Nickelodeon to launch 'ChinaToon'

One-hour block to showcase Chinese animation

By CLIFFORD COONAN

With China trying to boost its animation biz and wean youngsters off wildly popular foreign toons including “Astro Boy” and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Nickelodeon will launch ChinaToon, a one-hour branded block dedicated to local animation.

ChinaToon bows on July 5 on Nickelodeon Asia with two acclaimed animation series -- Creative Power Entertaining’s “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf” and Zhejiang Zhongnan Group Animation Video’s “Magic Wonderland,” which will be broadcast to 13 territories across Asia.

“Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf” is a comedy for kids 4-9, while “Magic Wonderland” is an action adventure aimed at the 5-12 set.