MIPTV 2007 in Cannes April 16-20 seems to be off to a bright airy start, partly in thanks to the warm weather and the ever-increasing exhibition space for participants. If you are a MIP regular and think you pretty much know where to find everyone, look again. Many animation exhibitors have moved out of the crowded, yet easy access of the bottom floor of the Palis and are spread out to huge new exhibition halls and tents on the roof of the Riviera or across from the structure along the croisette.

Xilam's canine comedy RINTINDUMB (75 x 1 minute 30 seconds), featuring Lucky Luke's sidekick, the dumbest dog in the west, has been picked up by a raft of broadcasters at MIPTV. The animated series, which debuted in September on France 3, has been licensed to Mediaset (Italy), Dutch kids TV channel Z@pp, TV5 (France) and TeleQuebec Canada.

The latest Acrobat edition of Animation World Magazine is now online. Download it today while it's still available for free. This issue tackles the topics of feature films and shorts. Start your engines, folks, it's that time of year again -- Rick DeMott takes a lap around the Oscar buzz arena to uncover who's ahead and who hasn't even left the starting line. Philippe Moins surveys the European animated feature scene and discovers a vast array of subjects and styles. Karen Raugust looks at how the animated feature film business is no longer closed to independent animation houses in the U.S.

DIC Ent. has finalized new international broadcast and home entertainment distribution deals for the new series HORSELAND.

Since its launch three months ago at MIPCOM 06, Aardman Animations' SHAUN THE SHEEP has racked up television sales in 60 countries and tied up licensing deals in several key territories worldwide.

Following its success as the most viewed show at MIPCOM Jr., the series has been sold by Aardman Int'l to multiple broadcasters across the globe, including France, Japan, Asia and Latin America.

NGTI (National Geographic Television International) announced a raft of new deals for its family special -- TOOT & PUDDLE: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (1x45).

Based on the bestselling Holly Hobbie book of the same name, TOOT & PUDDLE: I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS has been licensed to leading broadcasters, including ARD and Ki.Ka in Germany, Nickelodeon in the UK and Australia, YLE Finland, TV2 Norway, DR1 Denmark and ATV Hong Kong.

Jillianne K. Reinseth joins Studio B Prods. as director of development. She will head up Studio B’s new in-house content creation division, called the B-HIVE, and develop projects from external pitches as well.

Reinseth was a development producer with broadcaster Jetix Europe; senior manager, creative affairs at Walt Disney TV Animation; and also was manager, original series for ABC Cable Networks Group (Disney Channel).

MIPCOM announces the winners of the Mobile TV Screening & Awards 2006. The international trophies were awarded on Oct. 11, 2006, in a packed auditorium at the 22nd edition of MIPCOM. The winning titles were chosen by an international grand jury from a total of 23 nominated projects.

Sponsored by Orange, Ericsson and the Korean Broadcasting Commission, the Mobile Screenings & Awards 2006 call-for-entries opened as of July this year and brought in a record number of 290 entries from 34 countries, a 30% increase in submissions from 2005.

ZDF Enterprises GmbH is bringing five properties to MIPCOM 2006, where they can be found at booths 21.02 and 23.01.

The live-action series, H2O — JUST ADD WATER (2x90 or 52x26) is an adventure-drama about how to stay "normal" when you're a part-time mermaid. Three 16-year-old girls find themselves exploring the eerie, jungle covered island eventually ending up trapped in an ancient cave system under a volcano.

MoonScoop and Classic Media announced that they will produce and distribute a brand new CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST animated series. India’s DQ Ent. has also come on board as co-production partner and the series will be developed with TF1 in France. Production on the new 52x11 series is set to commence in February 2007. Distribution of the new series will be shared between the co-production partners.