Fox Announces Two New Animated Series, “Allen Gregory” and “Napoleon Dynamite”

[Editor’s Note: As part of today’s announcement of Fox’s 2011-2012 Primetime Schedule, two new animated series will be joining the network. Actor Jonah Hill’s Allen Gregory and an animated spin-off of the live-action film Napoleon Dynamite. Here’s the information from the press release.]

Allen Gregory (Sundays, 8:30pm EST)

Allen Gregory is a new animated comedy series that tells the story of one of the most pretentious 7-year-olds of our time. When he looks in the mirror, Allen Gregory De Longpre (Jonah Hill, Superbad, Get Him To The Greek) doesn’t see a child. He sees a young man who is intelligent, sophisticated, worldly, artistic and romantic — characteristics he inherited from his doting father, Richard (French Stewart, Private Practice, 3rd Rock From The Sun). The pair share an extraordinary father-son bond — a bond that is sometimes annoyingly interrupted by Richard’s life partner, Jeremy (Nat Faxon, The Cleveland Show, Reno 911!), for whom Allen Gregory has minimal respect, if any at all. They live together in a stunning architectural loft, along with Julie (Joy Osmanski, Grey’s Anatomy), Allen Gregory’s adopted Cambodian sister. Although Allen Gregory has allegedly composed operas, written novels and dated Chloë Sevigny, he’s about to embark on his greatest challenge yet: leaving the safety of his father’s homeschooling and attending elementary school with children his own age. His journey will be a struggle, not only with the other kids at school, but with the faculty as well. Whether it’s the all-out rivalry with Gina Winthrop  (guest voice Leslie Mann, Funny People), his by-the-book second grade teacher; his unique relationship with Judith Gottlieb (guest voice Renée Taylor, How I Met Your Mother), his 68-year-old principal; or his desperate desire to be best friends with Joel Zadak (guest voice Jake Johnson, Get Him to the Greek), the school’s popular stud, Allen Gregory has his work cut out for him. With the help of his trusty friend and assistant, Patrick Vanderweel (Cristina Pucelli, Finley the Fire Engine); and the support of Superintendent Stewart Rossmyre (Will Forte, Saturday Night Live), who believes the De Longpres are a tremendous asset to the school, Allen Gregory won’t have to get his hands too dirty. Allen Gregory is about an outsider. And while he may put on a tough exterior, deep down, all Allen Gregory wants is to fit in. Well, that, and for Julie to run away and never be seen or heard from again. And Jeremy too.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Chernin Entertainment

CREATORS: Jonah Hill, Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jonah Hill, Andrew Mogel, Jarrad Paul, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, David A. Goodman

VOICE CAST: Jonah Hill as Allen Gregory De Longpre, Nat Faxon as Jeremy, French Stewart as Richard, Joy Osmanski as Julie, Cristina Pucelli as Patrick, Will Forte as Superintendent Rossmyre

GUEST VOICE CAST: Leslie Mann as Ms. Winthrop, Jake Johnson as Joel, Renée Taylor as Principal Gottlieb

Napoleon Dynamite (Midseason, Unscheduled)

Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho. The original cast from the film — Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader — will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way. Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced — for no apparent reason — that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited “sweet abilities.” He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his “girlfriend in Oklahoma” whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon’s brother, Kip (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for any girl who would respond to his online come-ons. The Dynamite brothers live with Grandma (Martin), a crusty woman who can often be found four-wheeling with her lady friends at the local sand dunes. Napoleon’s allies include Pedro (Ramirez), his unflappable best friend who has recently been elected class president; and Deb (Majorino), an incredibly sweet girl who sees the good in Napoleon and dreams of someday being his wife. Napoleon’s Uncle Rico (Gries) lives out of an orange custom van, where he obsesses over his botched high school football career and dreams up ways to become rich and famous. Then there’s Rex Kwon Do (Bader), a self-proclaimed martial-arts master who runs the local dojo. Guest voices in the debut season include Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie, Legally Blonde), Sam Rockwell (Choke) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords).

PRODUCTION COMPANY: 20th Century Fox Television

CREATORS/EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike Scully

VOICE CAST: Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite, Jon Gries as Uncle Rico, Aaron Ruell as Kip, Efren Ramirez as Pedro, Diedrich Bader as Rex, Tina Majorino as Deb, Sandy Martin as Grandma