Home video releases for June 16 include the DVD/Blu-ray debut of FRIDAY THE 13TH (2009), as well as five previous installments on DVD and Blu-ray. LOST seasons one and two make their Blu-ray bow, as does SPACEBALLS and GHOSTBUSTERS to Blu-ray. Throw in some FAMILY GUY, THE TRANSFORMERS, TOM AND JERRY, THOMAS & FRIENDS and GARFIELD DVDs, and you have a party!
On Monday, a Russian court dropped the lawsuit against adult cartoon channel 2X2 for their airing of SOUTH PARK, per VARIETY. A religious group had alleged the show stirs up national hatred.
Last year, the case was brought by the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, who said one episode in particular, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics," "insulted the feelings of religious believers and incited religious and national hatred."
Officially kicking the summer television season into high gear, Cartoon Network's newest animated series TOTAL DRAMA ACTION premiered Thursday night (June 11, 9 p.m.) as the most-watched program of the day on all television-broadcast and cable-among kids 6-11, kids 9-14 and boys 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research.
Hong Kong, June 15, 2009 -- As part of a new output deal, Cartoon Network, the number one channel for kids in Asia Pacific, will become home to Marvel's universe of super-heroes in the region. The world's most recognizable and iconic denizens of the comic world will be powering their way onto the channel with the likes of the MARVEL SUPER HERO SQUAD, THE AVENGERS and THOR.
THUMB WRESTLING FEDERATION: TWF, the wildly popular kids' TV series, continues to wrestle its way through Latin America, announcing today that it has picked up a new team of broadcasters. TWF will be hitting the airwaves on Cadena Tres in Mexico, RedeTV! in Brazil, Telemundo in Puerto Rico, America TV in Peru, Televisora Hondurena in Honduras, Red Uno in Bolivia, and Ecuavisa in Ecuador. TWF has already found success in Latin America on Cartoon Network, where it will continue to air.
Press Release from Smith Micro Software, Inc.
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI) Productivity and Graphics Group today announced the availability of Anime Studio Debut 6. Anime Studio Debut 6 offers a comprehensive set of easy-to-use animation tools that help hobbyists, artists, and students create animations and cartoons for home videos, school projects, or their websites, and even share them via popular social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.
June 9 2009 Budapest, Hungary / London , UK -- Animation company GreyKid Pictures has rebranded as Freakish Kid and is announcing its new blogsite, www.freakishkid.com. The blog was designed and created in-house. Director/Producer Stu Gamble says, "We're very excited about the new direction the company is taking. We want the new site to raise our profile worldwide and create fresh opportunities. It looks great and provides access to all Freakish Kid projects, past and present."
Disney Channels Worldwide has ordered a third season of the Emmy-nominated hit series "Phineas and Ferb" for its Disney XD and Disney Channel platforms. Created and executive-produced by Dan Povenmire ("Family Guy") and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh ("The Simpsons" and "Rocko's Modern Life") and featuring a notable voice cast, the series is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation.
Munich/London, 8 June 2009 -- Following successful worldwide sales of the first Season, TV-Loonland and French broadcaster Gulli TV have commissioned a further two brand new Seasons of the hit animated comedy series RAYMOND. This sharp and quirky series is produced by Paris based production company Everybody on Deck, the addition of 52 hilarious new episodes of 7 minutes will complement the existing 26 episodes of the show.
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) and Hot Topic are serving up a chain-wide retail exclusive for two of the network's top-rated original comedy series, CHOWDER and FLAPJACK. The recently-launched program features juniors t-shirts and fashion tops from Now and Zen, the brands' previously-announced apparel partner, as well as a full range of all-new accessories from Loungefly, including totes, key chains and buttons.
LAS VEGAS -- Disney Consumer Products (DCP) today announced new content and product line extensions behind its renowned portfolio of character franchises starting with the return of the classic TOY STORY franchise, the addition of two Disney Princess characters, new Mickey Mouse initiatives, a new Winnie the Pooh theatrical movie and the expansion of the Disney Fairies film series.
Cartoon Competition from Fantoche and Swiss Youth HostelDeadline: August 16, 2009
To celebrate the 85th anniversary of Swiss Youth Hostels, Fantoche is joining forces with them to launch a unique competition. Everyone, whether young or old, professional or amateur, is invited to send us an animated film. We're looking for your animated film stories that play out in and around Swiss youth hostels. The animation film competition is being advertised worldwide.
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) and The LEGO Group today announced a global agreement that adds the BEN 10 franchise to the world's leading construction toy manufacturer's portfolio of only the best licenses in construction toy form. The deal marks the first time the two companies have partnered on product development, and will bring Cartoon Network's global sensation boy brand to life in a full line of construction toys based on the popular BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE adventures.
Kickstart Entertainment has purchased the rights to comic DEAR DRACULA from Image/Shadowline Comics, according to ICV2.com.
Kickstart was behind last summer's hit WANTED and has also acquired the rights to comics PREACHER, THE RED STAR, THE BOYS, MONSTER ATTACK NETWORK and THE COURIERS.
DEAR DRACULA, published last October, is about a boy who loves horror movies and decides to write Dracula on Halloween the way most kids his age write to Santa before Christmas.
In home video releases for June 2, AIR FORCE ONE, BRUCE ALMIGHTY and ANACONDA make their way to Blu-ray, THE JETSONS '80s revival comes to DVD and FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE comes to Blu-ray along with the DVD debut of THE ZULA PATROL: ANIMAL ADVENTURES IN SPACE.
Marlborough MA -- May 26, 2009 -- Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, announced that Boris Continuum Complete 6 FxPlug (BCC 6 FxPlug) for Apple Pro Video Applications is now available.
London, 27 May 2009: Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has secured a raft of new TV and licensing deals for its MR. MEN AND LITTLE MISS brand on the eve of Licensing Expo 2009.
Animation writer Antony Peters passed away last Sunday in New York, reports CARTOON BREW.
A veteran of Rankin-Bass classics like RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, WILLIE MCBEAN & HIS MAGIC MACHINE and TALES OF THE WIZARD OF OZ, Peters also wrote episodes of ROCKET ROBIN HOOD and Grantray-Lawrence's MARVEL SUPER HEROES in the 1960s. He was also a longtime ASIFA-East member and worked for many years on industrial and commercial films out of his New York-based studio Instant Miracles.
NEW YORK -- (May 27, 2009) -- Fitz Roy Media announced today the appointment of Jonathan Breiter and Jennifer Zivic, two of the industry's most respected licensing and merchandising executives, as the designated U.S. licensing agents for the company's slate of children's properties. Breiter and Zivic will launch their representation of Fitz Roy's newest kid franchises including FUNNY FACE, HEATHCLIFF and SECRET WINGS at the 2009 Licensing International Expo in June.
Moonscoop, and Warner Home Video Spain announce a home entertainment deal which will see DVD and video rights for all seasons of animated titles CODE LYOKO and SAMSAM distributed by Warner Home Video in Spain.
Cartoon Network has announced the premiere date of TOTAL DRAMA ACTION, the follow-up to its hit series TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND. The new twist on Cartoon Network's #1 series debuts Thursday, June 11, at 9:00 pm (ET, PT).
