Digital Media FX News Archives

Wednesday - June 13, 2001
- Cartoon Network to Target Adults
- First Annual MuppetFest Coming in September
- Disney and Other Studios Targeted for DVD Price Fixing
- News Link of the Day - Dr. Sweet Disney's First Black Feature Film Character?

Cartoon Network to Target Adults
(by digitalmediafx.com) The Cartoon Network is implementing a new strategy to target adults during certain days and time. Beginning September 2, the Cartoon Network will introduce a new segment called "Adult Swim" - programming aimed at 18-34 year olds. The new "Adult Swim" segment will air on Sundays and Thursdays from 10PM - 1AM.

"Almost one-third of our viewers are adults over 18, so it's a natural extension of our programming to create new shows specifically for the adult audience," said Betty Cohen, president of Cartoon Network Worldwide. "The humor in ADULT SWIM will definitely be aimed at a more sophisticated audience than our other programming. Our mission for these shows will be the same as for the network at large - to create shows that are enduringly smart, fun, funny and fearless but never antisocial or mean-spirited. ADULT SWIM will truly complement what we already do so well - present the best in animated entertainment."

Here are details from the Cartoon Network on its new segment, which will contain warning messages of adult-targeted content:

"Adult Swim's rotating lineup will be anchored by new episodes of Home Movies, the story of a socially awkward third grader named Brendon Small. A budding auteur, Brendon writes, directs and acts in short films with neighborhood friends as a way of overcoming his shyness and dealing with the recent divorce of his parents. Brendon provides telling insight on the dysfunction of the adults in his life using his third grade lens. Home Movies was originally developed for UPN by Soup 2 Nuts (formerly Tom Snyder Productions).

Adult Swim will feature the return of television's crankiest talk show host, Space Ghost. Space Ghost Coast to Coast is the planet's only late-night talk show hosted by a cartoon superhero. Fully costumed and on the scene with an array of superpowers, Space Ghost is joined by archenemies Moltar and Zorak, whom he has enslaved as unwilling members of his late-night crew. The bossy inquisitor grills pop culture luminaries ranging from Al Roker to Beck. And when Space Ghost is really feeling testy, he vaporizes them with a blast from his power bands.

A number of new shows will be developed at Cartoon Network's Williams St. facility, the launching pad for Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Sealab 2021 is a kitschy update of a Hanna-Barbera production about an undersea city, featuring the voice talents of Eric Estrada. Aqua Teen Hunger Force tells the story of an elite group of detectives who happen to be human-sized food products. Harvey Birdman is the world's first animated courtroom drama, trying the crimes and misdemeanors of the cartoon world, like when Shaggy gets pulled over in the Mystery Machine for 'possession.' Finally, demented space alien Brak returns in Leave It to Brak, which parodies the beloved tenets of classic family sitcoms but with a wry sensibility and plenty of catchy songs."

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First Annual "MuppetFest" Coming in September
(by digitalmediafx.com) A first annual festival honoring The Muppets creations will take place on September 22 & 23 at the Pasadena Civic Center. Called MuppetFest, the festival will include guest appearances by the original multitalented puppeteers and writers who helped create the Muppets, live musical performances of original Muppet music, screenings of rare footage, presentations from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and interactive exhibitions.

"The Muppets have a truly one-of-a-kind relationship with longtime fans around the world," said Michael Polis, Senior Vice President of Marketing for The Jim Henson Company. "With MuppetFest we are thanking those who have taken our characters to their hearts, while simultaneously recognizing the amazing talents that epitomize the history and future of the Muppets."

MuppetFest is a co-production of The Jim Henson Company and Creation Entertainment. For more information on MuppetFest, click here.

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Disney and Other Studios Targeted for DVD Price Fixing
(by digitalmediafx.com) The European Commission is investigating Disney and seven other studios for DVD price fixing. Disney is the first to be investigated and is cooperating fully with the investigation that is looking into the high prices of DVDs in Europe.

Another issue the panel is investigating is Regional Coding and whether it is fair that DVDs purchased in the U.S. can't be played in Europe and vice versa. While studios claim it is necessary to fight piracy, some within the commission believe it is really for the ability to charge high prices in different regions and to prevent distribution of some CD titles in some areas.

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News Link of the Day - Dr. Sweet Disney's First Black Feature Film Character?

According to USA Today:

"Dr. Joshua Sweet, one of the heroes of Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, is a heroic member of the team searching for the undersea world of Atlantis. And he's the first black character in the history of Disney animated feature films. That may surprise you…"

Click here for the full story.

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