We are three months into the New Year and networks across the TV guide are premiering their new shows. As an animation major (and cartoon lover in general), I like to keep an eye on new animated shows that studios have worked so hard on. Cartoons are aimed for a wide range of viewers — from children to teens to general audiences! So, here are five new series set to premiere in 2016 that may be worth following.
Fangbone
Image courtesy of www.awn.com.
Based in a Canadian studio, Fangbone is a show about a 9 year-old barbarian warrior that has somehow come to a modern third grade elementary class with the mission of protecting them from villains of his native land. The premise sounds vaguely similar to Star vs. The Forces of Evil but aimed at boys. The character design looks pretty diverse in shape and other promo pictures reveal that there’s a wide variety of representation to look forward to. Fangbone will be airing on Disney XD in early 2016.
Regal Academy
Image courtesy of www.awn.com.
Regal Academy comes from the same Italian studio that did Winx Club! It centers around Rose Cinderella, who discovers her familial ties to princess Cinderella and is enrolled to an academy where the other students are descendants of fairy tale characters. It sounds like it’s in the same genre as Disney’s Descendants and Mattel’s Ever After High where we follow the lives of famous fairy tale characters’ children. I see no problem with this — the more we explore the better! The character design itself is a little narrow as it appears that the core cast is slim and around the same height, but you never know what these shows have in store for us. Regal Academy will be airing on Nickelodeon around spring 2016.
Pinky Malinky
Image courtesy of www.deadline.com.
Ho boy — a show with a hotdog as its main character! This seriously reminds me of Disney XD’s wonderful Pickle & Peanut but with a kid-friendly style. Pinky Malinky comes from a British-American studio and the mind Chris Garbutt, who worked on the Amazing World of Gumball. The show is about a hotdog living in the human world with two friends that help him navigate his life. The characters have great shape and style and I look forward to seeing more of it! Pinky Malinky will be airing on Nickelodeon sometime in 2016.
Justice League Action
Image courtesy of www.dccomics.com.
Not much has been revealed about the New Justice League and I haven’t followed the old one close enough to know if this is a sequel or a spinoff of the original series. Justice League Action will be following Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman as they fair space and whatever else comes to shake up earth again. Other DC heroes and villains like the Joker and Lex Luther are rumored to appear. Justice League Action will be airing on Cartoon Network, but when is TBA.
Powerpuff Girls (reboot)
Image courtesy of www.screenrant.com.
Returning to us for a third time, here’s Powerpuff Girls! It will feature Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup as they fight crime in Townsville. Behind the show is its creator Craig McCracken, who also created Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and Wander Over Yonder. Powerpuff Girls will be airing on Cartoon Network on April 4!
Honorable Mention: Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir
Image courtesy of www.comicsalliance.com.
Okay, technically this one is already airing so it wouldn’t make this list, but it premiered in December 2015 and it’s such a great series! It’s been in pre-production for nearly three years and went through several facelifts to get where it is now (It was originally going to be in 2D in an anime-esque style!).
Miraculous Ladybug takes places in Paris, France and centers on Marinette Dupain-Cheng, a French-Chinese high schooler who is granted the power of luck and magically transforms into her superhero alter ego, Ladybug! Fighting alongside her is Chat Noir, a punny, flirtatious masked hero who has the power of bad luck. Behind that mask is a quiet and shy male model named Adrien who is in Marinette’s class. The show’s 3D models are crisp and colorful and the animation is nearly movie quality! The character designs are quirky and beautifully diverse and it’s everything can ask for in a show about friendship and love and discovering who you are — that you can be a hero with or without a mask. Miraculous Ladybug is currently airing on Nickelodeon! Check your TV guide for show times.