Action-packed new shows and episodes in the pipeline this summer

Temperatures are rising on Cartoon Network as the number one kids’ cable channel in Asia Pacific dishes out the hottest action adventure line-up this summer. Prepare for a sizzling TV experience on Cartoon Network as new episodes of highly-anticipated animated series including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Pokémon, Bakugan Battle Brawlers and loads of other Cartoon Network favorites spice up kids’ everyday viewing.

Get ready to go to the frontlines of intergalactic combat at 7:30 PM every Friday night with the season 2 premiere of Star Wars: The Clone Wars—Rise of the Bounty Hunters in April. The Jedi adventure grows more exciting as dangerous alliances are revealed and a new breed of villains enter the picture to wreak havoc in the galaxy. Season 2 offers a bigger, bolder and more intense viewing experience as these lawless rogues start playing a bigger role in the rich Star Wars saga.

The action fires up from the edge of the universe to planet earth with the all new anime series, Bakugan Battle Brawlers: New Vestroia. Conflict erupts as New Vestroia gets invaded by people of Vestal and its citizens, resulting in the unthinkable — the Bakugan get abducted. With a city in shambles, follow the determined team of Step Dan, Shun and Marucho in their quest to save New Vestroia on weekends at 8:00 AM, starting April 17.

Catch the pulse-pounding quest of Ash Ketchum, together with his pal Pikachu and his mischievous Aipom, to become the ultimate Pokémon Master in the all-new season of Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl premiering on April 26, weeknights at 7:00 PM. Fresh from his victories in the Battle Frontier, Ash sets out for the Sinnoh region and encounters lots of new friends and new Pokémon, with new Gyms to beat and an intense Pokémon Contest to enter! There’s never a dull moment when Ash is around, especially when the villainous Team Rocket is still hot on his trail as always.

The action hits a crescendo as all the world’s mightiest heroes converge in back-to-back adventures in Cartoon Network’s Hero Up special programming line-up. On weekdays, wake up to back-to-back episodes of the awesome alien-morphing com of boy hero, Ben 10, followed by the all-new episodes of mystery-solving crypto-zoologist family The Secret Saturdays at 8:00 AM and 9:00 am respectively. Then see well loved heroes come to life with crime-fighting adventures in Spectacular Spider-man at 9:30 AM and Batman: The Brave and the Bold at 10:00 AM. Finally, gear up for more Ben 10: Alien force, Teen Titans and Powerpuff Girls Z from 10:30 AM to 12:00 NN. Cap off the weekends with the smoking hot adventures League of Super Evil and more double episodes of Ben 10 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

For more information, please log on to www.cartoonnetwork.com.ph

Celebrate a joyful Christmas with your favorite cartoon friends!

Tis a season to be jolly on Cartoon Network! From December 21 to 25, celebrate Christmas the Cartoon Network way with many beloved toon stars! Kicking off the celebration are the Bean Scouts and the charming 60s-style rock ‘n’ roll hunk in Camp Lazlo’s “Kamp Kringle” and Johnny Bravo Christmas Special on December 21 at 11am, followed by Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends’ “A Lost Claus” and Ed, Edd n’ Eddy’s “Jingle, Jingle, Jangle” on December 22 at 11am. Superheroes are also lining up to join the party in Ben 10’s “Merry Christmas” and Justice League’s “Joy and Comfort” on December 23 at 11am.

On Christmas Eve, join Chowder for a very special Marzipan version of Christmas in the premiere of “Hey Hey, It’s Knishmas” at 11am, together with the Kids Next Door gang in Codename: KND’s “Operation N.A.U.G.H.T.Y.” And on Christmas Day, celebrate the jolly festival with a group of musical talented kids in Class of 3000 Christmas Special at 12 noon. Then at 2:45pm, join forces with Billy, Mandy and the Grim Reaper to save Christmas as vampires threaten the North Pole in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy’s “Billy & Mandy Save Christmas.”

Join the cool and talented magician Stephen Mulhern as he reveals more secrets behind some of the neatest magic tricks in all-new episodes of Tricky TV starting December 21, weekdays at 8am! Getting kids involved in a variety of spoofs and helping them to do the tricks themselves, learning magic with Stephen is cool, cheeky and fun!  The show also embraces the brand-new hidden camera technology and places kids in real situations with an unreal twist to capture the most candid and funny moments.
Ben 10 fans are also in for a Christmas treat with brand-new episodes of Ben 10 Alien Force from December 21 to 31, Mondays to Thursdays at 10am and 5pm, with encore screenings of the weekly episodes every Friday from 10am till 12 noon and from 5pm to 7pm.

