australia on 26 February 2008 and on Hero in the Philippines on March 12, 2008. The show also started airing in Bulgaria and Poland in 2008.

Plot

"Storm Hawks" is set in a fictional world called Atmos, a largely mountainous world consisting of scattered masses known as terras. Because of the geography, travel is largely dependent on flight. The technology of Atmos is based around energy-generating crystals, used to power the various devices in the series. Patrolling the skies of Atmos are the Sky Knights, groups of warriors who pilot motorcycle-like vehicles called Skimmers that can semi-transform into flying machines. These warriors are loosely managed by the Sky Council.

In the backstory of the series, an evil empress named Master Cyclonis threatened Atmos. The original Storm Hawks led the Sky Knights in a war against them, but they were betrayed by one of their own, the Dark Ace. Despite this, the attack apparently succeeded, though the Storm Hawks did not survive. Years later, the main characters of the series stumble upon the wreckage of the Storm Hawks' carrier, the "Condor", and unofficially take on the Storm Hawks name in the hopes of becoming Sky Knights themselves, despite not being old enough to even legally fly the vehicle. [cite journal | author = Ryan Ball | year = 2007 | month = July | title = Riders on the Storm | journal = Animation Magazine] Their youth defeats their ambition, however, as neither friend nor foe take them seriously because of it.

This changes when they are brought into conflict with a new Master Cyclonis. Among her followers are the Dark Ace, now famous for his betrayal and high level of skill, Snipe, a mace-wielding strong man with a fondness for smashing things, and Snipe's sister, Ravess, an archer who brings a violin-playing henchman into battle for theme music. By managing to foil Cyclonis' plan, they are recognized by their peers as Sky Knights.

Characters

The Storm Hawks squadron consists of six members:
* Aerrow—The daring leader and Sky Knight of the squadron, Aerrow is a mature, good-natured 14 year old with a tousled mop of bright red hair and emerald green eyes. Despite his youth, he's one of the most talented Sky Knights in the Atmos. Aerrow has a special power that none of his other teammates have called the Lightning claw. He is a descendant of the leader of the old Storm Hawks.
* Radarr—Aerrow's close friend and co-pilot, Radarr is a vaguely rabbit/lemur-like creature of indeterminate origin and hates being called a "pet." Radarr has scruffy blue fur and yellow eyes.
* Finn—A wiry, wise-cracking doofus, Finn is a sharpshooter with spiky blond hair and blue eyes. Finn seems to be in a perpetual sugar rush, although he attempts to act cool and collected. His personality traits are like a stereotypical surfer and/or skater. He and Junko are always getting into trouble together thus becoming the comic relief pair of the show.
* Junko—A large, albeit gentle and good natured person, Junko is a member of a species known as Wallops. He has grey hair and grey eyes and his appearance is similar to that of a brown anthropomorphized rhino. As the muscle of the Storm Hawks he possesses superhuman strength that is greatly increased by the use of his preferred weapons, the Knuckle Busters.
* Piper—In charge of tactics, navigation, and crystals, Piper has excellent combat ability, and knows nearly everything about Atmos and its inhabitants. She has spiky midnight blue hair and orange eyes, and is the only character thus far to take on Master Cyclonis alone and emerge triumphant through her own skills.
* Stork—The carrier pilot and a gadget specialist with crippling (though often warranted) paranoia and severe pessimism, Stork is a member of a species of green skinned creatures called "Merbs." Though he appears menacing at first, he is quickly revealed to be easily frightened and meek, but in spite of his cowardly disposition he consistently performs his expected duties. He has stated that he is only a member of the Storm Hawks until "something better comes along," but is loyal regardless. He has jet black hair and yellow eyes with dots for pupils.

Locations

Scattered about the world of Atmos are terras, the few spots of land available.

MMORPG

According to the official "Storm Hawks" website, a MMORPG is being developed by Bitcasters utilizing BigWorld Technology, a middleware game engine.

References

External links

* [http://www.stormhawks.com Stormhawks.com]
* [http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/stormhawks/index.html US Cartoon Network site]
* [http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk/microsites/stormhawks/index.jsp UK Cartoon Network site]
* [http://www.nerdcorps.com/ Nerd Corps Entertainment]
* [http://noble-scarlet.net/stormhawks/AceFipke.zip Asaph Fipke interview]
* [http://www.a3upodcast.com/node/128 A3U Podcast Audio Interview with voice talent Scott McNeil]
* [http://stormhawks.ytv.com/ Storm Hawks: YTV]