Cartoon Network Unveils New Series at Upfront

NEW YORK: At its Upfront presentation in New York today, Cartoon Network unveiled a significant expansion of its programming slate for the 2009-2010 season with a total of 19 new titles, including seven animated series and four original live-action and CGI movies.

The slate also includes six live-action “alternative” half-hour series and two hour-long original, scripted live-action pilots. These join 164 new half-hour episodes of returning comedy and action-adventure animated series.

“These exciting new projects represent the next phase in Cartoon Network’s ambitious, ongoing strategy to re-invent the network and re-energize our youth business overall,” said Stuart Snyder, the president and COO of Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division. “We’ve built tremendous momentum over the last year, both on-air and through our thriving digital businesses, so we’re thrilled to introduce new content that our audience cannot find anywhere else. Today marks the next big step forward in an evolution that is helping us reach our goal of becoming a dominant youth culture brand.”

Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network, added: “Last year, we outlined a strategy focused on genres of programming. Today we revealed how that strategy continues to grow with additional nights of signature programming and expands to include both scripted live-action and alternative content, as well as animation. We’re committed to delivering a diverse range of engaging, aspirational content to our audience.”

The comedy and action-adventure animated series slate includes Adventure Time with Finn and Jake and Ben 10: Evolutions from Cartoon Network Studios and Stoked and Total Drama Action from Cake Distribution and Fresh Animation. Also on the schedule are Sym-Bionic Titan, from creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack), Generator Rex, from Man of Action, creators of Ben 10 and Warner Bros. Animation’s Scooby-Doo—Mystery, Inc.

In terms of live-action alternative series, there’s The Othersiders, a reality adventure series that follows five friends on real missions to explore mysterious, potentially haunted locations in search of evidence that will confirm or deny the existence of paranormal activity. Survive This challenges teenagers ages 14 to 17 to push their limits, overcome fears and develop lifelong survival skills.  Other new offerings are Destroy Build Destroy, Head Rush, Dude, What Would Happen and Bobb’e Says.

New original movies rolling out are Ben 10: Alien Swarm, Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins, Firebreather and Tiger’s Apprentice. By way of new scripted pilots, there’s Unnatural History, an urban adventure series centered around Henry Griffin, a teenager with exceptional skills acquired through years of globe-trotting with his anthropologist parents. The pilot will be produced in association with Warner Horizon Television Inc. In Prepped, a rebellious teen wakes up one morning to find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school that offers no escape.