CARTOON NETWORK POPCORN also presents an all-new Pokemon adventure with the premiere of Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker and the special short Pokémon: Gotta Dance on December 12, Saturday at 4pm with an encore screening at 9pm. Max, Ash, May and Brock just stop evil magician Butler from unleashing an ancient Pokemon to reign destruction over the land and save the world!

Also making its debut on CARTOON NETWORK POPCORN is Digimon Tamers Special on December 19, Saturday at 4pm with an encore screening at 9pm. In Digimon Tamers: The War of the Adventurers, Takato, Luki, Lee and Minami, a girl with a sad past, join forces to uncover the evil plot behind “V-Pets,” a popular online site where “virtual pets” are raised.  Then in Digimon Tamers: Explosion of Digimon Express, Takato and Luki must stop Locomon, an unknown Digimon in a form of train, from attacking Metropolitan Tokyo.  But more troubles arise when Luki’s mind is taken over by a parasite-like Digimon called Parasimon.

Enchanting tales and marvelous adventures continue this month in CARTOON NETWORK STAR LOUNGE, presented by the courageous princess Barbie.  On December 6, Sunday at 2pm, embark on a journey full of obstacles to save a girl trapped inside an enchanted mirror in Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Then catch a heartwarming story filled with cherished Christmas carols, fabulous fashion and lots of laughter in Barbie in a Christmas Carol on December 19, Saturday at 2pm. Finally on December 20, Sunday at 2pm, meet a tiny girl named Thumbelina who lives in harmony with nature in the magical world of Twillerbees in Barbie Thumbelina.

Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping, adventure-filled September!

Cartoon Network pumps up the excitement on TV screens this month with action-packed series and awesome shows for all kids and kids at heart to enjoy. Brace yourself as the best place for cartoons packs together a slew of crime-fighting ninjas, daredevil superheroes, magical ballerinas and comical muppets, all in the month of September!

Kick off the adventure with Power Rangers Jungle Fury starting September 5 at 8 AM. Be amazed with new breed of warriors from Pai Zha—the Power Rangers armed with the techniques of ancient martial arts with the strength, speed and agility of nature’s greatest fighters. With the evil Dah Shi spirit out on the loose, it is up to the super-powered trio to find and destroy it to save mankind from destruction.

With all-new episodes premiering on September 7, Mondays at 5:30pm in new Mondays, Batman continues his crime fighting adventures in all-new episodes of Batman: The Brave and The Bold.  Teaming up with other super-powered heroes like Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, the Red Tornado and Plasticman, Batman thwarts villains and solves crimes in Gotham City, parallel Earths and beyond.

Brush up on ninja skills as Cartoon Network’s Popcorn Friday premieres Naruto’s first feature-length movie, Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow on September 25, at 8 PM. Hang on to your seats as Naruto and Team 7 go on a special mission to the Land of Snow to save the beautiful actress, Yukie from the sinister plans of rogue Snow Ninjas. Get intense martial arts training with ninja movies all weekdays of September at 9:30 PM with The 3 Ninjas Kick Back, The Karate Kid, The 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up, The Next Karate Kid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron, Samurai Jack The Trilogy and Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms.

And finally, brace your funny bones as Cartoon Network Popcorn celebrates JIM HENSON WEEK and features five of the master puppeteer’s wonderful family movies: The Dark Crystal, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Muppets from Space, Kermit’s Swamp Years and The Muppets Take Manhattan.from September 21-25, weekdays at 1 PM. More entertainment continues with The Flintstones on September 13, Sunday at 2pm and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker on September 26, Saturday at 8:30pm.

“Flapjack’s Terribly Terrific Treasure Hunt!” arrives at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia

All sails are set for the Philippines’ biggest treasure hunt, as Cartoon Network dishes out Flapjack’s Terribly Terrific Treasure Hunt on August 1 at the SM Mall of Asia. The leading kids’ cable channel is inviting kids and their families to join in this ultimate adventure, in a day filled with thrilling shows, booths, contests and prizes.

Cartoon Network invites everyone to come on board in the grand treasure hunt. To participate in the free-for-all event, simply register on Cartoon Network’s local website, www.CartoonNetwork.com.ph. Registration is open for the day of the event, but early bird registrants could get the chance to win special Flapjack prizes. Lucky winners will have a chance to win a trip to swim with dolphins in Ocean Adventures, Subic.

Kids can also win the prize by staying tuned to Cartoon Network. Hunt for the letters and words Bubbie makes and send answers to 4627 for Globe, Sun, Smart, Talk N’ Text and Touch Mobile. Flapjack is also visiting students and making his way through schools this July. For more Flapjack Fun, tune in to Cartoon Network, weekdays at 5:30 PM for The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack.

