The Animorphs…Meet the Animorphs Television Cast…
"I just want to thank you—each and every last one of you—for coming to the studio today." The director said, beaming up at his most special quests.
It had taken him countless months, and a great deal of begging, but he had finally managed to locate the Animorphs. And his luck only seemed to get better: two high ranking Vissers of the Yeerk Empire, a member of the Chee, and the man who betrayed the Animorphs, had all agreed to come to the studio to discuss the future Animorphs Television Series. "I think you will all like what you're about to see here today." The Director smiled.
"What is it, exactly, that we will be seeing?" Jake asked, looking around the studio as he and his friends—as well as his enemies—followed the director.
"We're going to be showing you some concept designs; you know, for the Hork-Bajir and the Andalites…"
((What about the Taxxons?)) Tobias asked. He was perched on Ax's shoulder. Ax, at the time we had been walking, was in human form.
"Well…" the Director began. "I'm going to be honest with you guys; our budget is pretty low. We're not really what you would consider a big budget network, like ABC or NBC…"
"Wait…what Network is this?" Marco asked.
"This is Nickelodeon…" the Director answered.
The Animorphs exchanged a few nervous glances.
"So...a show based on our lives is going to be aired on a kid's station?" Marco said.
"Well…in a sense, yes." The Director nodded. "Though, our target audience will mostly be kids between ages thirteen and sixteen…so they can relate to the characters that they're watching on TV."
((But we've had to deal with some pretty heavy stuff.)) Tobias said. ((I mean, there's a lot of blood that's been spilt, a lot of battles that have been fought, and a lot of lives that have been lost as a result of this war…should kids really be watching something like that?"
"Oh, we'll be sure to tone it down a touch." The Director assured him.
((Meaning that you will be leaving out a lot of important information…just to please the parents of the kids watching your show?))
"I'm sorry, did someone hear something?" the Director asked, looking over his shoulder to find the source of this new voice.
((I'm the white rat sitting on Visser One's shoulder…I'm David.))
"Ah, yes." The Director nodded. "Well…while we will be leaving out some of your more…extravagant adveures—again, due to budgeting issues—we will be sure to leave in those events that are crucial to the series."
"So things like storming the G8 meeting as Elephants and Rhinos will be cut out, as if they never happened?" Marco asked.
"What about our adventure to the Nartec city?" Cassie asked.
"What about our adventure to the Iskoort World?" Jake asked. "We fought off an army of Howlers, most of us nearly died in the attempt. That would be cool to see on the big screen."
"Well…again, the issues that arise with our budget…" the Director replied.
((What about our liberation of Ket and Jara?)) Tobias asked.
"I'm sorry, whom?"
"They were the Hork-Bajir that we liberated from the Yeerks." Cassie said. "When we founded the Hork-Bajir colony?"
"What about our mission to the North Pole?" Jake asked
"What about that time we took a trip to the Jurassic period?" Marco demanded.
"It wasn't Jurassic…" Rachel said. "It was…Tobias, what was it?"
((It doesn't really matter.)) Tobias sighed.
"I do not think we were supposed to remember that particular mission." Ax said. "I believe that the event had been the result of a sario rip."
"Mr. Director," Marco said. "Do you know what a Sario rip is?"
The Director's blank expression, and later change in subject, pretty much answered Marco's question. Obviously, the Animorphs had been dealing with an amateur.
"Like I said…we shall do our best." the Director assured us. "But, I really want to show you what the aliens will look like."
The Director led the Animorphs and company to a small room down the hall from the foyer. They were all very excited to see what the Hork-Bajir would look like.
"Here we have it; take a look at our Hork-Bajir." The Director beamed, showing the characters the image of the Hork-Bajir design that would be used for this brilliant television series.
I do not need to tell you that the Animorphs had been greatly disappointed by what the Director had shown them; that goes without saying. A lingering silence filled the room, and the Director was starting to get very, very worried. Nobody had complimented the design that he himself created. Sure, he could have used anyone of the designs that the professional artists had run by him—the designs that still remained on his desk in his office—but he had been especially proud of what he had created.
"Well…it's a work in progress." The Director said, uncomfortably. "How about I show you what Ax and Visser Three are going to look like."
So the Director showed the characters the costumes for the Visser and the Aristh.
"I am sorry, Mr. Director." Ax said, looking at the blue mess that had been laid out before him. "But you said we were going to see an Andalite design…what in the world is this?"
"You don't like it?" The Director frowned.
"I doubt that anyone would enjoy this mess." Rachel said. She shook her head in a gesture of disapproval.
((Are you going to pass this off as a high ranking Visser of the Yeerk Empire?)) Visser Three asked. ((This is pitiful…pathetic…unrealistic, even for a poorly budgeted human broadcasting station…what delusional moron came up with this?))
"Oh…um…" the Director stammered. He did not want to admit to the Visser that it had, in fact, been he—the Director—who came up with the design for the two Andalites. "No one of importance…definitely not someone worth killing, I assure you…"
"Hey, Mr. Director; you could always pass these costumes off for Taxxons." Marco suggested, nudging Jake as though he had said something brilliant.
"Yes…of course." The Director scowled at Marco. Did anyone appreciate the genius of this network employee? Or would he be constantly hassled through the entire tour?
"I know what you would all like to see." The Director smiled. "Let's go visit the actors. I'm sure that you'll approve of our top notch cast."
