New Animated Series Make Inroads in Ratings

September 14, 2012, 4:21 pm

By ADAM W. KEPLER

Now that youngsters have headed off to school, it seems like a good time to take a look back at the animated shows they â€" and their parents â€" watched over the summer.

According to Nielsen data, some new cartoons came to the forefront over the last three months, joining a few old favorites in the battle for children's attention and affection.

The Disney Channel enjoyed immediate success with two new shows, “Doc McStuffins” and “Gravity Falls.” “Doc McStuffins,” which made its debut in March, features a six-year-old who heals her toys. It was the No. 1 show for in the 2-to-5-year-old set during the summer months and drew an average of 2.1 million total viewers, ensuring that pare nts will not be able to get the “Time for Your Check Up” song out of their heads.

“Gravity Falls” follows the adventures of the 12-year-old twins Dipper and Mabel Pines as they spend their summer in a peculiar museum owned by their great uncle. The show had its premiere in June and has averaged 3.7 million total viewers. It was the No. 2 program in all kids' demographics behind only “Phineas and Ferb,” another Disney animated series that averaged 3.8 million total viewers.

On Nickelodeon, certain stalwarts continued to draw in viewers of all ages. “SpongeBob SquarePants” averaged 3 million total viewers, speaking to the longevity of a children's series that had
its debut 13 years ago. “The Legend of Korra” a sequel to the popular show “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” averaged 4.3 million viewers, the highest audience total for an animated show.

Elsewhere, Cartoon Network filled the role of upstart, replacing Saturday morning wi th Monday night as a haven for cartoons aimed at children, especially boys. The schedule is led by “Adventure
Time,” starring the fist-bumping Finn and his dog friend, Jake, and “Regular Show,” which follows Mordecai, a blue jay, and his friend Rigby, a raccoon, who also enjoy a good fist-bump. Both
shows recorded 28 percent increases in viewers 2 to 11 when compared to figures from the summer of 2011. “Adventure Time” averaged 3.6 million total viewers, “Regular Show, 3.4 million - suggesting strong word-of-mouth around the jungle gym.