Kids WB! has ordered 26 episodes of the anime/action/comedy series, VIEWTIFUL JOE, from Geneon Entertainment, which will air during the 2005-2006 broadcast season on Saturday mornings. VIEWTIFUL JOE is one of Japans hottest television series
We are excited to partner with the innovative creative talent at Geneon Ent. to bring viewers across the nation this extraordinary series in the fall, said Betsy McGowen, svp/gm, Kids WB! This award-winning property, VIEWTIFUL JOE, introduces a fantastical world with high action and character-driven comedy starring a likable underdog who overcomes the odds to become a superhero. This series will be a wonderful addition to our programming slate and is sure to be Kids WB!s next anime hit.
Were thrilled to be able to bring VIEWTIFUL JOE to Kids WB!, said Yosuke Kobayashi, president/ceo, Geneon Ent. The characters have already been universally embraced and were sure that Joes super-stature will continue to grow on the number one kids broadcast network. This is a high-concept, high-profile series that breaks the mold of standard childrens anime; its exciting to have the opportunity to showcase this great property for an audience that is certain to appreciate all the fun and colorful innovation that Joe has to offer.
Featuring breakout characters from the award-winning videogame series developed by Capcom Co. Ltd., VIEWTIFUL JOE has spawned a successful television series and licensing program in Japan. Part of its appeal is its American comic-style character design that is ripe with action and loaded with comedy.
Joe is just a normal guy with two great loves his girlfriend Silvia and Captain Blue, an action movie superhero. When Silvia is magically captured through a movie screen by a celluloid monster, Joe plunges into the screen to save her. There, Joe meets Captain Blue just as the superhero is about to retire, exhausted from his lifelong battle against the villainous Jadows. Captain Blue gives Joe special superpowers to transform into Viewtiful Joe to vanquish the enemies in Movie Land.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, Kids' WB! (www.KidsWB.com) is the childrens programming service of The WB Network. Kids WB! has maintained its leadership position as the #1 broadcast network for kids in all key demographics since fall 2000, and recently captured its 15th consecutive sweep victory during the highly competitive May Sweep period as the #1 Saturday morning kids broadcaster.
A leading supplier of Japanese animation in North America, Geneon Ent. (USA) Inc. (www.Geneonanimation.com) is a full-service producer and distributor of entertainment content including film, music, animation and television shows on DVD and CD. Continually introducing new and classic anime and live-action programming, as well as anime CD soundtracks, the company also serves as a creative partner to many of Japan's top anime production companies. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Geneon Ent.s parent company is Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu Inc.
Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the world. Based in Tokyo, Dentsu offers national, multinational and global clients the most comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services through its unique "Total Communications Services" approach. Dentsus consolidated revenues for fiscal term 03/04 were recorded at $16.1 billion. Dentsu is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
