Click on over to the second page of this AnimationInsider.net news article for detailed summaries of all of the announcements. The summaries are accompanied by links to full-length articles on each announcement, many of which include quality resolution images to boot.
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Cartoon Network Upfront news concerning the planned production and release of new programming includes, among other things, the highly anticipated premiere of Ben 10: Alien Force. Also on tap for the 2008-year are the premieres of Batman: The Brave and the Bold and the computer animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Cartoon Network also announced their plans to incorporate a Sunday night movie franchise, two new nights of original programming, the launch of The Cartoonstitute-an unprecedented, swift development program for animated pilots:
Mirroring the network's effort to diversify its on-air offerings with live-action originals as well as more sophisticated dramatic and adventure programming, Cartoon Network will develop content in two primary tracks: fantasy/adventure and comedy. Details are as follows.
----- Star Wars: The Clone Wars will anchor this network strategy with fantasy/adventure on Friday nights, the network announced, along with the new animated action series from Warner Bros. Animation called Batman: The Brave and the Bold; Ben 10: Alien Force; and the previously announced The Secret Saturdays, which will premiere with 26 episodes in the fall season.
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----- Cartoon Network announced today that it is also developing a sequel to the record-breaking original live-action movie Ben 10: Race Against Time.
----- Cartoon Network has designated Thursday nights as the new destination for comedy. The programming block will be anchored by its new animated hit Chowder, which the network announced today has been picked up for a second season.
Thursdays will also feature existing laughers Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Camp Lazlo and George of the Jungle and offer a platform for new series launches including this summer's The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.
"These are just the first steps in the evolution of a programming strategy that will lay the groundwork for highlighting all of our strengths moving forward," Rob Sorcher, Chief Content Officer for the network stated. "We now have great tentpoles to launch these new nights and a platform to showcase established and up-and-coming talent."
Sunday nights will be the destination for Cartoon Network's new movie franchise (currently unnamed). Launching in June, the network will showcase a must-see movie each week, including the world television premieres of much-loved films such as Ant Bully, Hoodwinked, Monster House and Open Season, as well as Cartoon Network firsts like Kicking and Screaming and Cheaper by the Dozen.
The Cartoonstitute will continue Cartoon Network's long standing tradition of developing innovative and original animated content. The initiative will endeavor to create up to 150 pieces of programming over a period of 20 months. A veritable think tank for animators, the program will be artist-led and spearheaded by executive producer Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends) and supervising producer Rob Renzetti (My Life as a Teenage Robot, Dexter's Laboratory). Furthermore, The Cartoonstitute will create an in-house, all-star team of artists, directors, storyboarders and writers to generate content across a number of platforms. The program will broaden Cartoon Network's proud tradition of shepherding successful animated programs from pilot to series.
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About Cartoon Network: Cartoon Network (www.CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.