'Electric City' Trailer: Tom Hanks Is Animated In An Oppressive Future

It's a good day for Yahoo and Tom Hanks to debut some footage from their new animated collaboration, Electric City, because there isn't a lot of other stuff out there to take attention away from the new animated show.

Created by and starring Hanks, and executive produced by Gary Goetzman and Amitabh Jhunjhunwala, and co-starring Jeanne Tripplehorn, Holland Taylor, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Antoon, Chris Parnell, and Paul Scheer, the show seems to draw a bit from Brazil, a bit from The Matrix, and probably from another half-dozen well-liked sci-fi staples as well. The animation doesn't look wildly impressive, but the design of the show does have a bit of character. Check out an introduction to the dystopian world of Electric City, below.

Yahoo has the trailer, and describes the show this way:

The world as we know it has ended and out of the rubble, the Electric City stands as a symbol of peace and security.  Yet under the veneer of order lies a world full of secrets and violence.  Secret police, back-alley dealings, daring chases, and murder all find a home in the "Electric City." Through the lens of a functioning, yet dystopian metropolis, "Electric City" touches upon relevant global issues and themes including energy consumption, freedom of information, crime and punishment and more.  The story unfolds gradually, layering mystery upon mystery, inviting viewers to interact with the content and each other.  Metaphors and symbols are woven throughout, creating a perfect environment for puzzle-solving and community interaction.  Like good science fiction, "Electric City" raises provocative questions about our own way of life and value systems.  Short-form connecting storylines combined with vivid animation and a compelling score will keep audiences watching, while metaphors and a range of subject lines will keep them guessing—and reflecting.

Electric City is a big multimedia extravaganza, or at least that's the idea. The first ten 5-7 minute episodes will premiere on Yahoo! beginning on July 17th, with the remaining episodes being released July 18th and July 19th. Yahoo also says,

In addition to superior quality, high-end graphic animation designed specifically for the Internet, "Electric City" on Yahoo! Screen will feature an immersive and interactive online experience featuring a 3-D map of 'Electric City,' behind-the-scenes footage of the cast, games and more. The "Electric City" experience can be found on http://electriccity.yahoo.com.