OF, BY AND FOR THE CHILDREN : Hanna-Barbera’s 5-part ‘Dark Water’ stirs the magical mind on Fox

Fantasy, adventure and mystery are all part of “Dark Water,” a brand-new animated miniseries--yes, miniseries. No ordinary cartoon, “Dark Water” is touted as Hanna-Barbera Productions’ most elaborate and ambitious project ever, running over five days on Fox.

Set on the dying watery planet of Mer, the story is about Ren, a 17-year-old warrior who sets out on a quest to save his kingdom. He must find the magical Thirteen Treasures of Rule, which once were the life force of the kingdom but have been stolen by an evil power. Along the way, Ren and his friends encounter bizarre and unique creatures (many of whom have celebrity voices) and learn some lessons about the nature of good and evil.

“Dark Water” Monday-Friday, 4:30-5 p.m. Fox. For all ages.

MORE KIDS SHOWS

A trio of sci-fi films features more clashes between good and evil: “Tron” (Sunday 10 a.m.-noon KTLA) is about a video-game designer who must do battle with one of his own creations. In “Time Bandits” (Sunday 3-5 p.m. KTLA), a kid goes back in time to meet Napoleon, Robin Hood and other legendary characters. And “Legend” is about a young hero who must save the world from darkness and rescue a princess. For ages 10 and up.

Anybody who has ever felt picked on or unappreciated will enjoy “Stories From Growing Up” (Sunday 12:30-1 p.m. and 6:30-7 p.m. Nickelodeon), in which Jamie Lee Curtis and Hulk Hogan relate painful moments from their childhoods that later, of course, helped shape the kinds of people they are today. For ages 8 and up.

Teen Bohemian River Phoenix is all over the small screen this week. He’s featured in the 1988 movie “Little Nikita” (Sunday 3-5 p.m. and Thursday 8-10 p.m. KCOP), about a teen who learns his parents are Soviet agents. And in 1988’s “Running on Empty” (Monday 8-10:30 p.m. KCOP), he’s a teen whose parents are on the lam from the law. For ages 16 and up.

Amazing special effects and lots of cuteness abound in “Willow” (Monday 7:30-10:30 p.m. KTTV), Ron Howard’s 1988 adventure about a diminutive hero off on an adventure to abolish an evil queen. For ages 8 and up.

A couple of great Disney nature movies, “The Living Desert” (Wednesday 8-9 p.m. KTTV) and “Jungle Cat” (Wednesday 9-10 p.m. KTTV) bring the outdoors indoors. For all ages.

“Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters” (Thursday 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. HBO) is a collection of the looniest cartoons of the famous quackpot. For all ages.

Local math teacher/hero/movie subject Jaime Escalante and his students star in “Futures” (Mondays 2:30-3 p.m. KCET), a 12-part series designed to motivate students in math by showing how math relates to the real world. For 13- to 18-year-olds.

On “Kids-TV: Endangered Species” (Thursday at Showtime), which is set in a fictional newsroom, the gang devotes a show to endangered animals and habitats. For 2- to 6-year-olds.

Dog lovers will wag their tails in delight over “All Dogs Go to Heaven” (Saturday 7-8:30 p.m. the Disney Channel), the 1989 animated film making its world television premiere. It’s about a group of canines and a little girl who can talk to animals. For ages 4 and up.

In “Home at Last” (Saturday 6-7 p.m. the Disney Channel), a street-wise urchin from Manhattan is taken in by a Swedish farm family. For 6- to 12-year-olds.