August 4-10, 2005

mixpicks

Tooned Out

child's play

Cable television has never been opposed to fat kids plopping down on the couch, channel surfing their way through a Dexter's Laboratory marathon. Seducing little Johnny and Susie is the whole point, right? But when the kids get too lumpy and the Governator wants to "pump, them up," TV execs stand and deliver. Hence, Cartoon Network's "Get Animated," a 30-city tour projecting Obese America guilt onto a cartoon-themed playground complete with a wall-climbing tower, basketball competitions, hula hoops, jump ropes and a dubiously named hockey maze. The "pro-social, pro-lifestyle" program, intended for children ages 6 to 14, promotes healthy eating and exercise through the use of Cartoon Network shows and characters. Hard to believe a kid will pass up a can of Pizza Pringles to play outside like Puffy AmiYumi, but at least the sentiment (or marketing genius) is there.

"Get Animated," Fri.-Sat., Aug. 5-6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Wiggins Park, Camden, www.cartoonnetwork.com/promos/getanimated.

—Andrew Parks