Cartoonito, WarnerMedia Kids and family’s new preschool programming block, got launched on Monday on HBO Max and Cartoon Network and used the occasion to reveal that it has set casts for a pair of animated projects — a Batwheels series that will feature Ethan Hawke as the voice of Batman and its Mo Willems one-hour rock opera Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience.
Warner Bros Animation’s Batwheels will feature the voices of Hawke as Batman, AJ Hudson as Duke Thomas/Robin, Leah Lewis as Cassandra Cain/Batgirl and Cobra Kai‘s Jacob Bertrand as Bam the Batmobile in the action-adventure comedy series about the iconic vehicles from the Batman DC comic series.
The voice cast of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience includes Jordan Fisher as Wilbur, the sensitive, curious and brave mole rat; Yvette Nicole Brown as Grande, a member of Mole Rat society’s popular crowd and front mole of the Tunnel’s Rock Band; Kate Micucci as Tall, a rule-follower with a heart of gold; Kevin Michael Richardson as Venti, a big lug and Carol Kane as Grand-Mah, the larger-than-life matriarch of the Mole Rat society.
As for the famous cat and mouse rivals, they are at it again in their first-ever preschool animated series Tom and Jerry Time. Combining hilarious antics with key early learning concepts, Tom and Jerry Time aims to teach young viewers the skills they need to explore the world around them. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the green light of the original new series was announced today as part of Warner Media Kids & Family’s live virtual event celebrating its new Cartoonito preschool programming block, debuting today on HBO Max and Cartoon Network.
Warner Bros. head of kids and family programming Amy Friedman said, “Based on the beloved classic that so many parents grew up with, Tom and Jerry Time introduces a whole new generation to these iconic characters with a fresh and original take,for our youngest audience, Sam Register and his team at Warner Bros. Animation managed to keep all the playful hijinks, drop all the cartoon violence, and add the most delightful early childhood learning through song and story. It’s playful – with a purpose – and we think parents and their little ones will love watching and learning together.”
Presented as a series of animated musical shorts, Tom and Jerry Time turns the world created by the biggest rivalry in all of animation into a fun and cheerful cartoon classroom. Both characters, known for their over-the-top personalities, are natural-born teachers, with Tom showcasing confidence and resilience while Jerry highlights ingenuity and courage. Preschoolers will be introduced to their comical mischief’s – chasing, pranking, and outsmarting each other – while also learning key social and emotional skill sets, lessons in independence, early math and literacy skills, and other key preschool educational concepts.
Sam Register (Looney Tunes Cartoons) is executive producer. Will Finn (Tom and Jerry in New York) serves as show runner and co-executive producer with Denise Downer (Stillwater) on board as story editor.