CALLING all Phineas and Ferb fans – have we got some great news for you! Come next year, you may soon be enjoying a Phineas and Ferb adventure on the big screen.
In an exclusive interview with creator, executive producer and writer Jeff “Swampy” Marsh last week, Tonight learnt some good news regarding the popular tv series Phineas and Ferb and the original Disney movie, Phineas and Ferb: across the 2nd dimension.
First, the Emmy award-winning series was nominated for two Baftas this year. Second, Marsh says, among other things, that they’re working on a cinema release: “We’ve been working on a theatrical feature and are pretty close to finishing it up. We are really excited about it.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed, but we’re really just trying to make the funniest movie we can,” explained Marsh.
Ever since the two famous brothers, their sister Candice, pet-cum-secret-agent Perry the platypus and crazed “evil” Dr Doofenshmirtz popped on to our TV screens, their popularity has snowballed.
The show’s winning formula, in my opinion, is a mix of exciting, adventurous plots and rocking music. Marsh explains their strategy: “Dan (Povenmire, co-creator) and I were always writing music for the shows, mostly because we wrote music as failed rock ’n’ roll artists.
“But growing up we always remembered songs from shows like The Flintstones, Archie, etc, and we wanted to create something that would achieve that.”
And when it comes to the exciting plots that see the brothers and their entourage often venturing into some of the wildest places – like entering new dimen-sions, travelling into space, or creating a beach in their backyard and more – Marsh partly credits his four grandchildren for all the fun.
“They are all fans of the show. They wear the T-shirts, have Phineas and Ferb-themed parties… They are big fans and I know I can go to them to get feedback from time to time,” he said, adding that they are well aware of his role behind the scenes and that he is the voice of the character, Major Monogram.
“I often get a call and am asked to talk like Major Monogram for their friends,” he laughs.
Marsh said while there has been interest in doing work with popular characters from the series, such as Perry, Candice or the energetic Fireside Girls, at this stage they are focusing on finishing the current season.
“We want to keep doing it as long as we are having fun with it and as long as we can,” explained Marsh.
“Everything we are doing now is about finding other ways to tell stories about Phineas and Ferb.”
Marsh said they were thankful for the support South Africa had shown Phineas and Ferb. In fact, there are constant programming specials and new episodes on the Disney channels, as well as season four which launches next year.
• Catch part one of Phineas and Ferb: Where’s Perry? on Saturday, December 8, at 8am, on channel 304. This is the first part of a two-part special.