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Animated 'Buffy' Confirmed

Author: Alan Stanley Blair
Date: 06-16-2004
Source: TV Guide Online
Into each generation a Slayer is born ...

TV Guide has confirmed that "Buffy: The Animated Series" has indeed
produced a pilot episode, with the voice talents of several key
characters from the television series.

When the idea of a "Buffy" cartoon was first conceived, the Fox
network were very eager to begin ... on the condition that the lead
actress of the live-action series, Sarah Michelle Gellar, takes part
by once again portraying the role of Buffy "The Chosen One" Summers.

Unfortunately, however, Gellar was unable to take part in the
animated project, seeking to get away from the Buffy image, whilst
also pursuing new career opportunities out there. And so the project
was shelved. Until now.

Rumours have circulated the fanbase of a pilot episode which was in
production with the voices of Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris),
Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg) and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles).
The very existence of this pilot episode would suggest that Gellar
had reconsidered her participation on the project, but that simply
isn't the case.

Taking on the role of Buffy now is Giselle Loren, known by fans as
the voice of Buffy in the "Buffy" computer game, available for the
XBox, and later its sequel, "Buffy: Chaos Bleeds."

No details of the setting of the series have been announced, but
according to various rumors, the episodes are intended to be the "re-
written" memories of the Scoobies, which took place by the
introduction of Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) in the fifth season of
the UPN/The WB series.

The pilot episode is due to be screened at some point next week.