In honor of Earth Day 2006 on April 22, Boomerang will air an exclusive, first-time presentation of the 13 half-hour episodes that comprise the sixth and final season of CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS. Each episode presents an important environmental concern and will play in order from 7:30-11:30 am, and from 3:30-7:30 pm.
CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS premiered on TBS and 223 independent stations in syndication on Sept. 10, 1990, teaching children that they, too, could be eco-heroes for Earth. The brainstorm of media magnate and environmentalist Ted Turner, the series was produced by DIC Ent. & Hanna-Barbera. It featured major celebrity voices and played successfully for five seasons in the U.S., and continued for another sixth season overseas. Then show starred an animated superhero whose mission would be to work with five international teenagers to rid the world of its many dangerous eco-villains?
CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS represents Teds first foray into the world of animation, which of course includes conceiving and launching Cartoon Network just two years later, said Marc Buhaj, Cartoon Network and Boomerang vp of programming and scheduling. In addition to the global environmental themes, it was Teds overwhelming passion and commitment to the project that induced dozens of top-name celebrities to lend their talents. The cast included Whoopi Goldberg, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, Elizabeth Taylor, Sting, Danny Glover, Helen Hunt, Neil Patrick Harris, Louis Gossett Jr., Malcolm McDowell, Fred Savage, Tim Curry, Dionne Warwick, James Coburn, Jeff Goldblum and Edward Asner. This galaxy of stars all shared Teds dedication to the mission of helping to educate young people about environmental issues.
Recently departed Dennis Weaver provided the voices of Dusty and Josh in the 1990 DIC season of CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS.
Best of all, the series became an international hit as well, ensuring that kids around the world could enjoy and learn from its theme, The Power is Yours! added Mark Norman, svp of business operations for Cartoon Network U.S. and Boomerang. We were delighted to learn that the 13 final episodes were now available for telecast, and we determined to create a real television event for Boomerang on Earth Day so that parents could have a remarkable opportunity to introduce their children to environmentalism, teamwork and Captain Planet.
The shows storyline begins when Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, awakens from a 100-year nap to discover the devastating effect people have had on the planets environment in the 20th century. Fearing for the future, she calls upon five young people from around the world Kwame (Africa), Wheeler (North America), Linka (then Soviet Union), Gi (Asia) and Ma-Ti (South America) to lead the battle against further destruction of the Earth. She gives these Planeteers magic rings that enable each of them to control one element of nature: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Heart, respectively. When the Planeteers combine their powers, Captain Planet, an environmental superhero, is summoned.
The 13 final episodes of season six has Planeteers battling eco-villains bent upon polluting and plundering the Earths resources for their own gain.
CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS was developed in collaboration with Burbank, California-based animation studio, DIC Enterprises, which produced the three-time Emmy-nominated series until 1993. Production was then taken over by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, beginning with the 1994-95 season under the title, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN PLANET.
Boomerang (www.Boomerang.CartoonNetwork.com) is Turner Broadcasting System's 24-hour cable/satellite network offering the best in classic animated entertainment. In partnership with Cartoon Network, the service boasts 75% unduplicated programming and is available to cable/satellite operators and their customers in Spanish.
Cartoon Network, seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11:00 pm-6:00 am, Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
