Poncho Balón (also known as Poncho Football in English) is a series of Mexican animated television shorts that ran on Canal 5 during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[2] It aired a total of 31 shorts. The show stars Humberto Vélez as the title character, who is best known for dubbing Homer Simpson in the Spanish-language version of The Simpsons.[1]

Poncho Balón
GenreSlapstick
Comedy
Adventure
Created byCarlos Cuarón
René Castillo
Juan Elias Tovar
Luis Usablaca
Directed byRené Castillo
StarringHumberto Vélez[1]
ComposerÁlvaro Ruiz
Country of originMexico
Original languagesSpanish
English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes31[1]
Production
ProducersCarlos Cuarón
René Castillo
Fernando de Fuentes
José C. Garcia de Letona
Running time2 minutes[1]
Production companiesÁnima Estudios
Estación Espacial
Original release
NetworkCanal 5
ReleaseJune 5 (2006-06-05) –
July 5, 2006 (2006-07-05)[1]

The series was produced by Ánima Estudios and Estación Espacial and was created by Carlos Cuarón, René Castillo, Juan Elias Tovar, and Luis Usablaca.[2]

Plot

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The plot revolves on a clumsy, dim-witted, anthropomorphic soccer ball, named Poncho, who's trying to achieve his dreams of playing for the 2006 World Cup Final in Germany. As he journeys around the world, he faces a series of shenanigans and failed attempts while reaching to his final destination.[3]

Broadcast history

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Poncho Balón is broadcast on the following stations worldwide:[3]

Region Network(s)
  Mexico Canal 5/TDN
  UNASUR FOX Sports
  USA Univisión
  Ecuador Teleamazonas
  Peru Frecuencia Latina
  Colombia Caracol
  Honduras Canal 11
  Guatemala PCS

Feature film adaptation

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Due to successful ratings, co-creators and producers, René Castillo and Luis Usabiaga, have announced that an animated feature film based on the television shorts is in development.[4] The producers also said they wanted to achieve the similar success with Pixar movies and possibly earn an Academy Award nomination with this film.[5] It will be set during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[6] Originally planned for a 2012 and 2014 release,[4] the film is currently in production and was expected to be released sometime in 2015, produced by Kaxan Animation in Guadalajara, produced in English.[5][6][7] It is currently unknown if Ánima Estudios, the producer of the television shorts, will be involved in the project.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Poncho Balón va a la final Archived 2008-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b ANIMA ESTUDIOS COPRODUCES 'PONCHO SUCKERBALL' WITH ESTACION ESPACIAL
  3. ^ a b Narran aventuras de Poncho Balón rumbo a Alemania (in Spanish)
  4. ^ a b Manuel Badillo, Juan (10 July 2009). "Filmarán la película de Poncho Balón". Mundo 52 (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b Gutiérrez Franco, Laura (21 January 2012). "Con "Poncho Balón", Kaxan Group quiere ir al Oscar". Axópolis. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  6. ^ a b ""Poncho Balón" protagonizará película en Mundial 2014". 14 December 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b Huerta, Cesar (14 December 2011). "Poncho Balón rodará de nuevo". El Universal (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2014.
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