Mike Young Prods. has a busy slate of animated shows with many new 3D entries to present at MIPCOM. The busy producer has jumped headfirst into distribution, launching a new distribution arm in March 2003, headed by veteran TV sales exec Regis Brown. The U.S. studio, founded by Welsh animator Mike Young, is bringing its captivating 3D series for young children, JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, which debuted September 7, 2003 on PBS Kids in the U.S.

Elastic Rights is looking to secure strategic, local partners at MIPCOM, including theatrical, TV, home entertainment, licensing, publishing and Internet companies for its portfolio of projects. The aim is to add value, by developing an integrated brand management strategy for each property.

In conjunction with its trip to MIPCOM, Entertainment Rights has announced its acquisition of the TV and video rights to TRANSFORMERS ENERGON, the next chapter in the TRANSFORMER franchise. The new 52x30 minute episodes follow up the success of TRANSFORMERS ARMADA. Picking up where Armada left off, Energon follows the defeated evil Unicron and Megatron teaming up to take over Earth.

The Fremantle Corp. will introduce innovative shows for both kids and young adults at this year’s MIPCOM beginning with the eye-popping new 3D animation series, UNDERGROUND ERNIE, for kids 4-8. From the producers (3D Films and Joella Films) of the British pre-school hit, THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE, the new series features a magical collection of talking subway trains and a character named Ernie who keeps them all running on schedule.

Paris-based Sparx* is charging into MIPCOM with epsiodes to show of its ZOÉ KÉZAKO.

Monster! Distributes will be launching ROVER SAVES CHRISTMAS, a new one-hour program based on Roddy Doyle’s international best-selling children’s book of the same name, at MIPCOM. This is the first project to emerge from the collaboration between Oscar-nominated animation studio Brown Bag Films (GIVE UP YER AUL SINS) and award-winning feature film entity Treasure Entertainment (I WENT DOWN). All three companies are based in Ireland.

This week in AWN’s Theatrical Release Database we trailers for some of the fall’s big releases as well as lots of date changes and new pages added. If you haven’t seen it by now or want to see it again you can check out the long awaited trailer for LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING. In addition, we’ve linked to trailers for the Halle Berry thriller GOTHIKA, the historical epic THE ALAMO and the videogame-inspired horror flick ALONE IN THE DARK.

StudioWorks Entertainment, a year-old North American home entertainment distribution company, is looking to acquire more properties at MIPCOM. A division of Ventura Entertainment, StudioWorks has emerged as one of the leading forces in the branding, marketing and distribution of brands through home entertainment channels. From the hit television series WISEGUY, to successful children's brands such as Winchester Entertainment's WHEELS ON THE BUS, StudioWorks has amassed a portfolio of high-profile branded entertainment from around the world.

Munich-based TV-Loonland has a two new series and pilots to unveil at MIPCOM and screen at MIPCOM Jr. It’s U.K. production house, Telemagination, has completed production on its brand new, madcap animated series, METALHEADS, according to David Ferguson, coo, operating out of TV-Loonland’s London office.

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) will bring a diverse slate of programming to MIPCOM, including the animated series ASTRO BOY and CYBORG 009, as well as STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL, JOAN OF ARCADIA, MISSING and RESIDENTS, the hit Chilean telenovela, MACHOS, according to SPTI distribution evp Peter Iacono. The SPTI booth will be at top of the Palais at M5.01.