British music channel Fuse is set to debut its first animated TV series, EMPIRE SQUARE. The show follows three foul-mouthed characters Rabbit, Hooks and Tourette's-afflicted wannabe rocker Richie. The trio always gets into strange get-rich-quick schemes while trying to obtain rock stardom.
EMPIRE SQUARE reinforces fuses commitment to expanding its original programming, said Andrea Greenberg, president of Rainbow Media Ventures. We think EMPIRE SQUARE will undoubtedly resonate with our hip, young adult viewers. The series embraces the spirit of todays animated hits such as SOUTH PARK and AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, and incorporates the edgy, snarky fuse spin which pushes the envelope and pokes fun at music, celebrities and society.
Originally the property was developed by Dave Rowntree, drummer for the British pop-rock band Blur, along with Ant Cauchi and Lloyd Salmons for mobile. However, the short caught the attention of Britain's Channel 4, which commissioned a series of three-minute interstitials that began airing in early 2005.
Fuse then ordered seven original half-hour episodes from Cauchi and Salmons' U.K.-based company, Outside Line. The series will debut at 11:00 pm EST on Jan. 25, 2006, with a sneak preview airing at midnight EST on Dec. 24, 2005.
Fuse is the U.K.'s only music-centric, viewer-influenced television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts and specials. Fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms at the center of their communication and entertainment TV, Web, mobile technologies and interactive gaming and by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into the networks on-air and online programming. More information is available at www.fuse.tv.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
