Butt Ugly Martians invade the US

In the US, kids' cable network Nickelodeon has picked up rights to Just Entertainment's action-adventure toon Butt Ugly Martians for an airing in Q1 2002.

The $8m 26×30' cgi series was developed by Mike Young Productions and co-produced with Just Entertainment and Hong Kong toon studio DCDC. It follows a bunch of unruly aliens who come to earth to invade but end up hanging out with some human kids scoffing pizza and burgers instead.

The Nickelodeon pick up is Just Group's first major US network sale. The show has so far been sold into 20 territories, with other licensing deals already signed with Hasbro, Burger King, Hallmark and Frito Lay.

The show features the voices of Charlie Schlatter (Diagnosis Murder), Rob Paulsen (The Mask) and Jess Harnell (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) as the aesthetically-challenged extraterrestrials. Robert Stack (The Untouchables) also stars.

Butt Ugly Martians made its premiere in the UK on ITV in February.