Legendary Japanese icon ASTRO BOY series debutes Jan. 17, 2004 on Kids' WB! (8:30 am ET/7:30 am PT), bringing 25 new anime adventures to kids in the U.S. The network also will launch that day 13 new episodes in the fourth season of returning hit STATIC SHOCK (11:30 am ET/10:30 am PT). In addition, STATIC SHOCK moves into the weekday lineup to air six days a week, beginning Jan. 5, in its new 3:30 p.m. ET timeslot.
The classic icon of Japanese animation, based on the original manga character from the popular comic book series launched in the 1950s, ASTRO BOY tells the story of youthful, atomic-powered robot, Astro. A reluctant superhero fighting for justice and peace for humans and robots alike, Astro possesses awesome abilities and a highly advanced artificial brain. Termed kokoro in Japanese, Astro is able experience all of the same emotions as humans. Mankind's only hope to surviving the onslaught of rebellious robots is a robot himself...the fearless, selfless, incorruptible champion known as Astro. ASTRO BOY is produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and Tezuka Productions, and distributed in the U.S. by Sony Pictures Television.
ASTRO BOY was created 50 years ago by the legendary Osamu Tezuka, the pioneer of Japanese anime animation and known as the "father of manga," Japanese comic books. In 1963, ASTRO BOY became the first Japanese series imported to the U.S. and one of the country's top-rated syndicated programs. The 50th Anniversary of ASTRO BOY was celebrated in 2003.
The 2003 winner of the prestigious Humanitas Prize, STATIC SHOCK follows the exploits of the first African-American teenage superhero, Virgil Hawkins. After being exposed to a mutagenetic gas, Virgil became "Static," an urban hero of his own creation with electromagnetic superpowers. Along with his best friend Richie, who developed his own metahuman powers and assumed the guise of techno-whiz "Gear," they have become the new justice-enforcing duo. Action abounds in the fourth season of STATIC SHOCK as Static, the first African-American teenage superhero, and techno-whiz Gear unearth an underground group of metahumans whose exposure to sunlight can be fatal, help African superhero Anansi protect the secret of his power, save a gifted young athlete from the criminal clutches of a powerful supervillain, get jolted into a face off with the Green Lantern who may have gone renegade and discover that world famous NBA All-Stars have a super secret of their own. The season premiere takes Static on an electrifying adventure into the future as he teams up with Batman to save his adult Static-self. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, STATIC SHOCK brings a total number of 52 episodes to Kids' WB!'s Monday-Friday afternoon and Saturday morning lineups.
The Saturday morning lineup, beginning Jan. 17, is as follows (all times Eastern):
8:00 am JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES (New Time Period)8:30 am ASTRO BOY (Series Debut) 9:00 am TEEN TITANS (New Time Period)9:30 am XIAOLIN SHOWDOWN 10:00 am POKÉMON: ADVANCED 10:30 am ¡MUCHA LUCHA! 11:00 am YU-GI-OH!: ENTER THE SHADOW REALM 11:30 am STATIC SHOCK (Fourth Season Premiere)
The new weekday lineup, beginning Jan. 5, is as follows (all times Eastern):
3:00 pm JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES (New Time Period)3:30 pm STATIC SHOCK (New To Weekday Line-Up) 4:00 pm POKÉMON4:30 pm YU-GI-OH!
