Undoubtedly a fish-out-of-water, one Mikey Simon of Cleveland is just about to find out what its like step out and onto Japan, only to become an overnight success. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to make the transition from acting in North America to acting in Japan, or if you have ever wondered what it would be like to be a part of the often-comedically portrayed cultural misunderstanding, then you may wish to sit back and what Mikey first. Kappa Mikey follows Mikey as he is recruited out of his days as a struggling actor, and into a popular Japanese television series. Formerly a hot show in Japan, the series "LilyMu" hopes that its Western performer can once again raise ratings and bring the show back to its former glory. And for the most part, it works, as audiences quickly come to love Mikey… Unfortunately for Mikey though, adjusting to Japanese culture is much tougher than he thought, the paparazzi are always hot on his tail and some his co-stars of the TV show "LilyMu" can hardly stand the sight of him.
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"Kappa Mikey is a great addition to Nicktoons Network and Nickelodeon's international channel's," Keith Dawkins, vp and gm of Nicktoons Network, commented. "It is the type of show that supports our mandate to deliver our global audience the very best compelling entertainment available. We know that kids and adults around the world love anime, and we are excited to bring them this quirky comedy."
Created and executive produced by Larry Schwarz of the New York-based Animation Collective, Kappa Mikey is an on-going popular culture sitcom, a show within a show and is in some way its very own anime action-comedy. The new animated televisions series will premiere on Nicktoons Network in the U.S. with two half-hours, airing back-to-back on Saturday, February 25th, 2006 starting at 8:00pm Easter Time--the first two of twenty-six episodes. As the first global acquisition of MTV Networks, Kappa Mikey will be broadcast all over Nickelodeon's international channels beginning May 2006; the international channels of which include Nick Asia, Nick UK, Nick Spain, Nick France and Nick Europe.
This new series will air during the "Three-Headed Monster," Nicktoons Networks' prime-time programming block from 7:00pm (ET) through to midnight (ET). Encore presentations will be airing throughout the weekend. Kappa Mikey's main character, Mikey Simon, will host a series of "behind-the-scenes" interstitials beginning Saturday, February 25. The hosted interstitials will feature guest appearances from Mikey's co-stars and first-look clips from the show. The following are short descriptions of the first two episodes of Kappa Mikey:
In the premiere episode, "The Switch," amateur American actor Mikey Simon wins a contest that makes him the newest star of LilyMu, a popular Japanese anime show. He leaps headfirst into his new celebrity life and almost burns himself out before the first episode. Unable to find an apartment of his own, Mikey must move in with two of his female co-stars: an unwilling Lily and an ecstatic Mitsuki. Guano, the director, begins to lose his grip on reality as production delays continue to plague him.
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"Mikey Impossible," the second episode immediately following the premiere, features a showboating Mikey when he accidentally destroys Ozu's beloved 500-year-old bonsai tree. Mikey and the gang must replace the tree before Ozu returns from his vacation or before Lily figures out what's going on.
Animation Collective: Animation Collective (www.animationcollective.com) is a leader in creating Flash-based animation for television, the Internet, home video and feature films. The company produces programming on a work for hire basis and develops and produces original proprietary properties. The Incredible Crash Dummies, a series produced by Animation Collective and 4Kids Entertainment is currently running on the Fox Box on Saturday mornings. Leader Dog and Tortellini Western, two original series produced by the company are currently airing on Nicktoons.
Nicktoons Network: Nicktoons Network is the 24-hour animation network owned by Nickelodeon, features a wide variety of programming that have defined kids' and animation lovers' television for more than 10 years. Targeting kids 6-14, Nicktoons Network features programming that is 75% exclusive to the channel, including Martin Mystery, My Dad the Rock Star, Corneil & Bernie, Kaput & Zosky and Yakkity Yak, as well as classic Nicktoons hits like Ren & Stimpy, Invader Zim, Ahhh! Real Monsters, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents. Additionally, Nicktoons Network is home to award-winning shorts that helped redefine kids' television.