“As well, the changes give us a chance to have Tweeny babysit G-Baby, creating an ironic role reversal from the original characters. In this day in age of pop cultural references replacing well-time humor, irony will really work with the 5-35 age demographic.”

Like FEFCSI did when it acquired the Funny Follies characters, the firm has obtained other important characters through its purchase of various animation studios. From Uzbekistan’s Curtain Cartoons, FEFCSI has obtained Melon Collie, a depressed, hard-drinking former animal star, who ended every episode by passing out in the gutter. The character is more popular than Mickey Mouse in Uzbekistan and several other former soviet block countries.

The changes in Melon Collie were bold, but subtle.

“Out of all the characters, Melon Collie remains relatively unchanged. We felt this angst-filled character fit right into the current anime craze displayed in series like Teen Titans,” said Kane-Jeeves.

When asked about Melon Collie’s tendency to cross-dress, she said, “We’re keeping that part of the character intact. It was an innocent part of the original series, so we feel no one will have a problem with it. And if it inadvertently attracts the new growing alternative lifestyle dollar than we succeed in more areas than one.”

Through its acquisition of Hoboken, New Jersey-based Cel’N Cartoons, FEFCSI will add K-9 the Cranium Crusader to the Franchise series. The character starred in four episodes of the short-lived The Cranium Club series, which aired on PBS during the mid-1980s.

Commenting on the seeming obscurity of the character, Kane-Jeeves said, “We found a website on the Internet that is completely dedicated to The Cranium Club and Super President. It’s this kind of cult following that can build an unexpected foundation for a relaunched series.”

K-9 was a talking bloodhound who helped brother and sister Timmy and Tonya Record solve a mystery for four non-consecutive weeks, which included hot topics of the time like where do missing socks go in the dryer, why did my mom get mad when Timmy and I played doctor, can I catch AIDS from dust and why do we need New Coke?

“The Cranium Club was a progressive show even in its time, dealing with sensitive topics. Even though, we will not be telling kids to dust thoroughly after having an HIV-positive person over for cookies and milk, we hope the new K-9 will add edutainment value to the Franchise series,” said Kane-Jeeves. “In addition, the New Coke episode was a trailblazing example of strategic integrated advertising within the content of the show, which will be a major part of the new franchise. We have already struck deals with Kellogg’s Cookie Crisp cereal, Wal-Mart and Smith and Wesson, which will soon launch a line of official Franchise Force action 9mm 14 shot auto-pistols.”

In revamping K-9, FEFCSI has added a retired K-9’s hip son, 65 Sent to the Franchise team. He is a younger hip-hop version of his father, who has street smarts instead of book smarts. Inspired by the hip-hop flavor of 65 Sent, Timmy and Tonya Record have been renamed Timmy and Tonya Turntable and cast as the central characters of the show. They will find themselves inadvertently involved in the adventures of the superheroes and ultimately learn a lesson at the end of each half hour.