Editing Static Shock (section)

==Production==
The series was produced by [[Warner Bros. Animation]] based on the [[Milestone Media]]/[[DC Comics]] character [[Static (DC Comics)|Static]].<ref name=warner>{{cite web | url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/all-new-%E2%80%9Cpokemon-gs%E2%80%9D-plus-new-series-%E2%80%9Cjackie-chan-adventures%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cx-men-evolution%E2%80%9D-and- | title=All-New "Pokemon GS," Plus New Series "Jackie Chan Adventures," "X-Men Evolution" And "Static Shock!" Highlight New Saturday Morning Schedule For Ratings King Kids' WB! | date=April 4, 2000 | publisher=Warner Bros. | access-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016023536/http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/all-new-%E2%80%9Cpokemon-gs%E2%80%9D-plus-new-series-%E2%80%9Cjackie-chan-adventures%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cx-men-evolution%E2%80%9D-and- | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Its supervising producer was [[Alan Burnett]], and Scott Jeralds was the main producer under executive producers [[Jean MacCurdy]] and [[Sander Schwartz]].<ref name=warner/><ref name=exec/> The production team consisted mostly of people who were involved with ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' and ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'', but also included Static's co-creator [[Denys Cowan]].<ref name=superherobook>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDlEHGKj8JgC&pg=PA471 | title=The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-book Icons and Hollywood Heroes |author1=Misiroglu, Gina Renée |author2=Roach, David A. | publisher=[[Visible Ink Press]] | year=2004 | isbn=9781578591541 | pages=471–472}}</ref> Although the show hired the comic series' co-creator [[Dwayne McDuffie]] as story editor and writer,<ref name=superherobook/> McDuffie had no direct involvement on the development of ''Static Shock''.<ref name=mcduffieinterview>{{cite web | url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/staticshock/backstage/interviews/mcduffiewf.php | title=Backstage - Interviews - Dwayne McDuffie | author=Harvey, Jim | publisher=The World's Finest  | access-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211065357/http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/staticshock/backstage/interviews/mcduffiewf.php | archive-date=February 11, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> The idea of a ''Static'' series first emerged with DC's editor-in-chief [[Jenette Kahn]] during the time McDuffie was working for Milestone under Kahn.<ref name=captaincomics/> In 1993, Kahn proposed to adapt some Milestone comics; Burnett was hired to write a [[pilot episode]] for an ''[[X-Men]]''-esque series with Milestone superheroes called ''The New Guard''.<ref name=captaincomics/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/mcduffie.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020306024556/http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/mcduffie.htm | archive-date=March 6, 2002 | title=Interview with Dwayne McDuffie | year=c. 2001<!-- date and author https://web.archive.org/web/20010225221252/http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/index2.htm --> | author=Roberts, Paul Dale | website=Jazma Universe Online | access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> After attempts to produce several other Milestone projects, ''Static'' was eventually the series "they went for".<ref name=captaincomics>{{cite web|url=http://www.captaincomics.net/columns/10hook20.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413040939/http://captaincomics.net/columns/10hook20.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2001 |title=Dwayne McDuffie: 'Static Shock,' breaking into comics, and guys with bras on their heads |author=Meyeres, Randy |date=October 20, 2001 |website=CaptainComics.net |access-date=August 2, 2015 }}</ref> By the time Milestone and DC drafted their contract over DC distributing Milestone comics, the characters were from separate fictional universes.<ref name=mcduffieinterview/> However, when [[Fictional crossover|crossover]]s between ''Static Shock'' and other DC animated series were suggested, it was established that they were from the same [[DC Animated Universe]]<ref name=csm/><ref name=dcau>{{cite web | url=https://www.avclub.com/article/the-dc-animated-universe-47916 | title=The DC Animated Universe | author=Pierce, Leonard | date=November 18, 2010 | work=The A.V. Club | publisher=[[The Onion]] | access-date=June 29, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905170242/http://www.avclub.com/article/the-dc-animated-universe-47916 | archive-date=September 5, 2015}}</ref>—"rather than having to muck around with multiple dimensions, or whatever."<ref name=mcduffieinterview/>

