TNI Interview With Jonathan Bryans, Creator of Nature’s Guard

General

by Jay Cochran
October 19, 2003

Interview By: Ryan Boutwell
With Jonathan Bryans, Creator of Nature’s Guard.

Ryan Boutwell:
Hey there my name is Ryan Boutwell (aka Skarapz of the TNI Message Boards) bringing you this one on one interview with Jonathan Bryans, who is the founder and creator of the new series "Nature's Guard". First off Jonathan, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and what exactly is Nature's Guard?

Jonathan Bryans
My name is Jonathan Bryans; I live in Ontario, Canada but am originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland. And Nature's Guard, well thats the question of the day. Nature's Guard is a story that is rooted in every young boys dreams... the military. We have our heroes, the Nature's Guard. They are an anti-terrorist strike team that has but one goal, to defend the peaceful lands of Forestya against the vile threats of the SpiderSect Empire. Oh yeah, the characters are all animal/human hybrids.

RB
Animal/human hybrids huh and military based? That’s cool; tell me did any other toy franchises, comics, or cartoons have a influence on Natures Guard?

JB
Yes, there were a few. Mainly G.I.Joe as I grew up in the Joes era, but ThunderCats, TMNT, SilverHawks and all the other 80's cartoons played a part in their own way.

RB
When and how did the idea for Nature's Guard come about?

JB
Long story, so I will give you the Campbell’s soup version.

RB
Lol, very well

JB
I began writing when I was highly into video games such as King's Quest and Police Quest from Sierra Online. I started writing fan fiction based on those games, then I started creating my own properties in 1989, and that, I would say was the "Birth of the Guard".

RB
Very cool, so is this going to be just a comic, or will there be more i.e. Movies, Cartoon shows, Toys? If a comic will there be any spin offs?

JB
Nature's Guard was originally created to be a toy line, and then I was educated in the ways of the toy industry. So at that stage, I began developing Nature's Guard as an animated series. I have developed 3-season worth of shows down on paper, with at least another 2 seasons in my head, screaming to come out. We have plans for an animated movie, but we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. In regards to the Nature's Guard comic, we have published two issue of a three issue mini-series already through a UK publisher called Warpton Comics, and we have plans to bring the third issue out soon, then we will re-launch next year through Image (most likely) and this time it will be in full color. In regards to Spin-Off plans, there are a few ideas. One is called F.E.R.N. (Forestyan Emergency Response Network) which will tell the story of their police S.W.A.T. force. We also have a story that takes place while our heroes were at the “Chestnut Academy of Military Training” called Nature’s Guard: Academy Days and another one which we are fleshing out right now called Nature’s Guard: Rage. Until Rage is fleshed out, we will keep that one a secret. I would also like to do an anthology book called Nature’s Guard: Seasons where we would release an issue four times a year, with each new season, and finally we have a book in the works right now called Nature’s Guard: Rank & File. It’s basically a “Who’s Who” in the Nature’s Guard universe.

RB
Ok, who are, if any big name people working on Natures Guard in the creative department, for the Cartoon or Comic that we (audience) would know of?

JB
Well, how do you determine big name... let's see

RB
Ok, how about someone we would recognize

JB
We have a few very good writers joining the staff on the project. I will be handling the majority of the writing on the series, but I will be joined by Larry Hama (of G.I.Joe fame), Scott Wherle (of Devil's Due Micronauts fame) and oh yeah, I believe I asked you to do some writing for the series. In regards to the cast for the animated stuff, we have many actors from Star Wars fame. We have Jeremy Bulloch, who played Boba Fett, we have Peter Mayhew who played Chewbacca and a few more possible surprises, but if people would like to know who, they should visit our web site at www.naturesguard.com, and while they are there, they should sign our guest book.

RB
Oh that is right Ryan (skarapz) will be helping you, is that a good thing? Just kidding. Is there anyone else that is helping out that is from the TNI boards that people will recognize?

JB
Yes, funny you should ask. I just offered Mike Doherty (goes by Crazy_Drummer on the TNI boards) today and he accepted. His coloring is going to add so much to the comic book.

RB
That is awesome, I know Mike, and he does great work. So what's new, how close to finalizing (sp) the project are you? Any news you can give us?

JB
Sure, we just spoke with Don Bluth Films last week. They seemed interested. We will speak with them again after the 21st of the month. We have a "Letter of Intent" from Bandai Toys, if you work in the industry, you will know, that is a big thing. I am starting conversations with a Canadian Game Company; they are very interested in doing a Nature's Guard card game, kind of like Magic. There are a few other fires burning, but those I will keep under my hat for the time being

RB
So who does all the drawing for Natures Guard, and who does the CGI animation on your website?

