These bytes comes from Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research site. Starting on October 7, Cartoon Network's airing Boomerang blocks every Saturday afternoon (hopefully after Rising Sun and a definite change away from those Scooby Saturdays). Each two-hour block is themed around a particular year, just like when the Boomerang block premiered on Cartoon Network back in 1992. Since I know that Toon Zone's foray is WB cartoons, I think I should point out that on October 14, The Porky Pig Show will be included in the two-hour block and on November 4, The Bugs Bunny Show will be up there.

OK, I Love You, Buy-Buy!
Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Gookie

The voice of Mindy on "Animaniacs" and Rudy Mookich on "Pinky, Elmyra & The Brain" will be publishing her autobiography on October 31: My Life As A 10 Year Old Boy: Bart, The Simpsons and Me. Published in hardcover, the book "reveals the real story behind America's funniest family". In 224 pages, Nancy offers a behind-the-scenes story "of the Simpsons early days", tracing "the Simpsons rapid rise to wild popularity", sharing "hilarious anecdotes about cast members and guest stars", and delivering a first-hand account of the making of the show.

Both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble are accepting pre-orders for the book, and if you're looking for the better bargain, Barnes & Noble offers a lower price. For a picture of the cover
and ordering information, see the links below.

Pre-order Nancy's Autobiography for $15.96 from B&N
Pre-Order Nancy's Autobiography for $17.95 from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/

Nancy will also be appearing in person to sign copies of her book on November 6 at 7:30 PM at the Barnes & Noble store in New York City. Directions are available by searching under Events By Location at bn.com. For further details on the event, the location and contact information are below.

Barnes & Noble
Lincoln Center
1972 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
212-595-6859

Craig Rousseau and Batman Beyond
Wed, 06 Sep 2000
WB Archivist

Here, Craig Rousseau tells about what is to come in Batman Beyond.

The Archive: What can you tell us about upcoming issues of Batman Beyond? Villains, stories, or any other suprises?

Craig: Well, after issue 12 this week (with the return of Terminal), Min Ku helped out on for a couple issues (I know one features the Demon) while I was busy with the Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker adaptation (due out in October). After that we've got a fill-in story by my former assistant editor on Impulse (the talented Jason Hernandez-Rosenblatt), and then Hilary's back, and so is Kobra! 

Memories of June
Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Gookie

Photos:
http://toonzone.net/gookie/pics/juneforay.jpg

In a July 5th interview by Raj Manoharan at IGN.com, June Foray (voice of Witch Hazel and Granny in many classic Looney Tunes cartoons) revealed that she is currently writing her autobiography: There's a Horse in My Living Room. The title is based on a real life experience, but we'll all have to wait until her book is published to hear... the rest of the story.

And for any Foray fans, like myself, who collect any print articles about the "Queen of Cartoons", issue #22 of Toon Magazine includes a tribute article by Michelle Klein-Hass, "Why June Foray Is So Important!" (Incidentally, this issue of TOON also includes two features on Cree Summer, voice of Elmyra Duff on Tiny Toon Adventures).

And the July/August issue of Animation Magazine offers two photos of June - one in a feature on the live-action/animated "Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle", and the other with a report on the World Animation Celebration where June Foray was a recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award, pictured with fellow actors, Chuck McCann, Lucille Bliss and Will Ryan.

This past weekend, I also did a little websearching and dug up several interesting interviews and articles on the talented Ms. Foray. I heartily recommend reading Foray Into Film by Raj Manoharan; June Foray: Queen of Animation by Steve Fritz; and Bruce B. Auster's interview on USNews.com which features a 9-minute phone interview with June downloadable in RealAudio format.

The highlight of the audio interview is June's comment that she plans to run for president, as Rocky The Flying Squirrel. Because Rocky gathers nuts, he could get rid of all the nuts in Washington.

For further reading on the famous June Foray, please visit The
Voice Actors Ultimate Links Treasury at Netscape's Open Directory.

Teens with Responsibility
Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Rembrandt

Comics Continuum reports on "X-Men: Evolution" voice-recording and "Static Shock!" premiere episode info. Here is what the Continuum had to say:

On "X-Men Evolution" voice-recording: "Voice recording for the first season of the X-Men: Evolution animated series has been completed, Kirby Morrow, the voice of Cyclops, told The Continuum.

X-Men: Evolution was voiced recorded in Vancouver and features Canadian performers. The series casts the X-Men - Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Rogue and a new character, Spyke -- as teenagers, with Storm, Wolverine and Professor Xavier as adults.

"I think what this could do is answer some questions people might have had that have never been touched on about the youth of the X-Men," Morrow told The Continuum. "People always want to know what happened in the beginning. This is the coming together of the group and the jelling together of the X-Men unit."

What's Morrow's take on the teenaged Cyclops?

"I think he's one of those guys who felt like he had to grow up a little faster than he wanted to, but he also enjoys the fact that he's the leader," Morrow said. "He takes on greater responsibility and tries to act like the adult amongst his peers. Cyclops is a little bit more of a straight man."

Will there be a romance between Scott and Jean Grey?

