Cartoon Network goes on acquisition spree

Cartoon Network Europe announced today it has acquired several new series for Cartoon Network UK and its sister channel, Boomerang.

The launch of the new series on the channels will be spread through the remainder of this year and into 2004. Finn Arnesen, VP of Programming, Acquisitions and Development at Cartoon Network Europe said: "The emphasis is on comedy action which will appeal to both boys and girls; from heroine Atomic Betty, kick ass cutie Robotboy, the anime wrestling antics of the Ultimate Muscle characters and the eagerly-awaited further adventures of Wayne and Lucien Cramp, there is something for all our key audience demographics in primetime for 03 and 04."

Twenty-six half-hour episodes of Canadian/French production Atomic Betty will air on Cartoon Network UK in the autumn of 2004. Robotboy, a Cartoon Network Europe and US co-production with Alphanim will also launch in 2004. Again, twenty-six half-hour episodes will be available; the series is currently starting production in Paris.

A second season of Cartoon Network/TV Loonland's co-production The Cramp Twins is now being produced; fifty-two twelve-minute long episodes will begin airing on the channel in 2004. In a press release, Cartoon Network said that the first season of the show "...achieved excellent ratings on Cartoon Network's European channels, which prompted its sale to over 50 TV stations worldwide."

Fifty-two thirty-minute episodes of Ultimate Muscle have been bought from 4Kids Entertainment, and will air later this year. In addition, Cartoon Network has commissioned two new pilots - My Best Fiend from the creators of Gorillaz, and Good Kid Bad Kid. The pilots are "now being evaluated".

Fans of Garfield will also be pleased to know that Boomerang has acquired Garfield and Friends, which will air on the channel over the summer of 2003.