Behind the Scenes With Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel

Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, the Disney crossover event that we are all waiting for (premieres August 16, 2013) will be here soon, and I know what we are going to do that day.

First, we will learn how Marvel heroes Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk lost their powers at the hands of Dr. Doofeshmirtz and his merry band of super villains (Red Skull, Whiplash, Venom, and M.O.D.O.K., respectively). Then we will see what happens when Candace stops busting and tries to help. Hilarity promises to ensue (where hilarity equals waffles). Also, adventure!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creators of Phineas and Ferb, as well as Marvel’s Cort Lane, and some of the cast: Ashley Tisdale (Candace) and Alyson Stoner (Isabella), Fred Tatasciore (Hulk), Travis Willingham (Thor), and Adrian Pasdar (Iron Man), to discuss the best crossover ever!

There were a number of highlights, namely seeing the episode on the big screen, and the moment when Dan and Swampy told me that there is indeed a Phineas and Ferb/Star Wars crossover scheduled for next summer, not to mention the proverbial “stuff they can’t talk about.” Also, when Adrian Pasdar spent some downtime working on various high-five techniques with my kids. Turns out that it’s not all in the wrist. Who knew?

However, my favorite moment came as we were talking to Tatasciore and Willingham. My youngest son asked about the art of smashing, and Tatasciore, in his Hulk voice, discussed the assorted smashings of his youth. He then asked my son if he enjoyed smashing, to which my boy responded by smashing the plastic cup in front of Willingham with all the force of a gamma-filled 7-year-old. Luckily, both Tatasciore and Willingham thought it was hilarious and it soon became the running joke of the day.

Fun note, I bumped into Fred Tatasciore while walking through the crowded Disney’s D23 Expo and the first thing he said was “I’ve been telling everyone about your son’s smashing!” That’s right, Zane smashes so well he impressed the Hulk. Take that, everyone else!

A lot of we discussed during the Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel interview contains potential spoilers, so I am going to be a bit cryptic when I say that Baljeet will be okay. Also, you’ll never think of waffles without a bit of backstory. Maybe some syrup.

Regarding the crossover, which entails the placement of Marvel heroes in the Phineas and Ferb universe/Tri-State area, obviously there were some issues to consider as far as blending the art of the former, and Pasdar said it best, “Everything has been rounded out.”

Lane added, “And we don’t ever use bullets. It’s all lasers and ray guns.”

Basically, the Marvel characters are slightly softer than they would appear in their own properties, and they partake in 100% more song and dance numbers, but for the most part they stay true to their Disney form.

You may have noticed that none of Marvel’s female heroes are featured in Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, but that doesn’t mean that the boys do all the work. Isabella and Candace have their moment, and they make the most of it.

Around the Internet there are a lot of questions as to why Hulk didn’t turn into Bruce Banner when he lost his powers, and similar conspiracies regarding the other heroes— rather than jump on those points I have decided to leave you with this thought:

It’s a metaphor.