At the Cartoon Network Upfront event held today in New York, Cartoon Network announced its programming line-up for 2006. In addition to the previously debuted Ben 10 and My Gym Partner's A Monkey, this year's new original programming also includes Squirrel Boy and the highly anticipated series from Andre Benjamin, Class of 3000, debuting in November; four original movies, including Cartoon Network's first-ever live-action/animated production Re-Animated; and new seasons of popular existing shows. In addition to new programming, it was announced that the new Saturday morning hit, Ben 10 has been greenlit for its third season.
"Last year, our ratings growth was led by the strength of our original programs," said Jim Samples, executive vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network. "We plan to continue that momentum this year with original movies and events based on some of our biggest hits. With both Class of 3000, from one of the most gifted talents in the music industry, Andre Benjamin, and Squirrel Boy, we are looking forward to another exciting year."
Created by Everett Peck, Squirrel Boy is a classic tale of a squirrel and his boy and is slated to premiere in July. Class of 3000 centers around music star Sunny Bridges, who leaves superstardom and comes home to teach at his alma mater, a performing arts school in Atlanta. Co-created by Andre Benjamin and well-known kids programming producer Tom Lynch, the series will debut in November. Both are produced at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif.
Cartoon Network also announced the production of Re-Animated, an original two-hour movie that combines the elements of live action and animation. Re-Animated will be the first production of its kind for the network. Twelve-year-old Jimmy Roberts is in need of an emergency brain transplant and ends up with the brain of a famous cartoonist. He is never the same again, as he sees cartoon characters wherever he goes. Re-Animated was created by Adam Pava and Tim McKeon and is scheduled to premiere in fall 2006.
Three original movies based on original series, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door and Teen Titans will also air this year. Cartoon Network announced plans to produce 12 more animated movies.
Highlights of Cartoon Network's announcements are as follows:
New Original Series:
-- Squirrel Boy: Squirrel Boy, a classic tale of a squirrel and his boy by creator and executive producer Everett Peck, will debut in July. Andy and his best friend-and-pet Rodney seek adventure in Andy's backyard and throughout the neighborhood. Veteran voice actors will bring the series' characters to life, including Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Richard Horvitz (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy), Pamela S. Adlon (King of the Hill, Chicken Little) and Kurtwood Smith (Red in That '70s Show).
-- Class of 3000: The half-hour series featuring a group of musically gifted kids at the Westley School for Performing Arts in Atlanta is set to premiere in November. When former student Sunny Bridges returns to regain something he lost on his way to fame, he brings sunshine to the lives of the culturally diverse students. Benjamin will contribute music and his voice talent to the series. Other cast members are Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Camp Lazlo), Crystal Scales (Static Shock, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron), Jennifer Hale (Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls), Janice Kawaye (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi) and Jeff Glen Bennet (Johnny Bravo, Camp Lazlo). The series is produced by the Tom Lynch Co., Andre Benjamin's production company, Moxie Turtle, and Cartoon Network. Twelve-half hour episodes and a one-hour premiere are being produced at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif.
-- My Gym Partner's a Monkey: Going to school is like a trip to the jungle for Adam Lyon. Due to an administrative mix-up, Adam attends Charles Darwin Middle School for animals-where not getting eaten during class constitutes a good day. Luckily for Adam, he has buddy Jake Spidermonkey to pal around with. The half-hour series, from creators Julie McNally Cahill and Tim Cahill, debuted on Friday, Feb. 24 and airs regularly on Fridays at 9 p.m. (ET, PT).
Original Movies:
-- Re-Animated: After a visit to the amusement park, 12-year-old Jimmy Roberts is never the same. An amusement park mishap forces Jimmy to go into emergency surgery. The only way to save him is to immediately give him a new brain, and the available brain is the frozen one of a famous animator. When Jimmy wakes up from surgery, he discovers that he can see cartoon characters that others cannot. Re-Animated, from creators Adam Pava and Tim McKeon, is scheduled to premiere in the fall.
-- Codename: Kids Next Door, "OPERATION: Z.E.R.O.": The Kids Next Door face their biggest adventure yet when an evil threatens to turn both kids and adults into tapioca-eating, hideously wrinkly Senior Citizombies. The Kids Next Door are forced to re-commission their greatest operative ever to battle for not only kids, but for the world itself. The 90-minute feature will debut in August.
-- Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, "Good Wilt Hunting": For the first time ever, the creators of favorite imaginary friends will be revealed. At the Foster's picnic, creators of imaginary friends visit their old pals. The girl who created Eduardo returns, as do the scientists who studied Coco, but Wilt's creator never arrives. Wilt searches for answers while the Foster's crew follows behind on his journey. The 60-minute movie will air in late fall.
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Teen Titans Tokyo: America's coolest heroes head to Japan in their first animated movie, Teen Titans Tokyo, airing in late fall. When a high-tech ninja attacks Titans Tower, Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven and Beast Boy spring into action. Robin finds out that the ninja was sent by a mysterious and menacing Japanese criminal known as Brushogun, and the Teen Titans travel to Tokyo to track the villain down.
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
