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TV

By Kate O’Hara

©2003 Tribune Media Services Ins.

NEW TOONS...On Aug. 1, Nickelodeon premieres "My Life as a Teenage Robot," its newest prime-time animated series. Spun off from Nick’s "Oh, Yeah! Cartoons" franchise, the series is the creation of Rob Renzetti ("Dexter’s Laboratory," "The Powerpuff Girls"), who is executive producer with "Oh, Yeah!" creator Fred Seibert ("The Fairly Oddparents," "ChalkZone").

Although she’s blue and metallic and has a full complement of futuristic tools, Jenny’s (voice by Janice Kawaye) inner personality is that of a typical teen, to the eternal exasperation of her creator, mad scientist Mrs. Wakeman (voice by Candi Milo).

Jenny’s closest friend is her next-door neighbors, older brother Brad (voice by Chad Doreck) and his neurotic little brother, Tuck (voice by Audrey Wasilewski). They keep Jenny grounded as she saves the world from various enemies, including the evil Vexus (voice by Eartha Kitt).

"‘My Life as a Teenage Robot’ captures the essence of being a kid who wants to fit in," says Cyma Zarghami, Nick’s executive vice president and general manager. "Regardless of her extraordinary talents and circumstance, Jenny is dealing with very ordinary adolescent issues."

While "Teenage Robot" shows the influence of Japanese animation in its geometric shapes and bright colors, fans of more traditional animation can tune into the Saturday-morning series "Duck Dodgers," which premieres Aug. 23 on Cartoon Network.

It showcases classic Looney Tunes characters Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they protect Earth in the 24th and a half century. Dodgers (Daffy Duck) awakens 351 years after being frozen inside a spacecraft in the 21st century. Through scheming and lies, he convinces the Earth’s Defensive Protectorate that he is a hero of his own time. He’s given a starship and a crew, including Space Cadet (Porky Pig). Together they defend Earth against Martian Commander X-E (Marvin the Martian). Each half-hour episode features two 11-minute cartoons.