# Ultimate Avengers

Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (also known simply as Ultimate Avengers) is a 2006 American animated superhero film based on the Ultimates comic book series by Marvel Comics. The film is the first installment in the Marvel Animated Features (MAF) film series, and follows Captain America (Justin Gross), who is de-thawed and recruited by Nick Fury (Andre Ware) to fight an evil alien race set on destroying America.
Premiering on February 7, 2006, at WonderCon, Ultimate Avengers was released direct-to-video in the United States on February 21. A sequel to the film, titled Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther, premiered at San-Diego Comic Con on July 22, 2006, five months after the first film was released.

## Premise

In 1945, Captain America, a U.S. soldier that was injected with a Super-Soldier serum, is fighting the Nazis during World War II. After averting a nuclear disaster, he falls into the icy waters of the North Atlantic and becomes frozen, only to be revived in the twenty-first century by the American military, who are hoping they can recreate the serum in his blood in order to create more super-soldiers. However, an evil alien race named the Chitauri is determined to destroy America. Captain America is recruited by Nick Fury and joins the other Avengers to defeat the race.

## Cast

* Justin Gross as Steve Rogers / Captain America
* Grey Griffin as Janet Pym / The Wasp
* Michael Massee as Bruce Banner
* Marc Worden as Tony Stark / Iron Man
* Olivia d'Abo as Natalia Romanoff / Black Widow
* Nan McNamara as Dr. Betty Ross
* Nolan North as Hank Pym / Giant-Man
* Andre Ware as Nick Fury
* Dave Boat as Thor
* Fred Tatasciore as Edwin Jarvis and Hulk
* James K. Ward as Herr Kleiser
* James Arnold Taylor as Bucky Barnes

## Production

In July 2004, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics' new parent corporation, announced they had struck a deal with Lionsgate Entertainment to produce a series of eight to ten direct-to-video animated film under the name of Marvel Animated Features (MAF). These were to be produced in conjunction with Marvel Studios, Marvel's direct film subsidiary. Ultimate Avengers was planned as the first film in the series.

## Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was released alongside the film. It was released on iTunes on December 15, 2006.

## Release

Ultimate Avengers was slated for a February 2006 release. It premiered on February 7, 2006, at WonderCon. It was released in the United States on February 21, 2006, by Lionsgate Films Home Entertainment.
On April 24, 2007, the two Ultimate Avengers films were paired together and released on Blu-ray in the United States.

## Reception
### Sales

Ultimate Avengers grossed $6.7 million in home video sales in the United States.
In its first week of release, the film ranked fourth in DVD sales in the United States, grossing $3.5 million. In its second weekend, the film dropped to 21st, grossing $1 million.

### Critical response

Todd Gilchrist of IGN gave the film a mostly positive review, calling the plot "well-executed if perfunctory." However, he stated that "in terms of storytelling, emotional content or universal appeal, considering this film the Ultimate anything remains an overstatement that has yet to be proven true."
Chris Hewitt of Empire gave the film a mixed review, criticizing the "non-atmospheric animation, weak voice acting and a dumbed-down plot," but calling the interplay between the characters "spot-on" and praising the characterization. Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media also criticized the animation and plot while also loathing the short 72-minute runtime; however, he praised Captain America's extended screen time and the film "telling a good story as quickly and economically as possible." David Cornelius of eFilmCritic.com stated, "It's too violent for younger viewers, but not mature enough for older ones. It's a movie trapped in between target audiences."

### Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
| 2007 | Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for DVD Original Programming | Mike Draghi, Eric Lewis | Won |
| 2007 | Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing in a Direct to Video Project | Ultimate Avengers: The Movie | Nominated |

## Sequel

A direct sequel to the film, titled Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther, was already planned alongside the first film. It premiered at San Diego Comic-Con on July 22, 2006, and was released on August 8.