News

Warner Bros Discovery has announced the first ever localized version of the Tom And Jerry series, featuring the famous cat and mouse duo as they take their rivalry to Singapore.

Produced locally in Asia, in association with Warner Bros Animation, the new 7×3-minute series will premiere on Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific and HBO Go in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong later this year, before being rolled out internationally.

A pilot episode giving a flavour of what’s to come will launch in August – further details will be announced soon. Watch a teaser video here.

The project is produced by Warner Bros Discovery’s Carlene Tan, with Vivek Bolar serving as lead director. India’s Aum Animation Studios handled the animation, with stories and designs from Singapore-based Robot Playground Media and Chips and Toon Studios.

Christopher Ho, Warner Bros Discovery’s Head of Kids, Southeast Asia, said: “This series...

“Tom and Jerry,” one of the most iconic animation franchises in history, is to get a localized new version made with Southeast Asian audiences in mind.

The cat and mouse duo will take their chases to the streets, buildings and cityscapes of Singapore in a 7 x 3-minute series of shorts, produced locally in Asia, and in association with Warner Bros. Animation. A pilot episode will launch in August.

The show is destined to play on Cartoon Network in Asia Pacific and HBO Go, Warner Bros. Discovery’s interim streaming platform in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong later this year, before being rolled out internationally.

The project is produced by Warner Bros. Discovery’s Carlene Tan. Vivek Bolar serves as lead director. The project is animated by Aum Animation Studios India, with stories and designs from Singapore-based Robot Playground Media and Chips and Toon Studios.

“This series brings back the...

Former Nickelodeon and Universal Kids exec Amy Friedman has been named head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros on a full-time basis.

This comes three months after she was brought in to the company on an interim basis by new President of Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics Tom Ascheim.

In the new role, Friedman will oversee the creative and strategic direction of kids and family programming for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, as well as develop and produce kids and family content for HBO Max.

She will now oversee strategy for new and current series, acquisitions, and co-productions globally for kids and family across the WarnerMedia portfolio of brands, while working in close collaboration with the animation studios, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios.

Her executive content team is led by Vishnu Athreya, leading Program Planning and Current Series, and Adina Pitt, who has a newly expanded role leading Content Acquisitions,...

Kids programming exec Amy Friedman has been named to the newly created position of head of Warner Bros.’ kids and family programming division, where she will oversee creative and strategic guidance for such programming for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, and develop kids and family content for WarnerMedia-owned streamer HBO Max. Separately, Sundance Feniger has been upped to head of digital enterprises at Warner Bros.’ global kids, young adults and classics unit.

This follows Friedman’s appointment in August to senior advisor at the unit, where she had been tasked with assuming programming duties for Cartoon Network Studios head Rob Sorcher, who was transitioning to an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.

The new role means that she will also oversee content portfolio plans, including strategy for new and current series, acquisitions and co-productions for children and family programming across WarnerMedia kids brands. Friedman will also work closely with...

In today’s roundup, National Geographic Channel gives an exclusive first look at “Genius: Picasso” and “The Big Bang Theory” announces guest stars for season 11 finale.

Casting

“The Big Bang Theory‘s” season 11 finale will include a number of famous faces, with a guest cast including Kathy Bates, John Ross Bowie, Mark Hamill, Courtney Henggeler, Lauren Lapkus, Laurie Metcalf, Jerry O’Connell, Brian Posehn, Teller and Wil Wheaton. The episode will air May 10 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Deals

Producers Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum have signed an overall scripted development deal with Lionsgate Television. The pair had spent the past eight years with CBS Television Studios. The Tannenbaum Co. banner at present is home to TBS’ “The Last O.G.” Past series for CBS include “Two and a Half Men” and the revival of “The Odd Couple.”

Dates

Netflix announced that “Dear White People” will return to the streaming...

Vishnu Athreya has been promoted to Svp, programming at Cartoon Network, an expanded role. The new title was announced by Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network.

Athreya will add series development for Boomerang while continue to oversee scheduling, acquisitions, and the strategic positioning of programming content across all branded linear and non-linear program platforms for Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Athreya is based in Atlanta and will still report to Sorcher.

“Vishnu’s approach to an evolving and challenging marketplace has had a great impact on our content strategy, and we look forward to seeing him extend that expertise into building Boomerang’s development pipeline,” said Sorcher.

Athreya first joined Turner Broadcasting’s kids channels Cartoon Network, Toonami, Pogo, Boomerang and Cartoonito in Asia Pacific,where he was instrumental in driving Cartoon Network to a leadership position in the market. He joined Cartoon Network in 2014, acting as the departmental lead for long-range calendar planning.