The U.K.s favorite postman and his faithful black and white cat, Jess, return to television in a brand new, action-packed series of 26 episodes and four half hour specials, to be shown on BBC2 and CBeebies, as of Sept. 6, 2004. POSTMAN PAT airs Monday through Friday at 8:30 am on BBC2 and at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm on CBeebies.
Sci Fi Channel has partnered with Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR) and Tony Scott (MAN ON FIRE) to revisit the Michael Crichton bestseller, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, while Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) joins Sci Fi for a re-invention of the sci-fi thriller, THE THING.
FATHER OF THE PRIDE had a rip roaring debut Aug. 31, 2004 on NBC, bringing in high rating in the coveted adults 18-49 demo. The much hyped CG series averaged 12.4 million viewers and a 5.4 rating/15 share in the adults 18-49 demographic in its commercial-free debut from 9:00 - 9:30 pm, according to Nielsen Media Research. This performance easily won PRIDE the time slot.
There is a lot riding on DreamWorks first primetime 3D-animated series, FATHER OF THE PRIDE, about the backstage antics of the family of lions in the Siegfried and Roy Vegas act, which debuts tonight (Aug. 31, 2004) at 9:00 pm on NBC.
First, there is the fact that DreamWorks is attempting to spin off its animation company, headed by partner Jeffrey Katzenberg, which needs more than the SHREK phenomenon to entice investors, so the success of this adult-themed series would go a long way.
National Geographic Channel employs some of the best CGI techniques to help explain to viewers how but not always why an unimaginable disaster can happen, from the crash of the Concorde to the Oklahoma City bombing and more in a new series, SECONDS FROM DISASTER, that premieres at 8:00 pm on Aug. 31, 2004 on NGC.
Walt Disney Television Internationals dedicated preschool service, Playhouse Disney Channel, has launched on channel 63 of Bruneis multi-channel TV operator Kristal Astro, bringing the number of Playhouse Disney Channels in Asia to six.The other markets, of which have launched since April this year, are Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia
Majesco , a leading publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products, has announced its popular BLOODRAYNE videogame character will be featured on a premiere episode of MTV2's new series VIDEO MODS. The episode showcases Evanescence's EVERYBODY'S FOOL video, recreated with characters from Majesco's forthcoming BLOODRAYNE 2 videogame.
TUN (The U Network), a new national cable network catering toward university students will begin broadcasting eigoMANGAs television program, ANIME MIX on its network starting Sept. 6, 2004.
Family, Canada's leading tween network, has added eight new series to its lineup starting on August 23, 2004 including animated shows DISNEY'S DAVE THE BARBARIAN, FRANNY'S FEET and THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR.
DISNEY'S DAVE THE BARBARIAN premieres Aug. 23, 2004 and will air at 4:15 pm Monday through Friday. The series follows Dave the Barbarian's comedic adventures with his offbeat family, including his primping older sister Candy and his fierce younger sister Fang.
Dargaud Distribution, the sales arm of leading French producer Dargaud Marina, has signed a raft of sales for CHILDHOOD STORIES, eight animated television specials based upon popular childrens books. Broadcasters on board include Italys RAI 3, Teletoon in France, Spains TV3 and NRK Norway for this unique collection of films while Dargaud Distrib. is targeting further international sales at MIPCOM.
Tiger Aspect has begun production on the childrens animated series CHARLIE AND LOLA, commissioned by the BBC.
Spike TV will bring back REN & STIMPY ADULT PARTY CARTOON on Aug. 20, 2004, but fans will have to wait for later in the year to catch new episodes. No date has been set for the second season of John Kricfalusis demented masterpiece. Fans who cant wait to catch glimpses of the new season should check out renandstimpy.thetma.com/.
Studio B has landed a stellar deal to develop and deliver 52 11-minute episodes of MY PET ROBOT in conjunction with TV Ontario for broadcast in fall 2005.
Targeted for kids 5-8, MY PET ROBOT follows the comic adventures of two seemingly mismatched buddies: Casey, a cautious boy and Weeble, a wildly inventive robot who reacts first, and asks questions later. The series was created and developed by Studio B and the characters were designed by James Farr.
Comic book entertainment company Platinum Studios will team up with First Family to produce the Platinum Studios graphic novels MEET THE HAUNTEDS and SPACED for half-hour television series and direct-to-DVD premiere movies.