"Not so much as yet. It kind of hints at it," Morrow said. "It's something that we're going to develop a lot more. 

"The series really went back to basics, I think. It explains to people who might not know the X-Men exactly who they are. Because they are younger, in the concept, they're all learning about themselves, what powers they have and how to use them. There are some similarities to the (X-Men) movie, actually, with Rogue discovering she is an X-Man and she has these powers she has to deal with."

Morrow said the recording sessions were done ensemble style.

"The cast actually got pretty large at times," he said. "We squeezed a lot of people in.

"Sometimes it can pretty crazy when you have a lot of screaming and stuff. But it's good fun. It's great being in that room when everybody has the energy level that is so high. This cast is great."

Morrow said one of the first season's late episodes of X-Men: Evolution was particularly memorable.

"There's a lot of emotion from Cyclops," he said. "There was a lot of joking between takes, 'Academy Award! Academy Award-winning material.'"

Morrow's animation credits include NASCAR Racers, Action Man, Ranma, Escaflowne, Kong and Gundam Wing. He also did the voice of Michelangelo in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series.

His live-action credits include Total Recall: 2070, Highlander: The Raven, Stargate SG-1, Viper and the Outer Limits in television and his feature films include the upcoming New Line release, Bones.

Morrow said playing a teenager in X-Men Evolution isn't a difficult adjustment.

"I've played a lot of characters, some that go 9-10 years old," he said. “It’s kind of funny. When I get in the room and the script's in front of me and everybody's there and you feed off the energy, you start to feel that character and totally get into it. My pitch gets higher, and the words just come out."

Although Morrow said he enjoys doing the voice of Cyclops, one other character really interested him.

"I would have liked to have played Wolverine, but I don't think I would have been the best choice," Morrow said. "Wolverine's definitely a very fun character with a lot of attitude. He's kind of the favorite in the X-Men."

X-Men: Evolution will likely premiere in early November on Kids' WB!. Thirteen episodes are planned for the first season."

On "Static Shock!" premiere episodes info:
"Static Shock!, the animated series based on the Milestone Comics character, will premiere on Kids' WB on Saturday, Sept. 23.

"The first two episodes are definitely linked together," story editor Chris Simmons told The Continuum. 

The first episode, written by Simmons, is called "Shock to the System."

"It deals with Static's wild, exciting origin," Simmons said, "as well as establishing the key relationships in Virgil Hawkins' life, namely his best friend Richie Foley; his father Robert Hawkins, a social worker who runs the local community center; and his sister, Sharon, a freshman in college."

The second episode will be "Aftershock," a story by Stan Berkowitz and Alan Burnett with a teleplay by Berkowitz.

"It deals with the direct ramifications of Virgil's getting superpowers, and also features Static's first super-villain, Hotstreak," Simmons said.

Nick's Knack
Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Rembrandt

Nickelodeon has a full press release concerning their Warner Bros. acquired cartoons, which can be found by clicking here. It says:

"New York, NY, Aug. 29, 2000- Nickelodeon has acquired the exclusive television rights to three Emmy Award-winning animated series created and produced by Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros. Animation from Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable & Network Features, it was announced today by Cyma Zarghami, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon.

Warner Bros. Animation's "Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky & The Brain" will make its cable television debut on Nickelodeon on Monday, Sept. 4, and will air Monday-Saturday from 6-6:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Nickelodeon has licensed all 78 episodes of "Pinky & The Brain" and "Pinky, Elmyra & The Brain."

Ninety-nine episodes of "Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs" will be available to Nickelodeon in spring 2001, and 102 episodes of "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" will be available in September 2002.

"I love these characters," said Spielberg. "They are three-dimensional, have very diverse personalities and exude the irreverent humor found in the classic Warner Bros. cartoons."

"Pairing Nickelodeon with Warner Bros. Animation and Steven Spielberg is part of our never-ending commitment to present kids with smart, entertaining programming," said Zarghami. "Because Steven's intuitive understanding of children's tastes and sense of humor is so clearly evident in these shows, they will easily complement our existing programs, which rank as number-one with kids and adults alike."

Edward Bleier, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Pay-TV, Cable & Network Features, added: "We're very proud of these three series, which combine the genius of Steven Spielberg with the artistry of Warner Bros. Animation and are among the finest in children's programming available today. We couldn't be happier that Steven's work will air on Nickelodeon."

The three hit series, executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment, were produced and animated by Warner Bros. Animation, headed by Jean MacCurdy, under the creative supervision of Tom Ruegger. 

The three-time Emmy Award-winning "Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky & The Brain" features the exploits of two laboratory mice: The Brain, a would-be world dominator, and his ever-bumbling assistant, Pinky. "Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs," which has been honored with eight Emmy Awards and the prestigious Peabody Award, presents the adventures of brothers Yakko and Wakko, sister Dot and a wild group of original characters in a collection of cartoon shorts, musical numbers and comedy blackouts. The seven-time Emmy Award-winning "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" features a whole new generation of characters: Babs and Buster Bunny at Acme Looniversity, Plucky Duck, Hamton, Montana Max and Shirley the Loon, among others."