Egmont Imagination is planning to bring its stop-frame animation special HAMILTON MATTRESS to MIPCOM 2001. HAMILTON MATTRESS tells the story of Sludger, a slovenly aardvark who longs for a more exciting life. With the help of his caterpillar friend Feldwick, he becomes the titular famous drummer and is thrust into the limelight. However, Sludger learns that some people don’t believe that talent is everything and he must discover his own inner beauty and substance. The half-hour family special is already scheduled to be broadcast on the BBC over the Christmas programming period.

Decode Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to OLLIE, a digitally animated 13 x 21 series targeted at kids aged 7 to 11. The show has already been sold to Teletoon in Canada and is set to premiere on that channel in fall 2002. Episodes will be available for the international market at MIPCOM 2001.

4Kids Entertainment's YU-GI-OH!, which has already begun airing in the U.S. on Kids' WB!, will be introduced to international broadcasters at this year's MIPCOM. The Japanese anime series follows the adventures of a young boy named Yugi, who morphs into a monster-fighting hero after piecing together the "millennium puzzle" given to him by his grandfather. Additional 4Kids’ series that will be presented at MIPCOM 2001 include 52 new POKEMON episodes featuring all new POKEMON characters.

Reed Midem Organisation has named MTV Networks' chairman and chief executive officer, Tom Freston, the personality of the year for the 18th MIPCOM, the International Film and Program Market for TV, Video, Cable and Satellite. The award celebrates MTV Networks' outstanding leadership and creative contributions to the global entertainment marketplace among the MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon brands as MTV celebrates its 20th anniversary. MIPCOM hits Cannes, France on October 8 - 12, 2001.

Nickelodeon has licensed the international distribution rights to the Nick series, THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS to Nelvana. In addition, Nick has renewed Nelvana-produced shows, MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST and PELSWICK. In addition, Nickelodeon has agreed to co-produce a minimum of one new series with Nelvana. THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS follows Timmy Turner and his two bungling fairy godparents. Michael Hirsh, co-chief executive officer of Nelvana, said, "Nickelodeon's programming has terrific youth appeal around the world.

Brisbane, Australia's Blue Rocket Productions has started pre-production on their new 3D animated television series entitled HOOTA & SNOZ. The interstitial series of 26 episodes are being co-produced with RTV Family Entertainment and Pacific Film and Television Commission. The show follows the antics of two creatures that constantly bicker about everything. The characters speak in squeaks and grunts, which breaks down the culture barrier and has allowed the series to be sold into nearly 40 countries since its release at MIPCOM last October.

This week's updates to the Calendar of Events includes: CalArts
Character Animation Student Screenings, Valencia, California USA,
April 27 - May 12, 2001; Cartoon Network A Racket In Mexico, Mexico
City, Mexico, April 28 - May 13, 2001; Direct Animation Workshops And
Screenings, Seattle, Washington USA, May 04 - 12, 2001; American
Cinematheque Presents: 2001 Skyy Vodka Short Film Award Winners &
Finalists Marathon, Los Angeles California USA, May 16, 2001; RMCAD
and ASIFA-Colorado Present Edward Bakst, Denver Colorado, USA, May

Animagic Entertainment has begun production on BALLOONATIKS, a new comic-action adventure CGI series being produced by The Krislin Company. The first episode is slated to show in October 2001 at MIPCOM. According to series producer Walk Kubiak (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, THE SMURFS), “We have successfully developed a 3D look that challenges in quality and richness any high-end CGI-produced feature film, while working within the constraints of a typical Saturday morning budget.” Grammy award-winner Ray Parker Jr. composed the theme song and will provide music for the series.

TV-Loonland's CONNIE THE COW (52 x 7, produced by Spain’s Neptuno) has been sold to Disney U.K. for a spring 2002 delivery. After creating quite a buzz at MIPCOM Junior 2000, Munich's TV-Loonland announced at MIP TV that it had sold the pre-school animated series relating the experiences of a curious calf named Connie to Disney's U.K. arm. TV-Loonland has also had Disney success with their live-action series IN A HEARTBEAT.

This month we are talking about everyone's pal - television. We are featuring a profile of veteran animation director and producer Eric Radomski. We are also taking a long hard look at primetime animation and trying to figure out what went wrong this year. In addition, we will showcase five shows that are extra special for many reasons. They include France's "Belphégor," Oxygen's "X-Chromosome," the U.K.'s "Butt-Ugly Martians," Tom Snyder Productions and Disney's "Teacher's Pet."