Cartoon Network Celebrates New Year's Eve with 17 Straight Episodes of Naruto

8 ½-Hour Marathon of Toonami's Highly Rated Animé Series Airs Saturday, Dec. 31, and Includes All-New Episode

Tune into Toonami this New Year's Eve to watch the unfolding of the story of Uzumaki Naruto, a determined ninja student. On Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at 2:30 p.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network will air 17 consecutive episodes of the popular Toonami animé series Naruto. The eight-and-a-half-hour-marathon will conclude with the premiere of an all-new episode at 10:30 p.m. (ET, PT). The global hit has shown impressive ratings since its September 2005 premiere date and continues to show double-digit ratings and delivery growth.

Naruto is one of Toonami's highest-rated animé series and has shown consistent growth across Fourth Quarter 2005. The 10 p.m. (ET, PT) airing has increased kids 9-14 average delivery by 18% and ratings by 17%. Among kids 6-11, average delivery has improved by 15% while ratings have grown 14%.

Twelve years ago, when the evil Nine-Tailed Fox demon terrorized The Hidden Leaf Village, the Fourth Lord Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the demon inside the body of the baby Naruto in order to end the decimation. For fear that the powers within would be abused, a rule was made that forbade anyone to tell Naruto that he possessed the spirit of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Raised as an orphan and with no one believing in him, Naruto grew up unaware of the reason that the villagers shunned him.

Now a teenager, Naruto attempts to earn the respect of the villagers by training to become the Village Hokage, the top ninja in the village. As a student at the ninja academy, he is earnest and hardworking, yet clumsy. As Naruto develops as a ninja, he must learn to control his special powers to become the respected master ninja.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.