Although McDuffie stressed that the show remains loyal to "the spirit and the tone" of the comic book,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fanuniverse.com/comics_news/09_22_00/1static_comeback.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001216063900/http://www.fanuniverse.com/comics_news/09_22_00/1static_comeback.html | archive-date=December 16, 2000 | title=Static in Shocking Comeback | author=Vaughn, J.C. | date=September 29, 2000 | website=FanUniverse | access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.popcultureshock.com/pcs.php3?section=comics&type=interviews&content=cowan-mcduffie_tdo | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010728220258/http://www.popcultureshock.com/pcs.php3?section=comics&type=interviews&content=cowan-mcduffie_tdo | archive-date=July 28, 2001 | title=Rebirth of Milestone: interview with Denys Cowan & Dwayne McDuffie | date=July 2000 | website=Pop Culture Shock | url-status=usurped | access-date=August 3, 2015}}</ref> some changes were done because of its timeslot and target audience of pre-teens.<ref name=superherobook/><ref name=mcduffieinterview/><ref name=orlando>{{cite web | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/12/25/tv-superhero-reflects-real-life/ | title=Tv Superhero Reflects Real Life | date=December 25, 2000 | author=Campbell, Ramsey | work=Orlando Sentinel | publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] | access-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911232906/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2000-12-25/news/0012250279_1_virgil-hawkins-superhero-static/3 | archive-date=September 11, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Leonard Pierce of the ''A.V. Club'' even considered it to be "the most kid-oriented of all the [DC animated universe] franchise's shows," and "much more appealing to a younger audience than ''Batman'', ''Superman'', or ''Justice League''", for example.<ref name=dcau/>}} For example, guns appeared less frequently, Richie is not explicitly portrayed as homosexual,{{efn|Dwayne McDuffie commented on this issue, "It'll never come up in the show because it's Y-7 but as far as I'm concerned, Richie is gay [...]. The way I dealt with Richie's homosexuality was to write him aggressively and unconvincingly announcing his heterosexuality whenever possible ('Wow! Look at those girls in the swimsuits! I sure like girls!'), while Virgil rolled his eyes at the transparency of it".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvels-earliest-gay-characters-introduced-in-don-mcgregors-black-panther-comics/ | title=Marvel's Earliest Gay Characters Introduced in Don McGregor's Black Panther Comics | author=Dar, Talmur | date=February 12, 2018 | website=[[Comics Beat]] | access-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref> }} and he is Virgil's confidant instead of Frieda.<ref name=mcduffieinterview/> Virgil is also younger in the animated series,<ref name=orlando/> his costumes and use of his powers are different from the original, and his mother is dead in the show despite the fact that she is alive in the comics.<ref name=superherobook/><ref name=mcduffieinterview/> The latter change was done because producers had the intention "to focus on a strong, complex relationship between an African-American father and son."<ref name=conti>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0009/21/ | title=Simmons Talks Static Shock | date=September 22, 2000 | website=The Comics Continuum | author=Allstetter, Rob | access-date=July 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030404224558/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0009/21/ | archive-date=April 4, 2003 | url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, McDuffie was concerned by the change because he originally intended to oppose the stereotype of black people not having a complete [[nuclear family]].<ref name=mcduffieinterview/> However, McDuffie said "that [it] worked out okay" as the crew could use the absence of Virgil's mother to create a "couple of great stories".<ref name=mcduffieinterview/> Virgil's father, Robert, "for all intents and purposes, is a new character", as he was reconceptualized as a social worker.<ref name=conti/> The same goes for Richie, who is described as an amalgam of different characters from the original comic.<ref name=conti/> For the villains, Hotstreak was reused from the ''Static'' comics, Edwin Alva was brought from another Milestone's series—''[[Hardware (comics)|Hardware]]''—, and the Meta-Breed was created for the series.<ref name=conti/>

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| footer = The third season marks Richie turning into superhero Gear. This was done partially because it was becoming hard to fit him into the story and the producers wanted to keep the "chemistry" between voice actors Phil LaMarr (''right'') and Jason Marsden.<ref name=mcduffieinterview/>
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The third season saw some of the biggest changes; in addition to Richie's superhero powers and a new opening, Static changed his costume.<ref name=3rd/> Cowan stated that the change was done to give his clothes a "feel of the comic book",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0209/07/index.htm | title=Static Shock's new look | date=September 7, 2002 | author=Allstetter, Rob | website=The Comics Continuum | access-date=August 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219015816/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0209/07/index.htm | archive-date=February 19, 2005}}</ref> while McDuffie said it represented a growth that Virgil was passing through.<ref name=mature/> This maturation made possible to "explore some of the darker places in his world," and to have more varied conflicts, as the villains have also become more mature.