A new type of animated series will join Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim on Sunday, Feb. 20, when Robot Chicken, from actor/producer Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, premieres. Using stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format, Robot Chicken will air Sundays at 11:30 p.m. (ET, PT).
In Robot Chicken, no pop culture target is safe. Legions of action figures are used to spoof everything from Quentin Tarantino’s blood-spattered action epics to The Real World, in which a cast of superheroes takes the place of drunken 20-somethings. A team of artists and technicians create miniature sets, tiny yet elaborate costumes and props and intricate action scenes for sketches skewering popular entertainment, politics and celebrity culture. Green and Senreich lead the writing staff and provide voices for the fast-moving weekly series, and a number of celebrities will provide voices, including Scarlett Johannson, Burt Reynolds, Ryan Seacrest, Mark Hamill and Macauley Culkin.
Green is well-known for his acting roles in dozens of movies like Without a Paddle, The Italian Job and the Austin Powers films. He has also appeared extensively on television, starring in the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as the voice of Chris in Family Guy. Senreich began his career working in comic books before joining Wizard Entertainment, a publisher of magazines covering comic books, action figures, anime and collectible card gaming. Senreich was named editor of ToyFare, then editorial director for all of Wizard’s publications.
Green and Senreich met through their mutual love of toys and action figures. They hit it off and began discussing a way to bring them to life through animation. After collaborating on a project for Sony’s Web site, the duo pitched a fast-moving pop-culture sketch show to Adult Swim. Robot Chicken was given the greenlight in Spring 2004.
About Adult Swim: Adult Swim (www.AdultSwim.com) is Cartoon Network’s late-night block of animation aimed at adults. The block airs Saturday-Thursday from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (ET, PT) with a replay from 2-5 a.m. (ET, PT). Adult Swim’s programming is a mix of quirky original comedies like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021 and Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law; popular favorites Futurama and Family Guy; and thrilling action/adventure like Inuyasha, Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist.
About Cartoon Network: Cartoon Network (www.CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in 87.3 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network showcases unique original ventures such as Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, Teen Titans, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Ed, Edd n Eddy and other Cartoon Cartoons. Cartoon Network also features Adult Swim, its signature late night block of animation for grownups. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable’s highest-rated networks.