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U.S.'s Cartoon Network to Launch Beyblade: Metal Fusion

America's Cartoon Network has announced during its Advertising Upfront presentation in New York City on Wednesday that it will debut the Beyblade: Metal Fusion anime series. As the newest anime series based on the Beyblade spinning top game and manga franchise, Beyblade: Metal Fusion premiered in Japan last April under the name Metal Fight Beyblade. The "Metal" in the new anime and toy line's name is a reference to the use of metal in the new tops, instead of just plastic as in the earlier incarnations.

The Canadian television production company Corus Entertainment is bringing the same series to Canada's YTV on May 15. The North American production company Nelvana Enterprises is co-producing the anime with Japan's d-rights. Takara-Tomy is producing the toys which Hasbro will sell worldwide except in the Middle East and Asia starting this spring. Nelvana, d-rights, Takara-Tomy, and Hasbro had partnered on all the previous Beyblade incarnations.

Corus describes the plot as the following:

Following the Let it Rip phenomena that took over the TV screens and playgrounds in 2002, Beyblade makes its much anticipated return with a brand new generation of characters who take on the battle between good and evil. Competing for dominance with their spinning Beyblade tops, the perilous organization of the Dark Nebula is vying for world domination. The only person standing in their way is teenager Gingka, who struggles to find his strength to honour Beyblade and save the world.

Takara-Tomy launched the original game franchise in 1999, and sponsored three anime series between 2001 and 2003: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 (Beyblade: V-Force), and Bakuten Shoot Beyblade G-Revolution. New Beyblade episodes have not aired in the United States since 2005. Viz Media released Takao Aoki's original Beyblade manga, and Takafumi Adachi launched his new Metal Fight Beyblade manga in Shogakukan's Coro-Coro Comic magazine in 2008.

Cartoon Network also confirmed that the Bakugan and Pokémon anime series will return during the 2010-2011 season.

Thanks to Justin Haire and XtremeAnimeDan for the news tips.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Toonzone

Image © Takafumi Adachi, MFBB Project, TV Tokyo