<!-- <ref name=mature/> --> He described it is as "a natural outgrowth of all that, as is the new, more naturalistic look of the show."<ref name=mature>{{cite web | url=http://dwaynemcduffienews.blogspot.com/2003/01/static-shock-interview-with-dwayne.html | title=Static Shock: Interview with Dwayne | date=January 24, 2003 | author=Harvey, Jim | publisher=Dwayne McDuffie blog | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016031732/http://dwaynemcduffienews.blogspot.com.br/2003/01/static-shock-interview-with-dwayne.html | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> This change followed the second-season premiere—"The Big Leagues"—when Static meets [[Batman]] and [[Robin (comics)|Robin]]. Burnett said, "after that show, everybody went, 'Let's go in that direction.'"<ref name=darkeranddini>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0301/14/index.htm | title=Alan Burnett talks Static Shock | date=January 14, 2003 | author=Allstetter, Rob | website=The Comics Continuum | access-date=August 2, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618051146/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0301/14/index.htm | archive-date=June 18, 2007 | url-status=live}}</ref> Writer [[John Semper, Jr.]] commented, "of course, I always lean toward the dramatic ... But the same old light-hearted Static spirit is still there."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://dwaynemcduffienews.blogspot.com/2003/01/static-shock-story-editor-speaks.html | title=Static Shock Story Editor Speaks | date=January 22, 2003 | author=Harvey, Jim | publisher=Dwayne McDuffie blog | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723030331/http://dwaynemcduffienews.blogspot.com/2003/01/static-shock-story-editor-speaks.html | archive-date=July 23, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Richie gains superhero powers because it was becoming hard to fit him into the story and the producers wanted to keep the "chemistry" between voice actors LaMarr and Marsden.<ref name=mcduffieinterview/> There was also a positive response from children in [[focus group]]s so "[t]he answer seemed pretty obvious."<ref name=mcduffieinterview/>

The series' music director was [[Richard Wolf (Film & TV composer)|Richard Wolf]],<ref name=wolf/> while he, Stanley Clarke and Max Gousse were the composers, and Kennard Ramsey was the orchestrator.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url=http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.jots.200162314/default.html | title=Static Shock | encyclopedia=Performing Arts Encyclopedia | date=April 2000 | publisher=[[Library of Congress]] | access-date=June 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405060350/http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.jots.200162314/default.html | archive-date=April 5, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> For action sequences, Wolf wanted to use "real adrenaline-pumping beat" of 125 beats per minute; however, [[hip hop]] music usually only reached 110 beats. The predominant score was [[electronica]] with hip hop-type and [[DMX]]-type vocals. [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[old school hip hop]] melodies were also used depending on the scenes, and each character had a specific theme.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mixonline.com/news/films-tv/composer-spotlight-richard-wolf/369033 | title=Composer Spotlight: Richard Wolf | author=Farinella, David John | date=January 1, 2002 | work=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720200832/http://www.mixonline.com/news/films-tv/composer-spotlight-richard-wolf/369033 | archive-date=July 20, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Wolf composed the opening theme for the first two seasons.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/staticshock/backstage/crewcredits/ | title=Cast and Crew | publisher=The World's Finest | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224075958/http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/staticshock/backstage/crewcredits/ | archive-date=February 24, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Starting from the third season, the show had a new opening theme, written by [[Master P]] and [[Lil' Romeo]] and performed by the latter.<ref name=3rd>{{cite web | url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/%E2%80%9Cstatic-shock%E2%80%9D-and-kids%E2%80%99-wb-energize-saturday-mornings-all-new-adventures-costume-and | title="Static Shock" And Kids' WB! Energize Saturday Mornings With All-New Adventures, Costume And Super Hero Sidekick, Beginning January 25 | date=January 8, 2003 | publisher=Waner Bros. | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720200918/http://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/%E2%80%9Cstatic-shock%E2%80%9D-and-kids%E2%80%99-wb-energize-saturday-mornings-all-new-adventures-costume-and | archive-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0301/09/index.htm | title=Static Shock's third season | date=January 9, 2003 | author=Allstetter, Rob | website=The Comics Continuum | access-date=July 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229005721/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0301/09/index.htm | archive-date=December 29, 2005 | url-status=live}}</ref>