'Fireball' details released

Film is first Disney cartoon for Japan

By MARK SCHILLING

Walt Disney Japan has released details about its “Fireball” shorts skein, the first toon that Disney is producing for the Japanese market, with local talent and locally created characters.

Set in the future on a distant planet, the 13, two-minute episodes are about a little rich girl and her two robot servants.

Broadcasts of the 3-D CG series will start on the Tokyo Metropolitan Television (Tokyo MX) net on April 7 and on the Disney Channel on April 11.

Walt Disney Television Intl. Japan will produce with Tokyo-based Jinni’s Animation Studios.

Wataru Arakawa will helm.

“Fireball” will screen from March 27-30 at the Tokyo Intl. Anime Fair.