BVITV Licenses Toons to RTÉ

Ireland is set to be invaded by dragons, dinosaurs and robot monkeys, much to the delight of young viewers. Buena Vista Int’l Television (BVITV) has signed new, multi-year agreements with Irish terrestrial broadcaster RTÉ for film and TV properties, including Disney animated fare.

RTÉ’s twice-weekly Disney Club block will get the action series, Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long. The show follows the adventures of an ordinary teen who has the power to become the American Dragon, protector and guardian of all magical creatures secretly living in the human world. Also included in the deal is Disney’s Lilo & Stitch: The Series and Disney’s Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, which centers on two mismatched friends–a pampered pooch and a wacky rabbit.

In a separate agreement, RTÉ has licensed a raft of kids properties from the BVITV-distributed Jetix Europe portfolio. Shows falling under the agreement include Power Rangers DinoThunder and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, a futuristic anime-style action adventure series about a young boy who leads his team of mechanical warrior simians in defending his home against the evil Skeleton King and his monster minions.

Buena Vista features to be broadcast on RTÉ include the vfx-laden blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1, which features a lengthy anime sequence by Production I.G., and Kill Bill: Vol. 2.