Here are some more pics from the first stop on the L.A. leg of the Oscar Showcase tour - Sony Pictures Animation.

After a late screening in the Aidikoff Screening Room for the William Morris agents, the filmmakers had a chance to meet with a few of the agents. Like many people have said along the tour, the agents felt that this year is one of the strongest years for animated shorts in quite some time.

When it comes to development of stories, John said they have the entire story department brainstorming on the projects at the beginning then pare down the writers on each film. He added that usually the scribes will be the first on the project and can stay involved with the project as late as three months before release.

A new question for the Peter and the Wolf team was how they came about designing and animating the animals. The main goal of the design was to not make them caricatures. Hugh said the duck was the toughest and the look they chose was based on how goofy the breed looked, which would help create instant sympathy for the doomed character.

Dubailand, a member of Tatweer, today announced it has formed a strategic alliance with U.K.-based HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners.

They will work together to develop a diverse portfolio of family entertainment projects in Global Village at Dubailand, a 3 billion-square-foot development that includes theme parks, eco-tourism projects, shopping malls, restaurants and residential units in United Arab Emirates.

The conversation moved to the expansion of animation in the region, especially China. Ed said he was reluctant to get into China, because of the government hoops that doing business there entails.

With the event filled with press from all over the globe, the nominees were given the star treatment. On the way to the screening, I asked I Met the Walrus producer Jerry Levitan what went through his mind when he heard that his film was nominated.

Talking to Even Pigeons Go to Heaven producer Simon Vanesse, we learned that he began his career in IT. He mentioned that being one of the few producers who speaks English at BUF has helped him get on big American production. Most of the time he works as a visual effects producer, having worked on The Prestige.

While the films were screening for the studio artists, we were treated to a backstage look at the making of Sony’s Oscar-nominated animated feature Surf’s Up. VFX supervisor Rob Bredow gave us a nice overview of creating the beautiful waves and mockumentary style of the film.

Entertainment Rights announced today it has appointed 3DBA as its key sales partner to turn its brands into themed attractions.

George of the Jungle and Casper are currently being showcased at major trade shows throughout the world and a number of deals are expected to be announced soon.

ER is the U.K.'s leading global media group, specializing in the ownership and management of children's and family programming, characters and brands.