A few new shows are trickling into the current drought of original programming on Cartoon Network. Transformers Animated, the morning offering Mr. Men Show, and George of the Jungle have already had episode premieres to themselves. Joining them on Thursday, March 6th are new shows of Camp Lazlo, Chowder, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. The block is being marketed in funky eight-track colors with the stock name of "New Thursday Nights." Let's hope the schedule sticks this time!

On March 7th, the big CN premiere is Chop Socky Chooks, which has already kicked it up in Canadian and UK markets. From poultry experts and animation giants Aardman Productions, it's a mixed 3D and 2D series about kung-fu chickens (seriously!) protecting the mall-city of Wasabi World (no, really!). The title comes from the somewhat derogatory term for the over-the-top martial arts flicks of the '60s and '70s. It also rhymes with an extremely derogatory term which one might have to explain to younger folk.

Contemporary cartoons have previously taken the leap into surreal, takeout-and-buffet Asian tropes, and they've been largely successful. But can Chop Socky Chooks face down current competitors Pucca and Yin Yang Yo on Disney's Jetix? Some viewers want to power up Jetix's old rival and precursor. Toonami enthusiasts have long been critical of the once popular block's lack of airtime and promotional support. A group of these long-time fans, TICA, is campaigning to restore the franchise to its former glory.

Meanwhile, Eliot Kid and World of Quest have been acquired for CN channels outside the U.S. The latter is reserved for Cartoon Network UK, and premieres in America on Kids WB! on the 15th of March. This season is the last gasp for Kids WB! since CW started downsizing -- 4Kids Entertainment will be in charge of next year's animation block. Yes, that means 4Kids will have two Saturday morning cartoon blocks, both Fox's and CW's [source].

Adult Swim, CN's late-night sister network, is also fairly quiet... if bitingly funny or gloriously violent animation could be called quiet. Besides the staple anime premieres, mature audiences have only the bizarre, billionaire-superhero sideshow Frisky Dingo. The network's pilots aired last May and are available at [as]'s Pilot Week page. Some of these shows are already generating buzz, though there's no telling if that excitement will carry into the premieres. Of these, the adaption of the comic The Drinky Crow Show seems to be the only confirmed order at the time of posting. Stay tuned! Schedules are subject to change.