Press Release from Moi j’aime la television and Helion Pictures

Paris/London 27 May 2009. Award-winning independent producers Moi j'aime la television (MJTV) and Helion Pictures are continuing to expand the reach of their hit Nickelodeon UK show GENIE IN THE HOUSE (www.genieinthehouse.com), appointing John Collins as brand consultant for the property.

Press Release from The MoonScoop Group

LOS ANGELES, CA -- May 27, 2009 -- The MoonScoop Group, a leading worldwide distribution, brand management and entertainment company representing brands from some of the largest animation producers across the globe, announces today that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has selected DIVE OLLY DIVE!, the popular animated preschool series, to be part of the organization's new educational campaign to teach students about the richness of the world's underwater cultural heritage.

Press Release from Amberwood Entertainment

Ottawa, May 26, 2009 - Amberwood Entertainment has secured a terrestrial broadcast deal for the new ROLLBOTS animated TV series with Australia's Network Ten. The series will air four times a week and premiere Monday, September 28, 2009.

"We are very excited to be working with Network Ten," said Jonathan Wiseman, Senior Vice President at Amberwood. "They are a leading Australian broadcaster and an ideal home for ROLLBOTS".

Press Release from Imira Entertainment

Barcelona, 26 May 2008: Imira Entertainment, Spain's leading production and distribution company specialising in youth programming, has boosted its reputation for representing live action entertainment rights with a raft of new broadcast, home entertainment and merchandising deals for ZDF Entertainment's shows H2O: JUST ADD WATER and THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS alongside further deals from its established animation library.

Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada, today awarded the prize for the 5th NFB Online Short Film Competition to Joaquin Baldwin. His film SEBASTIAN’S VOODOO was honored at the Short Film Corner in the presence of Jerome Paillard, Executive Director of the Marche du Film of the Cannes Film Festival.

Press Release from PPC Enterprises

PPC Enterprises has revealed that phenomenally successful porcine pair Pinky and Perky are due to appear in their very own CD Rom game from Avanquest -- one of the biggest publishers of computer games in the UK.

Press Release from Aardman Rights

Bristol, 20 May 2009. Leading independent distributor Aardman Rights has concluded a number of new licensing deals for its brand new preschool series TIMMY TIME, which has made a hugely successful debut on CBeebies in the UK.

In Central and Eastern Europe, Regio is on board as toy partner for TIMMY TIME in Hungary where Minimax has the broadcast rights. Also One 2 Play is managing all rights to the property in ex-Yugoslavia.

Press Release from Novel Entertainment

Oxford, 19 May 2009. Leading independent producer Novel Entertainment is further expanding the reach of its hit property HORRID HENRY, appointing Stella Projects as licensing agent for the brand in Australia and New Zealand.

Australia's THE DAILY TELEGRAPH reports that director George Miller is scouting locations for the fourth installment of the MAD MAX series. Citing insiders, the paper says the film could start filming as soon as late 2009.

This week in AWN's Forums, a member wants to know the pros and cons on hosting your own site vs. paying someone to host the site for you. A student would like guidance as to portfolio requirements for MA in Animation at SCAD. Someone wants to pitch an animation series in Australia and is looking for places to do so.

As well as, tools for teaching animation, the business of animation and, as always, brand-new stuff to check out in show and tell!