Back in 1994, Mainframe Entertainment delivered ReBoot, a cutting-edge computer-generated animated series that followed the adventures of a team of anthropomorphic sprites and programs who defended a user's computer from corruption by invading viruses. Now, the renamed Rainmaker Entertainment has delivered on its promises to bring a new version of the story to fans by releasing the first trailer for Reboot: The Guardian Code. And fans are not happy about it, to say the least.

As we reported a few years back, this new version is based on the original creation of Gavin Blair, John Grace, Phil Mitchell and Ian Pearson, but blends live-action and CG-animation. Reboot: The Guardian Code follow four teens who are tasked with protecting the world by battling in cyberspace once they discover that they are next-generation of Guardians. Vera, the last surviving cyber-being from the original Guardian program, helps the four heroes as they use their code-based powers to battle viruses unleashed by a ruthless hacker, known only as the Sourcerer. Megabyte also returns, but what was previously touted as a "big upgrade" looks like a step backwards.

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Image via Mainframe Entertainment

Once the internet got a look at this first trailer, the reaction was savage. Keeping in mind that the original series was completely CG with no human actors appearing on-screen, this new approach seems to have blindsided fans of the original series. Rainmaker either took a cue from more recent movies like Power Rangers or even Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, or, more likely, channeled the model of the original Power Rangers series and shows like them. Perhaps this was for budgetary reasons as it probably takes a lot less capital to cast newcomer teen actors than it does to animate 20-something half-hour episodes. If the CG animation actually looked better than it did in 1994, that might be more acceptable, but in some cases the sprites actually look worse; we're not entirely sure how that happened and it suffices to say that fans are not happy about it.

At least report, TWC/Dimension Television had picked up international distribution rights to the Rainmaker Entertainment property, of which Canadian Corus Entertainment has ordered 26 episodes, but outside of Canada it looks like Reboot: The Guardian Code will be arriving on Netflix on March 30th. We'll get a better idea of how this new series is going to play out once it's fully revealed, but for now, check out the trailer for yourself below:

It’s official! We are excited to share a sneak peek of #ReBootTheGuardianCode! The show is a cool mix of live action and awesome animation about the adventures of four teenagers who become the Next-Generation Guardians of Cyberspace with the help of an artificially intelligent bio-constructed teenage girl. This Netflix Original Series debuts worldwide on March 30th, stay tuned for dates in Canada!

Along with the live-action/animated series, there seems to be a 360-degree interactive experience in the works as well:

Experience what it’s like to be in Cyberspace in an immersive mobile 360 experience. Stand in the middle of Megabyte’s fortress, be surrounded by cyber-locusts in the middle of a battle with the Guardians. Coming Soon...

 

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Image via Mainframe Studios
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Image via Rainmaker Entertainment
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Image via Mainframe Studios
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Image via Rainmaker Entertainment
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Image via Mainframe Studios
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Image via Rainmaker Entertainment
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Image via Mainframe Studios
reboot-the-guardian-code-images
Image via Mainframe Studios
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Image via Rainmaker Entertainment
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Image via Mainframe Studios
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Image via Mainframe Studios