Cartoon Network bringing back familiar faces with ‘DC Nation’ and ‘How To Train Your Dragon’
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Cartoon Network is getting in with the new … and old. The cable network will launch 13 new animated series — including “How to Train Your Dragon” -- a live action series, and an original movie over the next year. And some of the new programming will feature a lot of familiar characters.
The cabler said it was putting its focus on building global franchises during its annual advertising upfront presentation Wednesday in New York.
As part of the network’s partnership with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, a multi-platform block of other original programming based on the DC Comics library of characters will make up “DC Nation,” which will launch in 2012 with ‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series.’
And the ‘80s classic, “ThunderCats,” is getting reimagined for a new generation of viewers. And so are icons Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in “The Looney Tunes Show,” which premieres May 3. Then there’s the small-screen take on the big-screen hit “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Among the new offerings: “The Problem Solverz,” created by Ben Jones, follows three “crazy young dudes” that run a detective agency dedicated to solving the mysteries of the universe (premieres April 4); From Pete Browngardt (“Chowder”), “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome” premieres this summer and chronicles a “mega-rad” group of underground monsters as they engage in “crazy awesome stuff” like stealing the sun, fighting CGI-sharks, and getting their butts kicked by a velociraptor; and the live-action “Level Up” about three high schoolers who open up the world of an online video game into the real world; the series will launch with a 90-minute original movie in the fall.
And returning for a fourth season are “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and the competition series “Total Drama.”
-- Yvonne Villarreal
