Independent producer Novel Entertainment closed an international sales and distribution deal with Little Bird Rights to distribute the popular HORRID HENRY TV animation series around the world (excluding the United Kingdom), the companies announced today.

Commissioned by CITV in the U.K., the 52 x 11 minute 2D series will be available to buyers at MIPTV 2008.

Adina Pitt has been named vice president, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, it was announced today. In her new role, Pitt will be responsible for identifying, negotiating and acquiring pre-produced series, specials, movies and short-form product that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms. She'll continue to oversee those programs once they have been acquired and positioned at each of the networks.

Singapore production house Big Communications will team with South Korean character design shop Sieun Design to bring one of the Seoul firm's brands to TV, reports C21 MEDIA from the Asia TV Forum. RPENG BINI ("Penguin & Bunny") will be launched next April at MipTV, according to Big Communications MD Vincent Lim, who also said the show's two penguin and rabbit characters have already been licensed in Asia.

A new series featuring animated versions of porcine puppets Pinky and Perky , who first appeared on the BBC in 1957, will be unveiled by Granada Int. next April at MIPTV, report KIDSCREEN and C21 MEDIA. THE PINKY AND PERKY SHOW (52x13), aimed at kids aged 6-11, was commissioned by CBBC and France 3 and co-produced by Pinky & Perky Enterprises, Method Films and DQ Entertainment. Granada has picked up worldwide distribution rights (excluding the U.K, and France) and subsidiary ITV DVD has secured the home entertainment rights. The debut DVD will be released in 2008.

4Kids Ent. Inc. has appointed Jennifer Askin to the position of Manager, International Broadcast and Digital Sales, in which capacity she will oversee the marketing of worldwide new-media platforms for 4Kids Ent.'s extensive program catalogue. In addition, she will be responsible for securing traditional media sales for television in the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Poland, the Ukraine, Belarus, all countries in Central Asia, South Africa and Africa.

Kahani World Inc. in Canada and Accel Animation Studios in India have packed to produce three motion pictures and 11 direct-to-DVDs, which the parties hope to spin off into further opportunities in TV, mobile, new media & web formats. One of the largest motion picture deals in Indian animation, the parties toasted the deal at MIFA last month during Annecy, to mark the first international market where Indian animation companies had come together to present India's capabilities and accomplishments on the world stage.

Calon has sold BIG TATTIE, its first animated series for mobile media, to leading mobile distributor, Player X. Additionally, S4C has commissioned Calon to make 20 shorts of a BIG TATTIE for its Rugby World Cup coverage.

Vooz Co. Ltd., the creator of the love messenger character Pucca, is branching out to the kids market this year with the new series MYO & GA, which combines adventure, fantasy, slap stick comedy and an environmental message. The series sees the world through the eyes of Ga, the sea turtle.

Vooz presented 2:30x7 episodes of the short animation during the 2007 MIPTV and upon garnering positive feedback from television and new media industries, has decided to develop the idea as a larger co-production.

Create Media Ventures and Foothill Ent. announced that they have secured a BBC commission for their new children's animation series, ICONICLES.

Aimed at the 4-6 audience, ICONICLES features an enchanting troupe of iconic animal characters who spring to life in their own digital world, appearing in comedic animated stories, games and musical interludes. Akin to an animated variety show, ICONICLES has been developed both as a participatory television series (with the narrative stories linked by a live-action host) and as an interactive off- and online experience.

Icon Animation, a leading production and distribution company in Spain specializing in youth programming, has followed a slew of recent deals for its popular girl-skewed show, LOLA & VIRGINIA, with a sale to TV2 Norway at MIPTV.