Fantagraphics Books has announced the complete reprinting of Charles Schulz’s classic PEANUTS comic strips. The collection will be a total of 25 books published two per year for the next 12 1/2 years. The first collection will hits shelves April 1, 2004. THE COMPLETE PEANUTS series will be designed by the cartoonist SETH (PALOOKAVILLE, IT’S A GOOD LIFE IF YOU DON’T WEAKEN) and produced in full cooperation with United Media, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Schulz’s widow, Jean Schulz.

Central Park Media has announced that its fall 2003 line of manga titles will have a smaller size and a reduced price of $9.99. Commencing the launch of the new manga line will be the highly anticipated October 8, 2003 release of POPCORN ROMANCE by acclaimed graphic novelist Tomoko Taniguchi. The story follows two metal-head brothers who worry about their lost love when they take a forced vacation to their grandfather’s farm.

TOKYOPOP Inc. and Courtney Love have teamed up to produce the fantasy manga series, PRINCESS AI, featuring the character design of manga artist Ai Yazawa (PARADISE KISS) and the creative vision of D.J. Milky (KARMA KLUB). The story will follow a smart, talented and an irreverent young princess who utilizes the public stage as a form of self-expression and as a way to hide from her assailants.

Quebec City, Canada-based 88 MPH Studios, Inc. and Disney Publishing Worldwide have announced the introduction of a new monthly TRON comic book series based on the groundbreaking 1982 movie. The first four-part mini-series will hit comic book stores in the U.S. and Canada this winter. 88 MPH Studios will develop comic books based on both the original movie and the new game TRON 2.0, which will be released this August through Buena Vista Games.

Vancouver-based Bardel Entertainment has begun using Flash extensively to create in-house series such as THE MR. DINK SHOW (The Comedy Network) and STORIES FROM THE SEVENTH FIRE (CBC), as well as the recent holiday special THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE (ABC Family and Teletoon). Because of Bardel’s experience, the making of these Flash for broadcast properties has been featured in Macromedia's recent paperback publication FLASH MX -- DESIGN FOR TV AND VIDEO, written by Janet Galore and Todd Kelsey.

TOKYOPOP is about to publish three new manga series based on its successful fan-favorites COWBOY BEBOP, JULINE and HARLEM BEAT. One of TOKYOPOP's best sellers and regularly ranked in the BookScan top 10 graphic novel bestseller list, COWBOY BEBOP is based on the hit anime series which airs on Cartoon Network in the U.S. COWBOY BEBOP: SHOOTING STAR is an alternate telling of the TV show that contains all the same intrigue, adventure, action and noir ambiance of its onscreen counterpart.

Marvel is reviving two classic comic book series, giving each a modern twist. CNN.com has reported that Marvel Comics' upcoming revival of the comic series THE RAWHIDE KID will feature the title character as an openly gay gunslinger. This move marks Marvel's first gay title character in a comic book. THE RAWHIDE KID first debuted in 1955 at the height of Western comic book mania. Although it did not perform well its first time out, the title was revived by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the '60s and ran for more than 150 issues, ending in 1979.

Macromedia Flash is the standard for Web animation. But as more and more animators are discovering, it can also be used to produce animations for television efficiently, inexpensively and without compromising quality. In the new book FLASH MX -- DESIGN FOR TV AND VIDEO, authors Janet Galore and Todd Kelsey focus on the evolution of Macromedia’s Flash from a fairly simple Internet animation tool to the sophisticated program that is currently being used for high-end television broadcast.

Mike and Sully will get a new look when U.S.-based manga publisher Tokyopop releases a graphic novel based on the Disney/Pixar property MONSTERS, INC. The 104-page paperback manga version of the hit CG-animated film, which features collectible stickers of the entire monster cast, will hit the shelves of bookstores and comic book retailers in October 2002, just after the film's North American DVD/VHS release.

A new book is available to teach the fundamentals of writing for feature animation. GARDNER'S GUIDE TO FEATURE ANIMATION WRITING: THE WRITER'S ROAD MAP, by Marilyn Webber, teaches how to develop marketable animation stories and scripts. The basics of writing for animated features are described along with the distinctions between animation and live-action scripts and how to examine feature animation genres. In addition, readers are given the tools to create cohesive plot structures, characters, original scenes and dialogue, including how to integrate comedy into an animation screenplay.