JB
We have the project in with WB and Fox and we are waiting to hear back from them. We also have our Licensing Agent shopping the property around to other major toy companies. For the drawing, do you mean on the web site, or the comic?

RB
Both

JB
Ok, the comic art was done by Leonard Kirk of Supergirl fame. Leonard did issue 1 & 2, and then Terry Pallot did the art for issue 3. Terry Pallot did all the inks and lettering for the books also. A very good friend of mine and the Art Director on the Nature’s Guard project for the most part did the artwork for the web site. His name is Cody Collins. The CGI for the trailer (or "Product Demos") as they are called in the industry were done by a company called Keyframe Digital Productions, Inc. At this time we will not be working with Keyframe any further on the project, our choices in animation have changed and we are looking at other companies - nothing bad to Keyframe, just different paths

RB
And what are these paths? Can you talk about them?

JB
No, at this time we will leave that alone. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea about Keyframe. They are amazing, just not the right company for us to work with right now.

RB
So Jonathan, tell me more about the characters in Natures Guard, which ones appeal to you more then others, which are your favorites?

JB
The characters of Nature's Guard are very close to my heart, but thats what you get when you work on something as long as I have. The characters are all near and dear to me, but if I had to pick one, I would say it's Boon, the main character. He’s fashioned after me to a point. Most of the situations are handled the way I would handle them. His personality is definitely me. I really don't have a favorite, but I do have a least favorite and that would be Oasis. I am not a big fan of the character, but he fits what I want for some of the stories so he will stay. I will develop someone to replace him one day, which basically means I will be killing him off at some point

RB
Tell me about the Contest you are having that allows fans to create a Character?

JB
The "Nature's Guard Create a Character Contest" has been something I have been planning for a while. What it basically is, is this... You can create a character, good or bad, but you must provide artwork, a code name and a background story. We will be picking one character for each and the winners will receive credit (by name only) anywhere we use the character - also, they will get a drawing of their character by Cody Collins. (Please note: you can enter the contest as often as you like, but you can only enter a character once - also, all entries become the property of Jonathan Bryans & LegendWorks Entertainment Group, Inc.)

RB
Ok, very cool. If you could do any crossovers which properties would you like to work with?

JB
Honestly none. I have fashioned the property in such a way that there are no real humans around, so that rules out any crossovers with human books (mainly because I hate the whole portal thing, and that would be the only way to explain the crossing of universes). Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of properties out there I would love to work within, but right now, there are none that would lend to a flawless crossover with Nature's Guard at this time

RB
So no SG1 crossovers Lol, but what about Thundercats?

JB
NO. No Thundercats crossovers. I am not a fan of what Wildstorm is doing with the property so I am not interested in working with them at this time. Sorry, I say things as I see them. I mean no disrespect to Wildstorm, I love most of their other properties, but not Thundercats.

RB
Ok, fair enough.

RB
Are there any other projects that you are working on at this time?

JB
Yes, I am working with Brandon Jerwa (the new writer on G.I.Joe) and we are putting together a development house for properties we will be shopping around as comics and so on. The company is called ArTECH Media. You will be hearing some big announcements from us soon. Brandon is a great guy and one hell of a good creator. I am looking forward to bring our first collective work to the comic book stands soon.

RB
Very cool , very cool. So you are working with Brandon Jerwa and no Natures Guard/GI JOE crossover has popped up in conversation? Lol.

JB
None. We are businessmen tried and true. We know where to draw the lines. Though he might have the "Dream Job" most Joe fans, myself included, he and I are working together to promote our own bodies of work. Brandon is an amazing writer, and I look forward to reading what he does for Joe, but I like the rest of you have to wait till it hits the stands. There is a line there we will not cross. G.I.Joe is outside of ArTECH Media's properties, just like Nature's Guard is, so we keep them separate.

RB
Ok, well I guess we will have to dream, and talk about it while grabbing a drink with friends then Lol. Well in closing is there any final comments you would like to say?

JB
Firstly, I would like to thank you and TNI for taking the time to do this interview with me. It was fun. I would also like to say thank you to the fans of Nature's Guard out there. They are the best group of people you could ever meet. So with that. Thank you.

RB
Thank you so much for your time also, Remember to check out the website www.naturesguard.com, to leave your feedback in the guest book. I hope you enjoy Natures Guard and enjoyed this interview.