Toonami Infolink - Naruto Premieres with Real Ultimate Power!

U.S. Premiere of Top-rated Japanese Program Posts Big Increases Among Target Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14

The highly anticipated U.S. premiere of well-known Japanese anime series Naruto (Saturday, 9 p.m.) carved double-digit ratings and delivery gains among Cartoon Network’s targeted kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 demos, according to Nielsen Media Research. The compelling series that centers around Uzumaki Naruto, a rebellious ninja-in-training, rightfully took its place as a new anchor for Cartoon Network’s TOONAMI, a signature action-adventure franchise that plays Saturday nights from 7-11 p.m. (ET/PT).

(You will want to click "Read More" for the numbers!)

Highlights of Naruto’s performance vs. the same time period over the last four weeks on Cartoon Network include the following:

Naruto (Saturdays, 9 p.m.)

- Tweens 9-14 delivery (572,000) increased by 20% and ratings (2.3) by 21%.
- Kids 6-11 delivery (575,000) expanded by 15% and ratings (2.4) by 14%.
- Tween boys 9-14 delivery (443,000) and ratings (3.5) both surged by 25%.
- Boys 6-11 delivery (432,000) jumped by 16% and ratings (3.5) by 17%.

The Saturday night replay of Naruto (10 p.m.) was the highest-rated program of the week on Cartoon Network with tweens 9-14 (2.8/700,000) and tween boys 9-14 (4.7/594,000).

Naruto is an adaptation of the popular manga series Naruto created by Masahi Kishimoto. Cartoon Network acquired 52 episodes of the anime series about an orphan 12-year-old who trains to become a respected master ninja, unaware that his body houses the evil spirit of the Nine Tailed Fox which had ravaged his home town and now offers special powers that must be controlled. The series already has a huge fan base in the U.S. through DVD sales and bootleg tapes, having first aired in Japan and Asia in 2002. Its debut on Cartoon Network will mark the first time the series has been shown in English.