“Teen Titans” To Debut In August On Cartoon Network

(February 20, 2003 – Burbank, CA and Atlanta, GA) - A new young breed of superheroes comes to life on Cartoon Network as famed Robin The Boy Wonder leads fellow young teens Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire and Raven in the all-new high-adventure series “Teen Titans.” Slated to debut on Cartoon Network in August 2003, this action-packed half-hour animated series is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation under the guidance of Emmy Award-winner Glen Murakami. Teen Titans is based on the popular DC Comics comic book characters and will air subsequently in the 2003-2004 season on Kids’ WB! “Teen Titans” features five teen superheroes each with special powers, led by the Robin The Boy Wonder. This group unites to form a defensive force to protect the Earth from a new generation of villains while coping with the problems of adolescence. An eclectic group, their powers complement each other so that when they band together, they become a superb fighting force. Their personalities, on the other hand, often clash. In order to protect Earth from a variety of enemies, these Teen Titans must learn to work and grow as a team despite their differences in style. Heading the cast of voice actors on "Teen Titans" is Scott Menville as Robin The Boy Wonder, the aggressive and acrobatic leader of the group. Greg Cipes provides the voice of Beast Boy, who can take on animal forms, while Starfire, who can channel energy into a powerful weapon, is played by Hynden Walch. Raven, who has psychic powers, is played by Tara Strong and Cyborg, the Teen Titans’ half-man/half-machine strongman, is voiced by Khary Payton. Wil Wheaton and Ron Perlman provide voices for guest and recurring roles. “Cartoon Network has experienced great success with ‘Justice League,’ so we know we have a loyal audience ready to embrace this exciting new show,” said Jim Samples, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Cartoon Network. “These DC Comics characters have incredible powers, but struggle with how to use them. ‘Teen Titans’ will mesh perfectly with our other action-adventure programming and thrill our viewers.” “Teaming up with Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network once again gives us an excellent opportunity to bring our core audience the newest high-adventure series, ‘Teen Titans,’” said John Hardman, Senior Vice President, Kids’ WB! “This series will be a perfect addition to our #1 line-up, as it features superhero action-packed adventures, comedy and kid-relatable characters and stories in this exciting new saga.” “The talented individuals producing this series are truly superheroes in the world of animation,” said Sander Schwartz, President, Warner Bros. Animation. “Glen and his team will bring ‘Teen Titans’ to life with all of the excitement and breathtaking quality that our audience has come to expect from Warner Bros. Animation.” “The ‘New Teen Titans’ was a groundbreaking comic book as Marv Wolfman and George Perez delved into the extraordinary challenges of living as a superhero teenager,” said Paul Levitz, DC Comics President and Publisher. “With the animated series being brought to life by Glen Murakami’s great team, we look forward to new worlds of creative magic.” Teen Titans made their comic book debut in 1964 and soon grew into its own “Teen Titans” monthly comic book series that ran for seven years. The basis for the animated television series, however, is the wildly successful revamped version of the original junior superhero formula. “The New Teen Titans” debuted in 1980 and was DC’s most popular comic book of the decade that followed. The adolescent angst and emotional depth of “The New Teen Titans” made the series an instant classic with a whole new generation of comic book readers. Cartoon Network, currently seen in 82.1 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network also showcases unique original ventures such as “The Powerpuff Girls,” “Dexter’s Laboratory,” “Samurai Jack,” “Justice League,” “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” “Ed, Edd n Eddy” and other “Cartoon Cartoons.” Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable’s highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network’s Web site is located at http://CartoonNetwork.com (AOL Keyword: Cartoon Network). Kids’ WB!, a leader in kids’ television, is the children’s programming service of The WB Network. The #1 broadcast and cable network for the core demographic of Boys 6-11, Kids’ WB! has maintained its position as the #1 broadcast network since Spring of 1999. Continuing to set precedent with its new powerhouse 2002-2003 programming slate, Kids’ WB! introduced this season’s all-new “What’s New Scooby-Doo?,” the ground-breaking “!Mucha Lucha!” and the innovative buddy-cop comedy “Ozzy & Drix.” The network also brings viewers the returning highly-rated hits “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” “Jackie Chan Adventures,” “Pokémon: Master Quest,” “X-Men: Evolution,” “Static Shock,” “The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai” and other Kids’ WB! favorites. Kids can find more on Kids’ WB!’s web site at www.KidsWB.com. Warner Bros. Animation has been producing award-winning original programming since 1930, when it released its first cartoon, “Sinking in the Bathtub.” Since then, Warner Bros.’ animated characters have set the standard for inventive, quality animation. Providing programming for network, syndication and cable television as well as theatrical, home video and online product, Warner Bros. Animation is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the studio's rich cartoon heritage. The most honored animation studio ever, Warner Bros. Animation has garnered 30 Emmys, the highly coveted George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, the Parent's Choice Award, the Prism Award and numerous Annie Awards, which honor excellence in animation. DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros., is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC superheroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com. Cartoon Network, Kids’ WB!, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics are all AOL Time Warner Companies. # # #