Exclusive: Andy Heyward Schools Us on Superhero Kindergarten!

We’re only a day away from the launch of the latest Arnold Schwarzenegger project, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten! While the show is targeted for the younger, newer generation of Arnold fans (preschool, kindergarten and lower elementary viewers), parents may be equally as entertained for different reasons. Judging by the teaser shown last month, there’s bound to be loads of jokes to go over the children’s heads but we adult Schwarzenegger fans will surely get the humor of our favorite action hero’s puns and one-liners. 

Arnold is no stranger to the superhero world. He played Turbo-Man, Conan the Barbarian and even played the evil adversary to Gotham’s own Dark Knight. This will be, however, Arnold’s first time in an animated form wearing tights as Captain Fantastic. However, if I have the storyline right, Captain Fantastic loses his powers in an accident and accidentally gives off powers to nearby children. These children will then explore their new super strengths and skills within a special school, headed by Schwarzenegger (Arnold Strong). 

 

Watch the teaser:

 

I still had so may questions about this mysterious series so I spoke with animation visionary, Andy Heyward (CEO of Genius Brands), to dig deeper into this upcoming mysterious animated series. We had questions and needed them answered immediately! 

TheArnoldFans: Why do you think Arnold chose Superhero Kindergarten out of the several other projects that you and Stan Lee pitched to Schwarzenegger?  

Heyward: ARNOLD AND STAN FELT A GREAT CONNECTION WITH ONE ANOTHER.  THEY LOVED WORKING TOGETHER, AND ARNOLD IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SHOWING GOOD VALUES TO KIDS.  STAN FELT THAT THE AREA OF YOUNG KIDS HAS BEEN UNDERSERVED IN THIS SPACE, AND ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THERE. WHICH MARVEL WAS NOT ADDRESSING. IT WAS MAGIC HOW THEY PLAYED OFF EACH OTHER.

 

TheArnoldFans: How long have you wanted to work with Arnold on an animated series and can you share a bit about the history of you trying to land Arnold on the right project?

Heyward: I HAVE WANTED TO WORK WITH ARNOLD FORM THE MOMENT HE LEFT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.  ARNOLD IS SO MUCH MORE THAN AN ACTOR OR A PUBLIC FIGURE.  HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE, HE ASSUMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS WELL BEING.  HE IS A DEAR FRIEND AND I AM PROUD TO BE HIS BUISNESS PARTNER.

TheArnoldFans: After watching the special preview to Superhero Kindergarten, it was joyfully obvious that the script writers and creators are big Arnold fans as they were constantly sneaking in many movie one-liners as well as giving nods to Arnold’s own professional career and his personal life. You even have Arnold’s mini-horse, LuLu, worked into the series. Was it Arnold’s idea to work into the script all of these Easter eggs for the fans...or was this part of your own genius idea? 

Heyward: THIS WAS SOMETHING WHICH CAME NATURALLY AS THE SHOWS WERE BEING WRITTEN,  ARNOLD IS OF COURSE A LARGER THAN LIFE CHARACTER, AND THERE IS A GREAT BODY OF WORK TO DRAW FROM IN HIS LIFE WHICH CAN ENRICH ANY CREATIVE ENDEAVOR.   WE GRABBED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY WITH IT IN ANIMATION, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE IN EACH OF THE EPISODES, THERE WILL BE LOTS OF ‘WINKS’ AT CAMERA.

 

TheArnoldFans: What is Arnold like in the recording studio doing his lines? Is he all business or does he joke around a lot giving multiple funny improvisations? We hope some of his audio recordings might make it onto the Blu-ray’s special features.

Heyward:  ARNOLD IS A PROFESSIONAL OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD.  HE NEVER ACCEPTS GOOD ENOUGH.  HE IS COMMITTED TO ALWAYS MAKING EVERY LINE READING BETTER AND BETTER.  HE OFTEN WILL IMPROVISE AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS, AND INVARIABLY THEY ARE INSTINCTIVE AND RIGHT ON THE MONEY TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCT.  YES, THERE IS A LOT OF JOKING, AND OFTEN THIS COMES FROM JOHN LANDIS, THE DIRECTOR WHO HAS AMAZING INDUSTRY STORIES HIMSELF.  (AS YOU MAY KNOW, JOHN DIRECTED ANIMAL HOUSE, BLUES BROTHERS, 3 AMIGOS COMING TO AMERICA, TRADING PLACES AND THE MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER VIDEO, AMONG OTHER THINGS) 

TheArnoldFans: If the series does as well as we think, Do you have any plans for product and toy merchandising? We’d love some Captain Fantastic action figures before Christmas!

Heyward: YES, OF COURSE. IT WILL BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PROGRAM.  FIGURES, VEHICLES, PLAYSETS AND ACCESSORIES,  ALL KINDS OF PRODUCTS WILL COME BUT NOT BEFORE SPRING 2022

 

TheArnoldFans: How many episodes are currently ready to go? Will this be a once-a-week release on the Kartoon Channel’s app?

THE SERIES OFFICIALLY STARTS ON APRIL 23.  WE LAUNCH WITH A DOUBLE HEADER…AND THEN 1/WEEK AFTERWARDS. THERE ARE 26 EPISODE IN THE ORIGINAL SEASON….WE EXPECT TO GREENLIGHT SEASON 2, SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

 

Twenty-six episodes! Can you believe that?! That’s a much longer season than I had imagined and I had feared these might only be 15 minute episodes so it’s very comforting to hear these will actually be full-length episodes with the normal running time of 22 minutes. 22 minutes x 26 episodes = big smiles which will keep up entertained for many months to come! 

We can’t wait to watch our Arnold get animated and have some good laughs when the series launches. Go to the KartoonChannel.com NOW by clicking HERE!