Category: Television

ADV Films has acquired the exclusive home video and broadcast rights for the new FIST OF THE NORTH STAR trilogy, a modern animated series based on the world-renowned FIST OF THE NORTH STAR manga. Anime Network is planning a broadcast run of the new trilogy to support the upcoming home video release.

Toon Disney is giving viewers a chance to do their homework on DISNEYS TEACHERS PET before the feature film hits theaters on Jan. 16, 2004. The Disney cable outlet is presenting a special four-hour marathon on Jan. 11 from 8:00 to noon, featuring eight consecutive episodes of the critically acclaimed animated TV series, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.

Dancing Diablo is collaborating with 4Kids for a third season of the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES television series since its premiere on FOX. It has styled and painted backgrounds for 26 episodes that premiered February 2003, is finishing the last of 26 episodes for the second season and is embarking on 13 more episodes.

NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers, is taking on charter sponsorships from two of Starcom's key clients, Kellogg's Mud & Bugs and Lego Explore.

"We are thrilled that Starcom sees sponsorship on NOGGIN as a smart complement to advertising opportunities on Nick Jr.," said Jim Perry, svp, advertising sales, Nickelodeon.

COMEDY CENTRAL kicks off the holiday season for animation fans with holiday-themed episodes of SOUTH PARK and TV FUNHOUSE throughout December, and SOUTH PARKS NEW YEARS ROCK-A-THON on New Years Eve. Comedy Central will also start airing MAD-TV, which regularly features animated segments such as SPY VS. SPY or Corky Quakenbush stop-motion parodies of movies and TV shows.

Following is the holiday programming schedule:

December 24

Welsh broadcaster S4C has commission two short films from Blunt Pictures, the teen and adult animation division of Siriol Prods. CANNED HEAT and THE THWEE LANCERS will be produced at the companys Cardiff-based stop motion animation studio.

Cartoon Network is having a four-day Christmas party beginning at 9:00 am, Dec. 22, 2003 featuring cartoon characters like Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, Space Ghost and Yogi Bear for CNs longest holiday blast. Viewers can enjoy Christmas cartoon classics, new and old, for four days straight to carry them into the holiday. Following is the lineup for Cartoon Networks Christmas Party Marathon.

Dec. 22:9:00 am, OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER 10:00 am, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS: TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

11:30 am, SMURFS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Nickmas is on through most of December 2003, as the kid channel delivers nightly primetime presents programming marathons and throughout the month.

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.

New animated series from Bill Cosby and Kelsey Grammer are part of Nick at Nite and TV Lands first-ever slate of original shows and specials. The development slate, which also includes new programming from Henry Winkler, Peter Bonerz, David Steinberg and several others, could be seen on both networks as early as 2004. The originals will serve as a complement to Nick at Nite and TV Land's successful acquired programming.