Animania HD, a new HDTV satellite channel for kids, has picked up the 26×30 animated British series Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, as well as two animated series from European production company Neptuno Films. The show will debut this month on Animania, which is available exclusively on VOOM.
The $20 million CG-animated Dan Dare is produced by Los Angeles-based Foundation Imaging, which has provided animation for such productions as Max Steel, Starship Troopers and the series Babylon 5. It follows the adventures of superhero Dan Dare, the 007 of outer space. Working for the newly formed Space Fleet, he and his highly trained crew travel the galaxy to explore other planets, establish relationships with alien races and defuse possible threats to peace.
The Dan Dare character first appeared in a comic strip published in a 1950 edition of the British magazine Eagle. Created and drawn by artist Frank Hampson, the strip ran until Eagle ceased publication in 1969. Dan Dare corp. owns the global rights to the property.
In addition to boasting a voice cast consisting of top British talent Greg Ellis, Julian Holloway, Carole Ruggier and Rob Paulson, the show features a theme song written by the prolific team of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and performed by John.
Animania HD has also acquired broadcast rights to 26 half-hours of 2020 and 52 15-minute episodes of The Gravediggers Squad, both targeted to kids 8-12 and both produced by Neptuno Films.
2020, co-produced by Spanish children-branded block Megatrix, is a Flash-animated parody about a dysfunctional middle-class family living in the year 2020. Co-produced by TV3, Televisó de Catalunya, The Gravediggers Squad takes place in a spooky graveyard where three zany gravedigers spend most of their time sloving hair-raising mysteries. Previews of both shows can be viewed at www.neptunofilms.com.
Animania HD is one of 21 all-new, commercial-free HDTV channels created by Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC and available on VOOM (www.voom.com).
