Digital Decade is Coming! "Secret of Marco Polo" and More to be Re-Released!

By: Andrew Bermudez

(Mustache Maniacs Film Co. Headquarters; September 12, 2017)

     Today, we have some amazing announcements to make for the 10th anniversary of the release of Johnny Thunder and the Secret of Marco Polo! Read on to see what is in store!

Digital Decade is Coming in 2018!

     As Year of the Clock concludes this December, we have a brand-new promotion that we would like to officially announce! To celebrate the tenth anniversaries of both our YouTube Channel and Johnny Thunder and the Secret of Marco Polo, we have a brand-new celebration coming your way: Digital Decade!

     Digital Decade is a celebration of our YouTube Channel and all that it has done for our brand and how it has grown our audience over the years. All of the episodes of Backstage Showcase released during 2018 will focus on this theme, as well as all of the films that have made our YouTube Channel what it is today. In addition, Project U will continue on with the anticipated release of A Future in the Past, which stars one of our breakout online stars: Ulysses S. Powell! Digital Decade will be filled with reflection, remasters, contests, never-before-seen content, and so much more! Digital Decade will run from January 1, 2018 through September 1, 2019. Featured below is some of what to expect from Digital Decade.

Our First Six Online Films to be Re-Released!

     Recently, we conducted a survey about potentially re-editing some films already online and re-releasing those. Few voted, but those who voted were highly in favor of the re-releases. This means that, starting in 2018, six of our older films will be re-edited and re-released! The films to get this technological update are:

• Johnny Thunder and the Secret of Marco Polo
• The Adventures of Legoman
• A Very Patrick Christmas
• Johnny Thunder and the Gift of the Nile
• When Barrels Fly
• Wonders of Buoyancy

One question that has lingered about is what will happen to the original films. The answer is that they will be allowed to co-exist with the re-releases for a short period. However, we are sad to inform you that on January 1, 2019, the original versions of the six films listed above will be taken offline, leaving only the re-releases in their place. Re-releasing will be done in the following order, with the following rough release schedule.

• When Barrels Fly - Winter 2018
• The Adventures of Legoman - Spring 2018
• Johnny Thunder and the Gift of the Nile - Summer 2018
• Wonders of Buoyancy - Fall 2018
• A Very Patrick Christmas - Holiday 2018
• Johnny Thunder and the Secret of Marco Polo - Summer 2019

These changes are being made in order to bring these popular films up to date with our latest releases, as well as correct any issues that these films may have. None of our other films originally released online will be affected by this change.

Unpopular Re-Released Films Going Offline

     However, we have some sad news to share regarding some of our re-releases from From the Vaults promotion from 2012-2014. While some of the films (such as Plankton Strikes Back! from 2006) have proven to be popular with the fan base, other films that we have re-released have failed to capture the imaginations of our viewers. Because of this, we will be removing some of these films from our YouTube Channel starting September 30, 2017. The following films that will be taken off of the internet that day are:

• Com 50
• TBC News: The Volcano Blows
• Indiana Jones and the Heart of the Dragon
• Shootout! (This film will remain. The update below explains why.)
• Com 50 and 007
• Indiana Jones and the Treasure of Tikal
• Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Leopard's Treasure
• Trip to LEGOLAND
• Indiana Jones and the Forbidden Mayan Temple
• Indiana Jones and the Egyptian Tomb

The removal of these films will also result in the removal of any accompanying behind the scenes material, as well as the removal of references to the unsuccessful contests Extreme Explorations and Make-a-Pirate. However, all mentioning elsewhere of From the Vaults (and these films) will remain, and the time that these films were online will still be acknowledged for years to come. Also, Com 50 and 007's original score will stay on our music channel.

Custom Thumbnails Still Coming In!

     We've slowed down a bit on this, but all of our videos are all still earmarked to receive custom thumbnails, which will be fully implemented by December 31, 2018. This move is now being made part of Digital Decade, but has been slightly shrunk. Because the previously-listed From the Vaults re-releases will be going offline on September 30, 2017, none of these films are going to be receiving custom thumbnails. In addition, the original versions of the six films that will be re-edited will not be receiving custom thumbnails. However, the re-edited versions will upon their releases.

Special Surprise on April 18, 2019!

     Digital Decade will culminate in a very special surprise on our 15th birthday, which will last throughout that summer, as we will then be celebrating both Digital Decade and our 15th anniversary! We don't want to say what it is, but all that we can say is that it will be worth the wait!

Lead Out

     There is still more that we have planned for this monumental occasion, but we aren't quite ready to announce everything yet! But are you looking forward to Digital Decade? Were you one of the original subscribers from 2008? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

9/22/2017 Update:
     As a memorial to the late Tyler Shefton (who passed away around this time last year), Shootout! will remain on the internet and will receive a custom thumbnail. The above list of films to be removed has been updated to reflect this change. We have also moved up the day that the films will start to be removed.

10/7/2017 Update:
     Johnny Thunder and the Secret of Marco Polo's re-release has been moved to Summer 2019, as we have even bigger plans for that film's do-over! It's a classic film, and today's technology will do wonders to bring that film up to the modern day! We'll cover this more in depth in a future press release.