Cartoon Network in the U.S. will be the exclusive broadcast carrier of Pokemon: Battle Frontier, the ninth season of the successful cartoon series in which kids duel with their pocket-sized monsters. Scheduled to debut this fall, the all-new episodes will take Ash and Pikachu back to the Kanto region to complete the Battle Frontier, seven ultimate tests that will challenge Ash’s skills as a Pok’mon Trainer.
“We’re thrilled to be the new home of Pok’mon in the U.S., and to be bringing first-run, never-before-seen episodes of this tremendous series to our audience,” says Bob Higgins, senior VP of programming and original animation for Cartoon Network. “We’re looking forward to working with Pok’mon USA to grow Battle Frontier into a top television destination for boys and girls of all ages.”
On June 3, Cartoon Network debuted Pok’mon Chronicles, which was never before seen in the U.S., during its Toonami action block. Featuring a mix old friends, unsung heroes and villains, the series focuses on what the characters do when they’re not accompanying Ash on his action-packed journeys.
Celebrating its 10th worldwide anniversary this year, the Pok’mon property was launched in Japan in 1996 with a game for Nintendo’s Game Boy system. The brand has since generated more than $25 billion in worldwide retail sales. More than 14 billion trading cards have sold globally to date, and the animated Kids’ WB! series consistently ranked among the top shows for boys ages 6-11.
Late last year, Pok’mon USA ended its successful, eight-year, exclusive relationship with 4Kids. All brand activity outside of Asia is now is being handled by Pok’mon USA Inc.’s own licensing group. For more information, go to www.pokemon.com.
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