Kids’ WB Adds “Viewtiful Joe” This Fall
[via press release]
Super-Powered “Viewtiful Joe” Fast-Forwards Onto Kids’ WB! This Fall
(June 21, 2005 – Burbank and Long Beach, CA) – Kids’ WB!, the #1 broadcast network for kids, and Geneon Entertainment, a leader in introducing animé to North America, have joined forces to bring one of Japan’s hottest television series, “Viewtiful Joe,” to kids in the United States on Saturday mornings beginning Fall 2005. The network has ordered 26 episodes of the action-comedy series, which will air during the 2005-2006 broadcast season on Kids’ WB! The announcement was made today by Betsy McGowen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Kids’ WB!, and Yosuke Kobayashi, President/CEO, Geneon Entertainment.
“We are excited to partner with the innovative creative talent at Geneon Entertainment to bring viewers across the nation this extraordinary series in the fall,” said Ms. McGowen. “This award-winning property, ‘Viewtiful Joe,’ introduces a fantastical world with high action and character-driven comedy starring a likable underdog who overcomes the odds to become a superhero. This series will be a wonderful addition to our programming slate and is sure to be Kids’ WB!’s next animé hit.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring ‘Viewtiful Joe’ to Kids’ WB!,” said Mr. Kobayashi. “The characters have already been universally embraced and we’re sure that Joe’s super-stature will continue to grow on the number one kids broadcast network. This is a high-concept, high-profile series that breaks the mold of standard children’s animé; it’s exciting to have the opportunity to showcase this great property for an audience that is certain to appreciate all the fun and colorful innovation that Joe has to offer.”
With breakout characters from the award-winning video game series developed by Capcom Co. Ltd., “Viewtiful Joe” has become a global sensation spawning a successful television series and licensing program in Japan. “Viewtiful Joe” features American comic-style character design that is ripe with action and loaded with comedy.
Joe is just a normal guy with two great loves: his girlfriend Silvia and Captain Blue, an action movie superhero. When Silvia is magically captured through a movie screen by a celluloid monster, Joe gets himself swallowed into the screen to save her. There, Joe meets Captain Blue just as the superhero is about to retire, exhausted from his lifelong battle against villains known as Jadows. With special superpowers bestowed upon him by Captain Blue, Joe transforms into Viewtiful Joe to vanquish the enemies in Movie Land.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, Kids’ WB! is the children’s programming service of The WB Network. Kids’ WB! has maintained its leadership position as the #1 broadcast network for kids in all key demographics since Fall 2000, and recently captured its 15th consecutive sweep victory during the highly competitive May Sweep period as the #1 Saturday morning kids’ broadcaster.
A leader in kids’ television, Kids’ WB! continues to reinforce itself as a unique destination for kids. Home of such cornerstone hits as blockbuster “Pokémon,” white-hot “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” Emmy Award-winning series “Xiaolin Showdown” and “The Batman,” culturally diverse series “Jackie Chan Adventures” and “¡Mucha Lucha! Gigante” and breakout hits “Teen Titans” and “MegaMan NT Warrior: Axess,” among many other favorites, kids can find more on Kids’ WB!’s web site at www.KidsWB.com.
A leading supplier of Japanese animation in North America, Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. (www.Geneonanimation.com) is a full-service producer and distributor of entertainment content including film, music, animation and television shows on DVD and CD. Continually introducing new and classic animé and live-action programming, as well as animé CD soundtracks, the company also serves as a creative partner to many of Japan’s top animé production companies. Additionally, Geneon Entertainment distributes critically acclaimed musical performances on DVD and CD from renowned artists. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Geneon Entertainment’s parent company is Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu, Inc.
Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the world. Based in Tokyo, Dentsu offers national, multinational and global clients the most comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services through its unique “Total Communications Services” approach. Dentsu has pioneered and set global standards for integrated communications, which in latter years have been adopted by a number of major international networks. Dentsu’s consolidated revenues for fiscal term 03/04 were recorded at $16.1 billion. Dentsu is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.