The National Film Board of Canada will be at NATPE this year with NOËL NOËL, an animated Christmas special narrated by Leslie Nielsen, that revives the great tradition of children's fairy tales.

The title character in this whimsical half-hour is a misguided billionaire, who falls in love with Beatrice, a bespectacled fairy who prefers words of love to rivers of diamonds. Thanks to little Zoey, her dog Snooze and a blue-eyed reindeer, Noel Noël finally realizes that money doesn't bring happiness, and that to be happy, you have to listen to your heart.

Studio B is heading to NATPE this year with a bagful of new shows in development, new sales deals for existing series and brand extension plans for original properties.

A newcomer to NATPE, Anime Network president Kevin Corcoran will join fellow industry leaders in a discussion on Video On Demand. He will also be looking for more product to add to the A. D. Vision catalog and shows to air on his network, at booth 1242.

Carlton International has two eye-catching 3D animated series, THE ISLAND OF INIS COOL and POCOYO, it will be showcasing at NATPE at booth 825.

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) big animated series, ASTRO BOY, premieres on the Kids’ WB! in the U.S. Jan. 17, 2004, the day before the NATPE exhibit floor opens. ASTRO BOY and CYBORG 009 are amongst a diverse slate from SPTI, which includes STEPHEN KING'S KINGDOM HOSPITAL, JOAN OF ARCADIA, MISSING and THE RESIDENTS, MACHOS and POOR ANASTASIA. SPTI will be located off the floor in the Venetian Hotel, Casanova Room 504.

Mike Young Prods. has a strong hand of five animated shows it is holding to deal at NATPE in Las Vegas. Regis Brown, vp of international distribution thinks his ace in the hole is the captivating 3D series for young children, JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, which debuted to great reviews September 7, 2003 on PBS Kids in the U.S.

CABLEready’s NATPE Food Project will mark its 11th year of community service this January 2004 by again encouraging exhibitors to donate leftover food from show booths and parties to the Community Food Bank of Clark County. This industry volunteer effort was launched in 1993 by Gary Lico, president/ceo of the international program distribution and development company, after he noticed the amount of food wasted each year at the annual convention.

The Orlando-based Television Syndication Co. (TVS) and Pausoka, the Spanish co-producers of the 26 episode animated series, CLOUD TROTTERS -- which is drawing large audiences and raves in Europe -- have inked an exclusive distribution agreement that calls for TVS to distribute the English language version of the series in the USA and other English speaking countries of the world. TVS will introduce CLOUD TROTTERS to broadcasters at the upcoming NATPE 2004.

ValCom and O Atlas Enterprises will be turning their NEW ZOO REVUE into a new 3D TV series and feature. The original people-in-suits series debuted in syndication in the U.S. in 1971. The new film is budgeted at $3 million and production on both the telefilm and 26-part series should wrap in January 2005. ValCom plans to unveil the project at NATPE.

As a result of the wonderful response to our new MIPCOM-specific Flash Newsletters, we will be publishing special editions for both NATPE and MIP-TV. The NATPE market is fast approaching and our editorial and advertising staff are gearing up for the NATPE-specific Flash Newsletter series. Here are the dates for the publications.

NATPE Flash Newsletters
January 7th
January 14th
January 28th (Follow-Up issue)

MIP-TV Flash Newsletter
March 10th
March 17th
March 24th
April 14th (Follow-Up issue)