Disney Interactive is planning several games based on the upcoming animated feature film, A Bug's Life. Photo by Joe Szadkowski.

More Disney films finding new life as electronic games can be found from THQ, Inc. who is releasing cartridges for the Game Boy based on Disney's Mulan and the Disney/Pixar A Bug's Life. A Bug's Life will be an action/adventure game for the hand-held system featuring dozens of characters from the film and nine levels of game play. It is conveniently scheduled to be released in time for Christmas.

Fans of A Bug's Life will also want to stay alert for the November release of the Disney Interactive CD-ROM based on the movie. An action/adventure game for children ages three to seven, the film's characters are brought to life for interactive activities that promote on-screen and off-screen play.

Mulan for Game Boy lets fans of the film continue the battles being fought by Fa Mulan, a young woman who disguises herself as a soldier in order to regain her family name honor. An action/adventure game, players will enjoy solving puzzles and engaging in battles as they work through ten levels of gameplay. Game Boy fans will find Mulan by THQ, Inc. on retailers' shelves in July.

Onto the Small Screen
Expanding their playing field, THQ, Inc. will also release Rugrats for Nintendo 64, PlayStation and Game Boy beginning in November. A non-linear, third person, action/adventure game, players control their favorite characters of the Emmy Award-winning Nickelodeon animated series. The game provides players with a below-the-knees perspective of fully explorable environments and objects.

American television cartoons, Blue's Clues and South Park were very notable at E3. There was a lot of excitement around Acclaim Entertainment's display of the core South Park characters Cartman, Kyle, Stan and, of course, Kenny. The PC video game allows players to kill the ever-reincarnated Kenny and should be available sometime in 1999.

Part of the Nickelodeon dynasty of children's entertainment includes Blue's Clues, the educational television series featuring the flop-eared Blue and pals. The CD-ROM programs bring the television show to interactive life and allows young players to touch, move and interact with Blue's world. Being released from Humongous Entertainment and Nickelodeon, Blue's Clues will initially include two programs, "Blue's Birthday Adventures" and "Blue's ABC Time Activities." Each program will be filled with activities and learning fun found in the television show. Fans will find the Humongous Entertainment CD-ROMs on retailers' shelves this fall.

Favorite animated shows for children and adults alike are Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain and Looney Tunes, all from Warner Brothers. SouthPeak Interactive has been awarded the license to create interactive CD-ROM programs featuring the studio's cast of animated characters and clips.

The Looney Tunes Jigsaw Puzzles line includes: The Complete Bugs; Cosmic Capers with Marvin the Martian; Assorted Nuts starring Taz and Wuv; and Marriage highlighting the romantic escapades of Pepe Le' Peu. All present one and two sided puzzles showing scenes from more than 20 Looney Tunes releases. Looney Tunes Jigsaw Puzzles will be released for the PC in fall.

Pinky & The Brain World Conquest challenges players with an arcade-style strategy game. The playing field is a series of mazes where gamers must build, destroy and move walls while claiming territory. For solo-play or as a multi-player game with up to eight participants connected via a modem, Pinky & The Brain will be available this fall for PC play.

Travel the Warner Brothers Studios "back-lot" in the Animaniacs Adventure Game. Players assume the identity of popular characters in order to thwart the evil plan of Thaddeus J. Plot to destroy the old Animaniacs' films. Animaniacs will be on store shelves for PCs this fall.