Who needs Will Ferrell’s impersonation when the real James Lipton is willing to do stuff like this. It’s short, it’s sweet and it’s helping me maintain my excitement for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. And I wasn’t even a fan of the first movie. In fact, I can’t remember a darn thing about Hellboy except for the Nazi-heavy prologue, which gave me the first impression of Indiana Jones knockoff (the subsequent plot made me think Indy meets Men in Black). Fortunately, the follow-up looks more like Pan’s Labyrinth, which was at least directed by Hellboy helmer Guillermo Del Toro.

To get me back up to speed before Hellboy II drops next Friday, I’ve rented the DVD of the original. And I’ve also watched this animated prologue, which gives us background info regarding the Golden Army. Personally, I’d be OK with the whole film being in this style. I just have lots of love for minimal animation. I definitely need to check out Broken Saints, the web series directed by this prologue’s animator, Brooke Burgess.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army opens nationwide July 11.

[Inside the Actor's Studio spot via Fark.com; prologue via Chris Albrecht]