Animated Upfronts 2014 Preview: FOX

 

billboard_4

A year ago, FOX would announce one of its biggest initiatives in animated television with the launch of Animation Domination HD, a block of programming that featured Axe Cop, Lucas Bros., and others for an audience yearning for more broadcast animation geared towards adults. That initiative would go on to gain mixed results, as the Saturday Night iteration of the ADHD block has been cancelled and in it’s place is a development of two new ADHD series for Sunday Nights starting in 2015. No one knows what those shows are, but at least the existing content is still being worked on and could be due out later this year. 

For FOX’s Sunday Nights, the network is getting ready to say goodbye to American Dad and hello to a brand-new series called Bordertown and unlike Murder Policeit looks like we are actually going to get the opportunity to see this series in its fullest. The show has some STRONG writing and producing talent with an aesthetic that’s entirely different than anything else on Sunday Nights which should help spice up the evening for those that grew tired of the 90-minute Seth MacFarlane blocks of yesteryear. This upcoming Fall Season will also see someone from The Simpsons die, a crossover with Family Guy/Simpsons, Futurama/Simpsonsand what is essentially a Cleveland Show/Family Guy cross over when you factor in Cleveland and all of his family now becoming part of the Family Guy lexicon. This of course is coming off one of the most talked about Animation Domination seasons in recent memory with Family Guy temporarily killing off Brian which set-off a HUGE firestorm as well as the recently premiered Simpsons/LEGO episode, but it looks like there’s a bunch more to be excited about on the way.

On the development side, FOX has been busy as we’ve been getting rumored projects from FOX’s ADHD block as well as the Sunday Night block featuring some of the biggest stars in entertainment like Flights of the Concord, Vampire WeekendZooey Deschanel, 50 Cent, and more. It will be interesting to hear if any or all of these projects get the green-light and if so when they will premier. Next week, we hope to get answers on any and all of these animated projects as FOX continues its almost 30 year dominance in the genre.