One year after the United States federal government began enforcing its requirements for television stations to air three hours per week of educational programming, only a handful of cartoon shows can actually claim they are meeting the mandate. The best is Science Court, which is now transforming into "Squigglevision." However, there are plenty of high quality shows. Stalwarts such as The Simpsons, Rugrats and Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist have been joined by equally well-written shows such as King of the Hill, Daria and Bob and Margaret. CBS is filling their animated Saturday morning lineup with shows based on children's books and Nickelodeon's first ever half-hour animated series The Wild Thornberrys will debut as part of the network's new prime-time block for kids, the Nickel-0-Zone.

More cartoon shows than ever before will soon be gracing your TV screens. The 1998 fall season features animation of nearly every conceivable genre from subtle to broad comedy, from experimental shorts to derivative action-adventure half-hours. The only style that seems to be still missing is serious drama. But why complain? The so-called "animation boom" of the early 1990s has finally arrived eight years after it was reported to have occurred. Here are the highlights of what we can expect!

Birdz. © Nelvana Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Network

CBS
Last season, CBS switched to news and live-action "FCC-friendly" shows. Their ratings went into the basement. This season they are taking their cue from ratings leader ABC's Saturday morning line-up by creating an animation block of 30-minute shows aimed at young viewers and produced entirely by Canada's Nelvana Limited. All but one show is based on popular children's books. As you will see as you read on, Nelvana is responsible for more TV animation than any other company today. CBS's new Saturday morning season premieres Saturday, October 3rd at 8:00 a.m. (ET), 7:00 a.m. (PT).

Flying Rhino Junior Highis based on the books written and illustrated by Ray Nelson and Douglas Kelly and revolves around the antics of Earl P. Sidebottom (a.k.a The Phantom of the Auditorium). Birdz is an original comic adventure series about a family of birds, which centers around their mischievous ten-year-old Eddie Storkowitz. Franklin is a turtle learning how he fits into the world and how the world fits him. It is based on books by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark. Anatole, based on the book series by Eve Titus, centers on a dignified mouse who's a loving husband and father to six charming children. Dumb Bunnies is based on Dav Pilkey's Scholastic books and centers on a family of lovable, fun loving, and extremely naïve bunnies. Mythic Warriors: Guardians Of The Legendis from the paperback series, "Myth Men," by Laura Geringer, illustrated by Peter Bolinger and published by Scholastic. It is about a modernized Mt. Olympus where Perseus is a master kickboxer and Iole dons a punk haircut.

Disney's Hercules. © The Walt Disney Company. All Rights Reserved

ABC
Disney's ratings powerhouse "One Saturday Morning" block premieres September 12 at 8:00 a.m. (ET), 7:00 a.m. (PT). The schedule starts off with their highest profile show, Disney's Hercules, an outgrowth of Disney's 1997 animated feature film, which chronicled the lifelong exploits of the mythical hero. The series expands upon the Greek demigod's feats during his formative, hero-in-training, "high school" years. The voice cast includes the film's Tate Donovan, James Woods, French Stewart, Sandra Bernhard, and Diedrich Bader, along with an amazing roster of guest stars including Jason Alexander, Jennifer Aniston, Lou Gossett Jr., Merv Griffin, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Harvey Korman, Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo), Lisa Kudrow, Heather Locklear, Wayne Newton, David Hyde Pierce, Charles Nelson Reilly, Carl Reiner, William Shatner and Betty White. Fifty-two episodes will also premiere in syndication, Monday-Friday, beginning August 31. (Check local listings.)

"Squigglevision," referring to the trademark animation style of creator and executive producer Tom Snyder, will take the wit and appeal of Science Court and expand upon it by adding math and vocabulary elements to the series. With the help of two new animated characters, Fizz and Martina, viewers will now be guided through the half-hour program from the Squigglevision TV studio. If the show is as well-written and funny as Science Court this show should be a winner.

Disney's Doug, Recess, Pepper Ann, and 101 Dalmatians: The Series all return with 13 new episodes each. Disney's Doug will also be seen in syndication Monday through Friday beginning August 31. (Check local listings.) Reruns of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will continue for the new season as well. Some of the vintage shorts on The Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show include Homeless Hare, Ain't She Tweet, Bunny Hugged, and Trick or Tweet. Schoolhouse Rock, the Emmy Award-winning, three-minute, animated vignettes, rounds out ABC's children's programming lineup.