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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."
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.
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.
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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These news articles and all digitalmediafx.com content are ©copyright 2001 by Joe Tracy and may not be reused for any purpose without expressed written consent of the author and Digital Media FX. All rights reserved.
