BET Aspires to Get More Animated
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 3/4/2007 7:00:00 PM
New York — New York— A futuristic battle over hip-hop’s existence, a sobering look at the black slave trade and a humorous takeoff on the 1970s Schoolhouse Rock shorts are all planned for Black Entertainment Television in 2008 as it eyes serious steps into animation.
The network plans to produce four or five primetime animated series, as well as a handful of animated interstitials, next year in an effort to further diversify its programming lineup, according to Denys Cowan, senior vice president of animation.
Cowan, interviewed during a Feb. 23 BET reception during the New York ComicCon convention at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, said the slate will provide a voice to animated content prominently featuring African-American characters, writers and producers — content that’s been absent from mainstream networks.
“Aside from a few bright spots” — notably Cartoon Network’s Class of 3000 and Adult Swim’s The Boondocks — “there hasn’t been a lot of black animation on TV,” Cowan said. “We feel at BET that it’s like a Wild West in terms of showcasing black animation, the talent that’s available and the subject matter that’s yet to be explored.”
BET Entertainment president Reginald Hudlin — who has produced such animated fare as the theatrical Bébé’s Kids and TheBoondocks — sees a big appetite for the genre.
“Blacks have always overindexed when it comes to animated programming, whether it’s Adult Swim or The Simpsons,” Hudlin said, also at the Feb. 23 reception. “We’re big fans of it.”
Among the full-length series in production: Hannibal the Conqueror, produced by actor Vin Diesel and based on the legendary African warrior-king; and The Cipha, created in conjunction with Will Smith, a futuristic look at the government’s attempts to outlaw and silence hip-hop artists.
“There isn’t just one monolithic, hip-hop black voice — there’s a lot that’s going on in our culture,” Cowan said.
The Viacom-owned basic cable network also plans to make some animated shorts as part of new series The Five, which counts down the top entertainment trends of the day. Bid ’Em In brings the brutality of the American slave trade into focus through rhymes and images. Read A Book promotes positive messages of reading and “brushing your teeth,” a la Schoolhouse Rock, but with an irreverent, hip-hop tone. And Biggie pays homage to slain rap star Biggie Smalls, also known as The Notorious B.I.G.
Hudlin said he envisions BET ultimately creating a late-night animated block similar to Adult Swim.
And Cowan would like to see a Saturday morning cartoon lineup in the near future on BET.
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