The Director led his group to the trailers of the cast of the Animorphs television series. He was confident that this snarky bunch would be impressed by the group of talented young actors that he himself hired for their roles. Yes, each and every last one of them had been handpicked by our competent director.
"Ah, look; I see our Tobias right now." The Director smiled. "Christopher, oh Christopher!" the Director cried out, waving his arms to grab the attention of the man who would be playing our snarky nothlit friend. "I've brought some people that you would like to meet!"
The actor walked up to the group, wearing nothing but black: black pants, a black top, and a black leather jacket.
"Animorphs, meet Christopher Ralph."
"I'm sorry, who?" Marco asked. "I'm sorry, buddy. I've never heard of you."
((Hey, I approve.)) Tobias said. ((The dude could be my twin.))
"Isn't Tobias supposed to be blonde?" Rachel said, eyeing the actor who would be playing her love interest.
"Ha! I got you there!" the Director said. "I saw the cover of the Encounter. The character on the front had dark hair, not blonde hair."
"Yea, but Tobias was mentioned as being a dirty-blonde; not once, but many times throughout the series."
((How old is this guy, anyway?)) David asked. ((The Animorphs are said to be in junior high in the Invasion…unless I'm mistaken, this man isn't a teenager."
"Yes, but how many thirteen year olds do you know that can act?" The Director retorted. He was getting very defensive now.
"Alright, so we've got our Tobias." Rachel said. "Who's playing me?"
"Christopher, go get Brooke."
"Brooke Shields?" Marco asked, excitedly.
"Of course not, don't be ridiculous." The Director laughed. "We've got Brooke Nevin."
"Who's Brooke Nevin?" Rachel asked.
"I'm Brooke Nevin," said the actress. "I'm so excited to be playing the Rachel Berenson."
"I'm sorry, how old are you?" Rachel asked. She looked from Christopher Ralph, to Brooke Nevin, and back to Christopher Ralf.
"Well, I just turned sixteen," Brooke replied. "But I promise you, I can play a thirteen year old."
"Oh, I don't have a problem with you," Rachel said, eyeing Christopher. "Mr. Director; you realize that Tobias and I are romantically involved, right?"
"Oh yes, I do." The Director smiled. "I have read the books."
"And you realize that the significant age difference between Christopher and Brooke would prevent you from airing the kiss that takes place in book thirty-three?" Jake asked.
"Enough about bird-boy and Xena; let's see the handsome devil that will be playing me!" Marco demanded.
"Oh, I think you'll like him, Marco." The Director promised. "Christopher, go get Boris…in fact, just grab the entire cast…yes, even the secondary cast."
Within minutes the complete cast of characters had been present. The Animorphs, David, and the two Vissers stood before their counter parts with mixed feelings. Tobias and Marco seemed pleased with the actors chosen to play them; Jake wasn't bothered by Shawn Ashmore, though he would have been happy with anyone the Director had hired; Cassie and Ax were indifferent; while Rachel and the Vissers had been more than sceptical.
((So…this is your all-star line-up?)) David asked. ((Mr. Director, a majority of your cast is composed of virtual unknowns and a few people who have appeared on are you afraid of the Dark?))
"What's with the talking rat?" Shawn Ashmore asked.
((The talking rat is called David!)) David snapped. ((Who are you, big shot?))
"I'm Shawn Ashmore." The actor replied. "And I'll have you know that I am going to play iceman in the upcoming instalment of x-men."
((Big whoop pal. I've nearly eliminated most of the main characters of this series.))
"Who are you again?" Boris Cabrera asked.
((I'M DAVID!)) David cried. ((I was the seventh Animorph…I betrayed the group…I was trapped as a rat…I had a trilogy dedicated to me for heaven's sakes…have any of you even read any of the books?))
"I've read the invasion." Christopher Ralf replied.
"I've skimmed through it." Shawn Ashmore admitted. "I've been busy with my many movie and television roles to bother with a kids book series."
((I'm not going to be in the series, am I?)) David asked the Director.
"Well…the David trilogy was one of those events that didn't…really….seem…important…it just sort of…stops the flow of the series…"
((You know what…)) David said, hopping off the shoulder of the Visser. ((Screw you guys, I'm going home!))
((I too am leaving.)) The Visser said. ((I disapprove of this…Animorphs television series. I do not wish to be a part of it.))
"I'm out as well." Visser One agreed. "Don't bother using my name or image for your twisted little perversion."
"Well, I'm going to use her image anyway." The Director mumbled. "I'll just have her make a few brief appearances."
"Prince Jake, I am starting to have some doubts about this series." Ax said.
"I think we all are, Ax." Rachel agreed. "Maybe we should rethink this…what do you think, Jake?"
"I know what will change your minds!" The Director interrupted. "We will have the cast do a cold reading of our pilot episode!"
"Well, that shouldn't be too bad." Cassie agreed. "Come on Jake. How bad could it possibly be?"
I would like to take the time to thank one of my readers, Sarah1281, for correcting me on an error I made. When I referred to the two liberated Hork-Bajir as "Dak and Jara", rather than "Ket and Jara"… and those names were preceded by the improper use of the word "the"…thanks for pointing that out, Sara.
I've made some more corrections to the stupid mistakes that I made. Hopefully, there aren't any others that I have missed.