YES swings for Yankees-themed animated show ‘Bronx Buds’

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YES Network is bringing back the nostalgic charm of Saturday morning cartoons with a new animated series on the New York Yankees, “Hexclad Presents Bronx Buds,” premiering on August 17 through the YES app. This baseball-themed children’s show follows the adventures of a fictional youth baseball team from the Bronx, known as The Pinstripes. The Yankees-themed series will be available to registered YES app users within the network’s coverage area and to subscribers of the national feed.

The Yankees-inspired show features contributions from Tzero Studios co-founders Justin Shenkarow and Tom Borowski, who will lend their voices to some of the characters. Each episode, running approximately seven minutes, will debut every Saturday. The series has already been greenlit for a second season.

“There’s just that authenticity of real kids, plus the diversity of real kids, and that New York sound,” he said.

Shenkarow explained that the Yankees-themed series was tailored specifically for YES and its app, with a central focus on sports. Jason Feneque, YES’s senior director of distribution and special projects, emphasized that this initiative is aimed at expanding its appeal to younger sports fans, describing it as part of a forward-thinking strategy. When asked about the possibility of the Yankees-based series airing on the linear network, Feneque suggested potential future developments but did not provide any definitive answers.

YES rides Yankees to rejuvenate business

The New York Yankees’ YES Network is breaking new ground with its first animated series, “HexClad Presents Bronx Buds,” in an effort to rejuvenate the regional sports network business and attract a younger audience. The series, debuting on Saturday, August 17, follows the adventures of a youth baseball team from the Bronx called The Pinstripes. It will be available exclusively on the YES app, with production managed by Tzero Studios.

Jason Feneque, senior director of distribution & special projects at YES, stated that the primary goal is to foster the next generation of baseball fans. This move signifies a strategic effort to diversify the offerings of regional sports networks owned by the Yankees.

Justin Shenkarow, founder of Tzero Studios, highlighted that “Bronx Buds” seeks to revive the tradition of Saturday morning cartoons, which has diminished in the streaming era dominated by platforms like Netflix and YouTube. He reminisced about the joy of watching cartoons with family over a bowl of cereal, noting the bonding experience it provided.

“We missed the nostalgia of waking up having a bowl of cereal, throwing on those Saturday morning cartoons, and also watching them with your parents and with your family and that bonding experience,” he claimed. “We realized there was such a great opportunity to create a cartoon that spoke to sports fans, and really we weren’t seeing that. And we love sports, we love animation, and the show we wanted to create around the Bronx.”

Shenkarow also mentioned that the show aims to fill a niche for sports-themed cartoons, blending their passion for both sports and animation to create content that resonates with young sports fans. The Bronx setting adds a unique flavor to the series, reflecting the studio’s commitment to creating relatable and engaging stories.

The YES Network, home of the New York Yankees, is set to launch its first animated series, “HexClad Presents Bronx Buds,” with episodes designed to be brief, running approximately seven minutes each. Justin Shenkarow, co-founder of Tzero Studios, emphasized the importance of casting real child actors to voice the young characters, drawing from his own experience as a voice actor on the Nickelodeon series “Hey Arnold!”

Shenkarow believes that real children bring authenticity to the roles, along with diverse backgrounds and distinctive New York Yankees accents, adding a layer of genuineness to the production. This approach aligns with the series’ aim to reflect the vibrant, multicultural environment of the Bronx.

“Bronx Buds” represents a new form of original programming for YES Network, connecting to Yankees baseball without focusing solely on game coverage. The YES app, which already features content about food and local Bronx businesses, will now expand its offerings with this animated series.

Shenkarow highlighted that “Bronx Buds” is an original intellectual property, setting it apart from the trend of reworking existing IPs. He expressed a desire to create something fresh and innovative that resonates with Yankee fans and attracts a new audience. The show revolves around themes of Yankees baseball, adventure, and community, portraying children coming together through their love of the sport.

This initiative by YES Network marks a strategic move to diversify its content, engage younger viewers, and create original programming that extends beyond traditional sports coverage, potentially setting a new standard in the regional sports network industry exploiting the Yankees’ appeal.

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