Children's book character Thomas the Tank Engine from the THOMAS & FRIENDS series in the 1940s is gearing up for the big screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Press Release from Bandai

Classic Media, which owns and manages a portfolio of some of the world’s leading family and pop-culture entertainment brands, today announces that Bandai has been appointed the master toy partner for its new produced-in-Africa preschool animated series Tinga Tinga Tales.  Bandai will create a broad range of toy product based upon the brand and is expected to launch its range in the UK in late 2010.

Press Release from Aardman Rights

Aardman Rights has secured a deal with leading publisher and distributor of practical books, manuals and DVDs Haynes, to produce a brand new Wallace & Gromit manual.

The series of books will finally reveal the exact inner workings of Wallace’s vast array of vehicles, inventions and contraptions which feature in the duo’s award-winning TV series and films. The first format will be released autumn 2009.

Whether a lover of all things Naruto, or simply a cybernetic pugilist, Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 will satisfy your gaming fix.

Okay, all that verbiage should indicate one thing: this series is smart, or at least tries to be. Overall, I like it. I like it a lot. The darkness of Ergo Proxy’s canvass, the moodiness of its city, and the detached citizens invokes Blade Runner-esque trappings that are a true anime/sci-fi delight.

Seth Rogen has fulfilled a dream by becoming only the second visiting celebrity to write and act in THE SIMPSONS since Ricky Gervais appeared in 2006, Variety reports.

Most of the voice cast for MARMADUKE has been set, ComingSoon.net reports.

Tony Parker, a professional basketball player with the San Antonio Spurs, has signed on to a new French cartoon production called BASKETBALL ADVENTURES, Variety reports.

VOOZ, the creator of PUCCA and BRB International are teaming up to breathe life into CANIMAL, an original television series aimed a pre-school target audience.

Press Release from 4Kids Entertainment

4Kids Entertainment Inc. and Chaotic USA Entertainment Group Inc. have reached an agreement with Penguin Young Readers Group, one of the world’s leading consumer publishers, to serve as global licensing partner in the publishing category for the Chaotic trading card game (TCG) and TV series-based property.

Turner Broadcasting is delighted to announce that it has greenlit its first UK-produced full length animation series out of its dedicated original production hub, the Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe.

As the evil geniuses at Nerd Corps Entertainment prepare to create a second season of their villainous original property, THE LEAGUE OF SUPER EVIL, the League comes ever closer to its bid for world domination.

India-based Toonz Animation has signed a distribution deal with Liberation Ent., reports VARIETY.

FX Prods. has inked an agreement with Shine Int'l to license the forthcoming FX series ARCHER around the world, reports VARIETY.

Entertainment branding/consulting company ThinkTank Emporium has teamed with Charlesbridge Publishing and author David Biedrzycki to identify and develop licensing and media opportunities based on the ACE LACEWING, BUG DETECTIVE series.

Hasbro-Discovery Communications Joint Venture President and CEO Margaret Loesch today announced the appointment of children's and family entertainment programming veteran Donna Ebbs as senior vice president, programming, for the joint venture television network expected to launch in late 2010.

Seasoned development and sales executive Maggie Murphy has joined Cookie Jar Entertainment as SVP of Development.

This week (9/22/09) offers the DVD/Blu-ray release of BATTLE FOR TERRA (Lionsgate, $12.99 and $19.99); THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO (Anchor Bay, $12.99 and $19.99); HOT FUZZ (Universal Home Ent., $18.99); SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS (Warner Home Video, $19.99, $24.99); TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES -- THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (Warner Home Video,$36.49, $44.99); and WALLACE & GROMIT: A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH (Lionsgate, $9.99) and WALLACE & GROMIT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (Lionsgate/HIT, $21.99, 19.99).

Rick DeMott talks with producer Tom Klein about the challenges of creating the R-rated, 2D animated film, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, directed by Rob Zombie.

On Sunday, Sept. 20th, the Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out.