Jun 5, 2018

TV ROUNDUP: NHK, Youtube Premium, PBS, Disney Channel

From a new preschool series from "Rocko's Modern Life" creator Joe Murray to a Japanese detective whose main character is literally his buttocks, here are some of the anime series that have been announced for development, production, and distribution.

"Oshiri Tantei," an anime series based on a popular picture book, premiered on NHK Educational TV on May 3. Produced by Toei Animation, the series is directed by Hiroki Shibata of "Bonobono" and "Gegege no Kitaro," and written by Natsuko Takahashi of "My Love Story." and "Moyashimon."

In 2012, Poplar Publishing published the first "Buttobi Keisatsu" picture book, written by Yuko Tanaka and illustrated by Masahide Fukazawa (under the name Trolls). Currently, the series has sold approximately 2 million copies and consists of six picture books and five books for elementary school students. The first trailer related to the series was released on Toei's Youtube channel in May 2017, followed by more promotional shorts last August and December. All videos have English, Korean, and Traditional Chinese subtitles.

Butt Detective follows the adventures of the main character, a detective with a butt-shaped head, voiced by Yufuko Sanpei (Boruto), in solving smelly crimes. The butt detective's four-legged sidekick Brown is voiced by Ayaka Saito (Jewelpet's Ruby). Also in the cast are Ikei Watanabe, Takahiro Sakurai, Kait. U, Reika Uyama, and Manabu Kudo. [The "Dallas & Robo" series was created by Shadowmachine, the animation studio behind Netflix's "Bojack Horseman" and Comedy Central's "Jeff & Some Aliens." Eight 30-minute episodes were released last premiered on WWE's Youtube Premium channel on Wednesday, May 30. [Dallas & Lobo was created by Mike Roberts, who directed "Final Space" and "Triptych," and was executive produced by Shadowmachine co-owner Alex Bulkley. [Anthony Stacchi, director of the Academy Award-nominated "Boxtrolls," directed all eight episodes. Screenwriters were Matt Mariska and Andy Sipes.

The series is a buddy comedy between Dallas, a space truck driver voiced by Kat Dennings, and AI robot Robo, voiced by John Cena, who also serves as executive producer. The rest of the cast includes Jane Lynch (Glee), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Taran Killam (Saturday Night Live), Clancy Brown (Sleepy Hollow), Nat Faxon (Friends from College), Dana Snider ( Aqua Teen Hunger Force).

The PBS Kids animated social studies series "Let's Go Luna." will premiere on November 21 on PBS stations, the PBS Kids Channel, and the PBS Kids digital platform. The series creator is Joe Murray, creator of Nick's Rocko's Modern Life and Cartoon Network's Camp Lazlo. The director is Dave Brown of "Numb Chucks" and "Octonauts."

Let's Go Luna. is produced by Dublin-based animation studio Brown Bag Films, the studio behind Doc McStuffins, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, The Magic Brown Bag Films was acquired by Canada's 9 Story Media Group in 2015.

The upcoming series was inspired by the lack of social studies education for young children; Let's Go Luna. aims to expose viewers ages 4-7 to cultures from around the world and help children develop the skills they need to become global citizens. The three main characters are Wombat, Butterfly, and Frog, who travel the world with "Circo Fabuloso," a group of traveling entertainers run by their parents. Their guide throughout the series is Luna of the Moon, voiced by Judy Greer.

Unusually for a show aimed at young children, the series is storyboard-driven. Each 11-minute episode is created in consultation with a cultural advisor from each region Circo visits. The scriptwriters then work with board artists to create visually-driven stories that highlight the unique landscapes and features of each city. The songs use regional musical styles and instruments, and the interstitials feature traditional folk tales from each land.

PBS Kids also announced another series, Molly of Denali, which will debut in summer 2019. Public broadcaster WGBH Boston is producing the show, which, like Let's Go Luna, will air on multiple platforms. Part of the Ready to Learn Initiative and funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education, the series is currently in production and will include 38 30-minute episodes and a one-hour special.

Molly Mabrey, the 10-year-old protagonist of Molly of Denali, is an Alaska Native girl who helps her parents run the Denali Trading Post in the fictional village of Kyah, Alaska. The core of the show's mission is to explore and celebrate Alaska Native culture. Each episode includes two 11-minute stories and a live-action segment featuring real children and communities in Alaska. Part of the format of the show will be a Vlog, which Molly will introduce and share her own research and experiences of her heritage with people around the world.

WGBH Boston and Atomic Cartoon, the animators, are committed to working with a team of Alaska Native consultants, voice actors (including Molly, the lead), scriptwriters, and language advisors. Vancouver-based Atomic will also host an Alaska Native intern for production and animation roles. Alaska Native producer Princess Dursley Johnson, based in Fairbanks, Alaska, will serve as creative producer for the series.

"I am especially excited that Alaska Native children will be able to see themselves in Molly, an inspiring role model for all children," Johnson said in a press release. The Alaska Native advisors on this project worked hard to ensure that our children see our beautiful culture in a respectful light." [Star Wars Resistance] is the next animated series in the Star Wars series and is currently in production, scheduled to air this fall on the Disney Channel in the United States. [Star Wars Resistance] is, of course, produced by Lucasfilm Animation and is the work of a team that includes show creator Dave Filoni, executive producers Athena Portillo and Justin Ridge, and art director Amy Beth Christenson, as well as the " Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels veterans are at the helm. Brandon Orman, who served as story editor on a recent episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also serves as executive producer.

"Resistance," which Filoni says was "inspired by anime," is set before "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and follows Kazuda Xiono, a young pilot recruited by the Resistance as a First Order spy. In addition to already established characters such as Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma, new characters will be introduced, with live-action actors Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie reprising their roles, respectively. The droid BB-8 will also make an appearance.

Other voice actors include Christopher Shawn (Days of Our Lives), Scott Lawrence (Legion), Myrna Velasco (Elena of Avalor), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Bobby Moynihan (Ducktales), Jim Rush (Community), and Rachel Butera (Tammy's Tiny Tea Time).

Another upcoming Disney series, Big City Greens, was renewed for a second season prior to its debut. The show, produced by Disney Television Animation, was created by brothers Chris and Shane Horton. The two have worked together on other animated series, including "Harvey Beaks," for which they wrote an episode.

The Horton brothers also serve as executive producers along with Rob Lenzetti ("My Life as a Teenage Robot"), with Monica Ray (writer, "Harvey Beaks") and Natasha Klein (storyboard director, "Home: Adventures with Tip & O") (storyboard director, "Home: Adventures with Tip & O") will direct.

Prior to the series premiere on June 18 on Disney Channel, Disney Now, and Disney Channel VOD, a short film of Big City Greens will roll out on Disney Channel and Disney Channel Youtube on June 16. and Disney Channel Youtube. New episodes will be available on Disney Channel's "Go. Summer.

Big City Greens centers on the adventures of 10-year-old Cricket Greene and her family after they move from the country to the big city. Cricket is voiced by Chris Horton, Artemis Pevdani ("Scandal") as Gramma Alice, Malieve Herrington ("How I Met Your Mother") as Cricket's sister Tilly, and Bob Joles ("Puss in Boots") as her father Bill. Guest voice actors include Jon Hamm, Danny Trejo, Raven Simon, Paul F. Tompkins, Lauren Lapkus, and Busta Rhymes.

Concurrent with the series premiere, the Disney Now app will also launch its first multiplayer game, Big City Battle.