BURBANK, July 2, 2002 . . . The anime adventure series "Beyblade," based on the fast emerging kids sports entertainment phenomenon, and the anime drama "Shinzo" will make their American television premiere on ABC Family, beginning SATURDAY, JULY 6. The two series are part of the network's new kids' summer programming schedule.
"Beyblade" -- SATURDAY and SUNDAY (7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., ET/PT) -- This cutting-edge anime adventure follows martial arts student, Tyson, as he perfects his technique in the extreme sport of Beyblade (based on a traditional Japanese spinning-top game called Bei-goma, now emerging as a kids sports entertainment phenomenon called Beyblade). While each customized spinning top is as unique as its owner, Tyson's is particularly powerful since he's learned to harness the mystical power of his Japanese ancestors. He joins a group of international youths -- whose tops also possess special power derived from ancient beasts -- as they embark on a quest to battle their way to the World Championship while thwarting evil challengers.
In the debut episode, "The Blade Raider," Tyson is at home practicing martial arts with his grandfather when suddenly he realizes he is late for a Beyblade battle with Andrew. When Tyson arrives, Andrew and his friends are met by a smart-mouthed kid named Carlos, a member of the notorious Blade Sharks. Carlos challenges anyone to a battle but the winner gets to keep the other's Beyblades. Tyson accepts. With the help of Kenny and his Bit Beast Dizzi, an energy animal avatar who has merged with his laptop, Tyson prepares for the big battle, which he handily wins. Just as the fight is over, the Blade Sharks' leader Kai shows up and a new battle begins between Kai and Tyson.
The executive producers are Michael Hirsh, Toper Taylor and Scott Dyer. The series is produced by Nelvana and d-Rights, Inc. (TV-Y7)
"Shinzo" - SATURDAY and SUNDAY (7:30 a.m., ET/PT) -- This anime action series is set in a time when mutants -- known as Enterrans -- rule the world. It's up to the last surviving human, Yukomo, to search out the mysterious Shinzo, which contains the key to saving mankind from extinction.
In the first episode, "The Awakening," Yakumo awakens from a 500-year hyber-sleep only to discover that mankind has been eradicated from Earth. A message left by her father in Hakuba, a multi-purpose vehicle programmed to protect Yakumo, instructs Yakumo to seek out a place called Shinzo. On her journey to find Shinzo, Yakumo befriends Mushra, a young Enterran warrior and Saago, Mushra's old friend. When the four travelers stop at a nearby town to re-fuel Hakuba, Mushra's evil enemy, Karas, detonates the town's fuel tank and then blames the four travelers for the tank's lethal explosion. While Saago and Hakuba escape the clutches of the outraged townsfolk, Yakumo and Mushra are captured and hoisted above a raging fire. With only seconds to spare before the two fall into the fiery pit, Mushra quickly transforms into Hyper Mushra and saves Yakumo from a frightening demise.
The executive producer is Eric S. Rollman and the producers are Tarow Iwamoto and Kauichi Yada. The series is a production of Toei Animation Co., Ltd. and BVS Entertainment, Inc. (TV-Y7-FV)
The new ABC Family kids' line-up is comprised of ten hours on the weekends and ten hours across the weekdays, and is as follows:
ABC FAMILY ACTION-ADVENTURE LINE-UP (all times are ET/PT) Saturdays (expanding to five hours effective Saturday, July 6, 2002) 7:00 a.m. "Beyblade" 7:30 a.m. "Shinzo" 8:00 a.m. "Spider-Man Unlimited" 8:30 a.m. "Spider-Man" 9:00 a.m. "Beyblade" 9:30 a.m. "Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot" 10:00 a.m. "X-Men" 10:30 a.m. "Spider-Man" 11:00 a.m. "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" 11:30 a.m. "The Incredible Hulk" Sundays 7:00 a.m. "Beyblade" 7:30 a.m. "Shinzo" 8:00 a.m. "Spider-Man Unlimited" 8:30 a.m. "Spider-Man" 9:00 a.m. "Beyblade" 9:30 a.m. "Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot" 10:00 a.m. "Best of Power Rangers" (two hours) Weekdays 7:00 a.m. "Digimon" 7:30 a.m. "Digimon" 8:00 a.m. "Power Rangers: Wild Force" 8:30 a.m. "Medabots"
Press Contact:
David Gardner
ABC Cable Networks Group
(818) 973-2128
-- ABC CNG --