TV's Fall Animation Lineup
PBS: The public broadcaster is expanding its initial foray into series animation that began with The Magic Schoolbus with two new shows. Premiering in October is Arthur, which is based on Marc Brown's popular children's books about the trials and tribulations of an eight-year-old aardvark. The network is also debuting its first prime-time animated show, Adventures From the Book of Virtues. Based on William J. Bennett's best-selling book, The Book of Virtue, from PorchLight Entertainment and Fox Animation. The Magic Schoolbus (Scholastic/Nelvana) based on the popular science books for children, returns on a daily basis, starting October 7. Lily Tomlin once again supplies the voice of the peripatetic bus driver cum teacher, Mrs. Frizzle
Cable Nickelodeon: The network which practically invented the current trend toward "creator-driven" TV shows with its Nicktoons, will debut its new lineup on October 7 in prime time with Craig Bartlett's Hey Arnold! The show, which explores childhood through the eyes of Arnold and his best friends, was inspired by some of Bartlett's popular clay-animated shorts.
Decidedly less conventional is Kablam!, which debuts October 11, which is billed as "the first-ever animated sketch comedy show." Designed as a creative outlet for new and established animators, it will use a variety of styles and techniques, ranging from cutout to pixiliation, along with more traditional cel animation. Each episode will feature two segments, Action League Now! (which follows the ongoing adventures of a group bumbling, crime-fighting action figures) and Sniz & Fondue (about a pair of cartoon cats and their friends in pursuit of fun and "self-amusement."). Additional recurring segments will rotate throughout the series.
Finally, there is Mitch Schauer's Angry Beavers (Gunther Wahl), which will debut in 1997. It deals with two brothers who set out on their own for the first time and try to make it in the big world.
Returning Nicktoons are Rugrats 1997 and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters (both from Klasky Cuspo). Little Bear (Nelvana), which is not part of the Nicktoon curriculum, is also coming back; the show tells the story of a young cub taking his first steps of independence always under the guidance of his mother.
The Cartoon Network: The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, the much touted return of the Hanna Barbera perennial premiered in August on the Cartoon Network, as well as its two sister Turner cable outlets, TBS and TNT. (All three networks, along with Hanna-Barbera, are now controlled by Time Warner, which got them in its takeover of Turner Broadcasting.) Also on the schedule is Dexter's Laboratory and the World Premiere Toons series of original animated shorts, both from Hanna-Barbera.
MTV: Daria, the Beavis and Butt-Head spinoff, which debuts early next year, follows its heroine as she moves to a new town and starts school. MTV is also currently developing Cartoon Girl and Migraine Boy. The latter character who, not surprisingly has a constant headache, has a dog named Tylenol, not surprisingly has a constant headache.
USA Network: Universal Cartoon Studios and Electronic Arts have combined forces to produce Wing Commander Academy, based on the CD-ROM game, which will debut this fall. It focuses on futuristic pilots earning their wings. Also premiering (on September 21) is Mortal Combat: Defenders of the Realm, which is being produced by Film Roman in association with Threshold Entertainment. The series chronicles the adventures of the Chosen Warriors assembled to protect the Earth from the evil emperor Shao Kahn.
Returning in the fall for its second season are Street Fighter (InVision), another video game derivative, and Savage Dragon, based on the comic book. In addition, there is Highlander, The Animated Series (Gaumont) and the prime time comedy, Duckman (Klasky Cuspo).
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