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Tokyo Mew Mew Licensed
posted on by Christopher Macdonald
Get Ready for Hollywood Mew Mew
According to an an Animation World Network (AWN) article about the 2004 tv season, 4Kids Entertainment has licensed Tokyo Mew Mew and will be airing the show during the Fox Box programming block on FOX. North American children will, however, not be introduced to Tokyo Mew Mew, but rather Hollywood Mew Mew. Regarding the process of localization, 4Kids CEO Al Kahn stated, "By the time we localize the programs kids don't even know they're from Japan any more." The statement was exclusively in reference to children's programming, Kahn stated that he felt that labels such as "Anime" are for adults and mean nothing to children.
According to Kahn, Tokyo Mew Mew, along with another show called Winx Club, is an attempt to attract a more female demographic to Fox Box. “Most people seem to have taken a boys' action, or a neuter position. It's obvious our business is not only entertainment but merchandising as well, and we think there's a real void in what's available for girls. It's an area where there's a lack of product in the U.S. We're going to be adding a couple of those types of shows to the FOX BOX in 04.” He explains that Tokyo Mew Mew is meant to attract viewers of both sexes by providing girls with empowered female heroines and, at the same time, entertaining boys with "cute babes" and lots of action. Although it is aimed at a significantly older demographic, Kahn points to Xena as an example of a show that attracts both men and women.
AWN also asked Kahn if, with his company's goal of attracting a larger audience of girls, he will also look to gain an older audinece by importing "more challenging" titles aimed at an older demographic. While not stating that 4Kids will import titles aimed at an older demographic, he did forecast that such titles would become available in the appropriate timeslots and he stated that 4Kids is looking to "expand our programming opportunities in order to do different things at different times.”
The entire 10-page article, 2003 TV Wrap-Up, What's in Store for 2004, can be read here.
According to Kahn, Tokyo Mew Mew, along with another show called Winx Club, is an attempt to attract a more female demographic to Fox Box. “Most people seem to have taken a boys' action, or a neuter position. It's obvious our business is not only entertainment but merchandising as well, and we think there's a real void in what's available for girls. It's an area where there's a lack of product in the U.S. We're going to be adding a couple of those types of shows to the FOX BOX in 04.” He explains that Tokyo Mew Mew is meant to attract viewers of both sexes by providing girls with empowered female heroines and, at the same time, entertaining boys with "cute babes" and lots of action. Although it is aimed at a significantly older demographic, Kahn points to Xena as an example of a show that attracts both men and women.
AWN also asked Kahn if, with his company's goal of attracting a larger audience of girls, he will also look to gain an older audinece by importing "more challenging" titles aimed at an older demographic. While not stating that 4Kids will import titles aimed at an older demographic, he did forecast that such titles would become available in the appropriate timeslots and he stated that 4Kids is looking to "expand our programming opportunities in order to do different things at different times.”
The entire 10-page article, 2003 TV Wrap-Up, What's in Store for 2004, can be read here.
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