ReBoot was one the first completely computer-animated TV series. But you're taking it in a different direction with the live-action hybrid. What led to that decision?

I know people are getting a little bit caught up in it, and it's interesting because I do read some of the fan boards and stuff. It's not easy to reboot a series. I think probably there have been four attempts [to revive ReBoot]. One thing I was told when I took over as president [of Rainmaker Entertainment] is, "Whatever you do, don't make ReBoot the first project you bring out." I was flat out told that by somebody who's actually a great friend and colleague, too. "Don't make it your first one. Your predecessors have tried to do it. It hasn't worked." Well, you know, I love a challenge. And I listen. For the year before I came up with what the new concept, I talked with people. I talked with broadcasters around the world. The one [resounding] thing — and I hate to break it to the fans — was nobody wanted the reboot of what [the show originally] was. Nobody was willing to buy it.

"For me, What is important is kid empowerment."

So that's where the live action comes in?

Well that's where the concept came in. My thing at the end of the day is "how do I engage a new generation of kids?" When you're rebooting something, that's great, you can reboot it. But you have also got to look and say, "What else is out there? How is the show going to stand out, and how are kids going to feel engaged?"

For me, what is important is kid empowerment. I have a son. My son wants to be Austin (one of the four teens in the new series). He wants to be a Guardian. That's what I want to do with it. I want to basically inspire kids, and adults. [This is] what the live-action element allowed us to do. We couldn't do that if [the action] all stayed within a device.

"The Focus of the show is Still Animated. it's still CG animation."

There was also interest in reaching a broad base. [We weren't] just trying to create an action-adventure show that would be boy-driven. We're really trying to bring ReBoot forward [in a way] that's inspiring for a new generation of kids — whether they're boys [or] girls.

In a rough breakdown out of a 22-minute episode — it's roughly seven minutes of live action and 14, 15 minutes of animation — the focus of the show is still animated. It's still CG animation.

How much of the original crew is involved?

I would say almost a third of our [production] company people had worked on the original ReBoot series.

As far as writers and stuff, as we're going forward, we're certainly going to talk with everybody. In some cases everyone has to realize that for some people, it's been 20 years since they might have first started work on it. Kids' television has changed a lot. Some of the writers aren't writing anymore. But we're definitely reaching out and definitely will be reaching out and engaging people all across the board. As much as we want to move forward, we're certainly looking to take along the essence of what made ReBoot such a fantastic show from the very beginning.