Teens 'morph' into animals to save world from 'Yeerks'

We all know that kids are constantly changing, and that sometimes they act like animals. In "Animorphs" (8:30 p.m., Nickelodeon, TV-Y7) they do both! Based on the best-selling series of books by K.A. Applegate, "Animorphs" is the story of five teens who are given the heavy burden of saving the world from an imminent invasion by an alien race of "Yeerks," sluglike creatures who climb into the ears of humans and take over their bodies, making them "Human-Controllers." Luckily, they are endowed with a special power by a friendly alien prince called Elfangor. He gives them the power to change into any animal they choose.

Led by Jake (Shawn Ashmore), this band of serious teens, including Rachel (Brooke Nevin), Marco (Boris Cabrera), Cassie (Nadia Nascimento) and Tobias (Christopher Ralph) take on the Yeerks in a dizzying array of animal guises. The special effects that allow Jake to become a dog and change back to a teen are both realistic and a little creepy. The digital photo effect is enhanced by the slurpy sound of flesh and bones shifting into new shapes.

Capturing both the urgency and absurdity of adolescence, "Animorphs" is sure to be a hit with kids and young teens who are experiencing their own emotional and hormonal metamorphosis. At the same time, this show has a brooding, paranoid quality to it that some parents may wish to monitor. With a prevailing philosophy of "trust no one," "Animorphs" is closer in spirit to "The X-Files" than "Rugrats."

Director Richard Linklater presents a 24-hour slice of life at a Texas high school in 1976 in the 1993 drama "Dazed and Confused" (11 p.m., USA), a fine little film that never gets too gross, cruel or sentimental. The great cast includes Parker Posey, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich and Ben Affleck.

Tonight's other highlights

Scheduled on "Dateline" (8 p.m., NBC): an updated report on a Montana siege.

Billy Zane ("Titanic") and Gina Gershon ("Bound") portray sibling grifters in the 1997 crime drama "This World, Then the Fireworks" (8 p.m., Cinemax) based on a novel by Jim Thompson.

Top players and coaches discuss the upcoming season on "NFL Summer Camp" (9 p.m., CBS).

A teen-ager is found dead after a wild party on a repeat of "Law & Order" (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Employee-owned businesses are featured on "Livelyhood" (9 p.m., PBS, check local listings).

Retired Navy SEALs turn to crime on "Nash Bridges" (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14, L, V).

An off-duty officer is killed in a restaurant robbery on a repeat of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).

Homicides keep happening at a New Age retreat in the conclusion of "Midsomer Murders: Death in Disguise" (10 p.m., A&E, TV-PG).

Scheduled on "20/20" (10 p.m., ABC): a report on "the nanny state"; updated report on a dying mother's video testament; college binge drinking.

Helena Bonham Carter portrays the Soviet-born wife of an alleged assassin in the 1993 TV drama "Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald" (10 p.m., History Channel, TV-G).

Cult choice

Foreign film buffs rejoice! Turner Classic Movies presents all-night marathons of films by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman every Friday night this month. The 1959 drama "Virgin Spring" (8 p.m., TV-14, V), starring Max Von Sydow begins the series.

Late night

Actor Jason Patric, music group Eve 6 and Stupid Human Tricks are featured on "Late Show With David Letterman" (11:35 p.m., CBS). The rest are repeats.