Buffy the (Cartoon) Vampire Slayer

Oh, what could have been...  There's been no new Buffy on TV for five years.  Really.  FIVE years.  Still, the Buffyverse remains Joss Whedon's most enduring creation.  Forget Firefly and Dollhouse, what Whedonites really want is more of the wise-cracking, vamp-dusting former cheerleader.  Except, without all the speeches that made season 7 so tedious. 

We so nearly got it too...  In 2004 most of the original cast, with the notable exception of Sarah Michelle Gellar, reconvened to voice a 4 minute promo for an animated series.  In development since 2001, the cartoon show was set to reboot the continuity of the original series - going back to its more innocent first season and the classic ensemble line-up of Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles.  Oh, and mystical sister Dawn too who - though not existing in the original first season - is retconned into the line-up to keep the kids happy. Much was known about the show through character sketches and storyboards, but no one had seen the semi-mythical promo.  Until now.

On August 1st, the full clip was released on YouTube and, incredibly, it's still there...  It strongly suggests that the animated series could have been a true contender, with exaggerated action tempered well by classic Buffy banter.  But, don't take our word for it - see it for yourself: