Mobile Suit Gundam and 08th MS Team Join Cartoon Network’s Toonami Line-up in July

Cartoon Network will add two new series to the Toonami programming block in July. Mobile Suit Gundam will premiere at 5 p.m. (ET, PT) during the afternoon action-adventure block on July 23 and later that night, 08th MS Team will premiere at 12 midnight (ET, PT), July 24, during Toonami Midnight Run.

Mobile Suit Gundam takes place in the year Universal Century 0079 while the Earth Federation and its space colonies are engaged in an apocalyptic war. The rebellious Principality of Zeon, using humanoid fighting machines called mobile suits, has all but vanquished the Federation. Now the Federation's last hope is the prototype mobile, mechanized battle-armor Gundam. When a twist of fate makes young civilian Amuro Ray the Gundam's pilot - his own battle begins – a struggle not only for the Federation's survival, but for his own.

08th MS Team (October U.C. 0079 – January U.C. 0080) – Federation Lt. Shiro Amada is transferred from the Space Unit to the Ground Unit, where he ends up leading the 08th MS team, a troubled group full of misfits and rogues. The Zeon Secret Weapon Development Unit has a base close to the 08th MS Team’s station. Aina Saharin, a female pilot, is the test pilot of this threatening secret. She and Shiro have met before, when they were both adrift alone in space.
Toonami, Cartoon Network’s popular afternoon action-adventure programming block airs weekdays 5-7 p.m. (ET, PT) and features programs like Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Tenchi Muyo!, Big O and Outlaw Star. Intermittently throughout the two-hour programming block, Toonami features popular music, computer generated 3-D animation segments and the block’s host, TOM, the animated character who inhabits the space vessel The Absolution. Toonami Midnight Run airs weeknights on Cartoon Network from 12 midnight to 1 a.m. (ET, PT).

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 73.1 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network also showcases unique original ventures such as Sheep in the Big City, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Mike, Lu & Og, The Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter’s Laboratory and Cartoon Cartoons. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable’s highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network’s Web site is located at http://CartoonNetwork.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Bandai Entertainment Inc. is the premier distributor of Japanese animation home video in North America. They have

distributed such notable titles like “Mobile Suit Gundam” series, “Escaflowne”, “Cowboy Bebop”, and “The Big O ”. Bandai

Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai America Inc., toy manufacturer of the hit television series, Power Rangers and

Digimon. For more information, please visit the Bandai Entertainment website at www.Bandai-Ent.com