First Family head Dean Valentine, the former president of UPN and of Walt Disney Television, Touchstone Television and Walt Disney TV Animation (the only Disney exec to ever supervise all three divisions), will exec produce both projects along with Platinum chairman Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and First Family exec Scott Imergut.
Top Cow has licensed the TV rights to comic WITCHBLADE to Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation (BURST ANGEL). The 26-episode series will not chronicle American hero Sara Pezzini, who gains superhuman powers from the mythical witchblade, but instead will star a Japanese policewoman who finds the ancient weapon. The Japanese series will be geared for more of an adult audience than it has been in the States.
THE NINE DOG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, produced by Earthworks Entertainment, will have its Christmas 2004 premiere on the Disney Channels in Germany, Italy and in all of Asia, with further international TV deals expected shortly and a deal for the U.S. market is in the works.
NINE DOG CHRISTMAS stars nine extraordinary stray dogs who overcome tremendous odds to help Santa bring the spirit of Christmas to children all over the world when the reindeer flu threatens to ground Santa's sleigh. James Earl Jones narrates the family musical adventure story.
Fred Basset, star of the famous comic strip by Alex Graham syndicated in 20 countries will star in his very own television series to be produced and distributed worldwide by VGI Entertainment Ltd.
VGI, an independent U.K. producer, distributor and licensor of childrens programming, said it is delighted to be involved in such a landmark project and will be working in close consultation with Arran, Grahams daughter who continues to be very much involved with the daily comic strip.
Dont be expecting a POWERPUFF GIRLS knockoff if you tune into Craig McCrackens latest 2D creation, FOSTERS HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS, which debuts Aug. 13, 2004 at 7:30 pm on Cartoon Network with a 90-minute feature. Witty observations on present-day life, relationships and trends are woven in with a wild/colorful assortment of oddball characters in this mostly adult comedy.
TELETOON's 2004 fall lineup schedule features 12 new animated series including six TELETOON original productions and six acquired series. Ten series return with new episodes including two TELETOON original productions and eight acquired series. In addition, TELETOON will have five world television premieres and five Canadian television premieres. TELETOON is Canada's first and only animation station with shows for all ages.
Venture to have your sides hurt from laughing in Cartoon Networks new late night offering for its Adult Swim block, THE VENTURE BROTHERS. Back by popular demand since the pilot aired Feb. 16, 2004. The series, created by Jackson Publick III and produced by Noodlesoup Prods. in New York City, premiered as a series Aug. 7 and now has its own weekly timeslot on Saturdays at 11:00 pm.
Look out PBS, Nick Jr. and Playhouse Disney, Cartoon Network and the Warner Bros. Television Group are putting together a new weekday morning franchise of original and acquired television targeted for preschoolers to premiere on Cartoon Network in spring 2005. The unnamed joint venture between WB and CN will mark both companies' first major production foray into the preschool market.
FUNimation Prods. has announced its acquisition of the GRAPPLER BAKI and GUNSLINGER GIRL anime TV series. The company has the rights to all 24 episodes of GRAPPLER BAKI, which aired in Japan in 2001. The sports series is based on the manga by Keisuke Itagaki, which is published by Akita Shoten in Japan. Produced by Madhouse in 2003, GUNSLINGER GIRL is a sci-fi action-adventure about a group of brainwashed girls, who have been trained to be professional assassins.
Bandai Ent. has announced it has secured the rights to three new anime series PLANETES, AVENGER and SHIN MEGAMI TENSHI DEVI CHILDREN.
PLANETES is a 26-episode sci-fi series produced in 2003 by Bandai Visual and Sunrise. Set in the year 2075, the hero works on a space station sweeping up space debris and dreams of owning a space ship of his own.
AVENGER is a 13-episode series produced by Bee Train (NOIR). In a bleak future, mankind has been forced to live in deteriorating dome cities and animated "dolls" take the place of children.
Cartoon Network brings back the world's greatest superheroes in a brand new half-hour series entitled JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED, which premieres on July 3, 2004 at 8:30 pm. This new series, animated by Warner Bros. Animation, expands on the activities of the DC Comics characters, following the conclusion of JUSTICE LEAGUE, and brings forth many more characters to help fight crime and thwart threats to Earth.
The N, the nighttime network for tweens and teens, premiere OGRADY the networks first, original animated series at 9:00 pm on July 30, 2004. The new half-hour, 13-episode series will air regularly Friday nights at 9:00 p.m. and repeats at 11:00 p.m. only on The N.