The iciest event of the year “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” caved in at a thrilling P 36.5 million nationwide in its first 3-days of release since it opened last July 3 (Friday) in Phil. theaters.

With its 3-day-weekend Manila-wide opening of P 27.9 million, the third installment of the Ice Age franchise achieved the Biggest Opening Weekend for Animation this year so far, surpassing “Monsters vs. Aliens”’ P12.9 million 3-day weekend.  It now ranks as the 2nd Biggest Opening Weekend for a Fox animated film All-Time succeeding “Ice Age 2’s” 5-day opening feat of P31.5 million.

“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” once again finds the eclectic mix of Manny and Ellie the mammoths, the saber-toothed Diego, Sid the Sloth and Scrat in the middle of an adventure that is thrice thrilling in the midst of an unfamiliar terrain filled enormous dinosaurs.

Among the top theaters who packed in spectacular box-office receipts are Trinoma (P2.51 million); SM Mall of Asia (P2.22 million); The Block/SM North Edsa (P 1.49 million); Glorietta 4 (P1.48 million); Powerplant (P1.31 million); Alabang Town Center (P1.29 million); SM Megamall (P1.28 million); Greenbelt 3 (P1.08 million); Gateway (P1.03 million) and Eastwood (P909, 531).

The following theaters also hauled in dino-like receipts that includes Ayala Cebu with P 902, 268; Robinsons Galleria (868, 773); Robinson’s Ermita (P 802, 720); Theatremall (P 795, 528); Filinvest (P 762, 042); Shang Cineplex (P752, 248); Market-Market (P 685, 980); SM Cebu (654, 898); Sta. Lucia East (P 525, 188) and Gaisano Davao (P 504, 634).

“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” is still showing in theaters nationwide (also available in digital 3D in selected theaters – Trinoma, Gateway, Robinson’s Galleria, The Block and Mall of Asia cinemas) from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.

The Ice Age universe introduces a new adventure-loving character named Buck (voiced by Simon Pegg, “Star Trek”) – a swashbuckling, slightly crazed one-eyed weasel who accidentally fell into the gargantuan dino world in “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”

The Ice Age gang headed by Manny along with Diego, Ellie, Crash and Eddie meet and greet Buck when Sid was teethed by a momma T-Rex in trying to keep the dinosaur babies as his own.   The lone mammal in a world of giant lizards, Buck has been isolated for a long time – maybe too long; he’s prone to talking to the trees and shrubs surrounding him.   There, he had a fateful encounter with Rudy, a terrifying albino dinosaur who took out Buck’s eye – and Buck, the dino’s tooth – during their initial, fateful encounter.  Buck’s adventurous spirit and daredevil antics are embraced by sibling possums Crash and Eddie both of whom we met in “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” eagerly joins Buck below the ice to kick some dino butt.

Co-screenwriter Yoni Brenner notes that finding the origins of Buck’s bigger than life antics was a priority.  “Carlos [Saldanha] wanted to make sure we defined a reason for Buck’s craziness.  “We wanted to ground his behavior, at least a little bit.  He had to be not only really funny, but make sense from a character point of view.”

Buck has an anatomical advantage in dealing with the dangerous environment and his even more foreboding arch nemesis Rudy; character designer Peter de Sève, the animators, under supervising lead animator Galen Tan Chu, plus the film’s rigging department, made the character super-bendy in every direction.  “Buck is a little crazy, as well as really athletic, so we really amped up his ability to twist, stretch and spiral,” says de Sève.   Buck having only one good eye made him even more visually arresting, but presented some performance challenges for the animators.

In casting the role, the filmmakers wanted a voice that stood out from their previously established characters.  “Every character in the ‘Ice Age’ films has a distinct voice, but they all somehow fit together,” says producer Lori Forte. Ultimately, it was British actor Simon Pegg who got the nod to voice Buck.  “Simon has great comedic timing, and his work brought a completely different flavor to Buck,” Forte continues. “We wanted a quality that conveyed a worldliness and range of experience that hadn’t yet been heard in an ‘Ice Age’ movie.”  Pegg, who is currently on view as the starship engineer Scotty in director J.J. Abrams’ reboot of “Star Trek,” and who was acclaimed for his work in the edgy comedies “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” says he enjoyed the character, whom the actor gave a Cockney accent. “Buck really sparked my imagination.  He’s full of energy and larger than life.  I saw him as a cross between Indiana Jones and [“Apocalypse Now’s” powerful but demented] Col. Kurtz.”

“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” will open July 3 nationwide in (Phils.) theaters (also available in DIGITAL 3D in selected theaters) from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.