Jetix Sets Digital Debut for W!LDBRAIN Shorts

AMSTERDAM/LONDON, October 14: Jetix Europe is teaming up
with W!LDBRAIN on a short-form series that will premiere on its new-look
websites across Europe in early 2009.

W!LDBRAIN’s Team Smithereen will be the first new short-form series that Jetix will debut in
Europe as an exclusive premiere on its websites. The 26×2-minute shorts follow
a hapless team of puppet stuntmen who, more often than not, get into trouble on
some of their death-defying feats. The series is created by The Dan Clark
Company.

Marc Buhaj, the senior VP of programming for Jetix Europe,
said: “We want to offer kids the chance to enjoy original Jetix content
wherever they are and developing a fuller digital offering is key to this. The
short-form focus will be on comedy and creating characters that will have
strong word-of-mouth and viral appeal. With this in mind, Team Smithereen was the perfect series for us to launch our new
online shorts strategy. It features the world's first vinyl puppet stunt team.
These are four of the wildest, most wide-eyed, thrill-seeking, adrenaline
junkies you'll ever see. It’s Jackass with vinyl puppets and we’re certain that Jetix kids across
Europe—and probably some adults too—are going to love the crazy,
unstoppable crew who are Team Smithereen.”

Bob Higgins, the head of creative for W!LDBRAIN, added: “Dan
Clark is one of the most distinctive, creative talents that I have ever worked
with. The Team Smithereen series is a
perfect addition to W!LDBRAIN’s slate of diverse and original projects. The
‘slap-stunt’ concept and style pushes the boundaries of animation and brings to
life a world of vinyl-latex characters doing off-the-wall stunts that will have
you on the edge of your seat. With Jetix offering a compelling online
destination for the Team Smithereen
series and our all-star creative team bringing their original sensibility to
the process, the brand has the potential to become a multi-million-dollar
franchise that will transcend its online roots.”

Dan Clark of The Dan Clark Company, commented: “W!LDBRAIN is
hands down the most exciting company around. They do it all, animation, live
action, the web and broadcast. Along with my partners, producer Don Asher and
character designer Dave Pressler, I’m stoked to be making Team Smithereen with them. Team Smithereen is a first of its kind; it combines cutting-edge
puppet work with new CGI techniques to deliver a crazy stunt-packed comedy
featuring fresh mayhem and a collection of weirdly wonderful characters.
Working with Jetix Europe on this series of shorts is a joy for our creative
group; they are the perfect company to unleash Team Smithereen on a world hungry for off-the-hook physical comedy
and spectacle!”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski