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San Francisco-based animation and production studio W!LDBRAIN announced that Michael Polis will be the new chief marketing officer for the company, the first in the studio's history. Polis will focus on building up brands for the company, such as the YO GABBA GABBA series for Nick Jr., while also focusing on management of the overall W!LDBRAIN corporate identity.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Corkscrew Hill, an animated 3-D stereoscopic theme ride attraction, currently is being shopped around for a 3D animated feature according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jeff Kleiser and Diana Walczak, who wrote and directed the ride, penned the feature-length script idea. They plan to produce it using their own shingle, Synthespian Studios, along with Busch Entertainment. In addition, the pair plan to co-direct and have their company coordinate the animation, which would be produced at multiple sites.

Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids owned by Viacom, Sony Music Label Group and Sony BMG Commercial Music Group announced a global partnership today for co-developing and co-financing a range of television and music projects over a four-year period. The deal calls for developing and producing projects such as original movies and television series to be aired on Nickelodeon, and multiple record releases, with potential to unlock additional business opportunities in consumer products.

Autodesk Authorized Publisher Digital-Tutors announced the release of THE ARTIST'S GUIDE TO MEL. This is part of Digital-Tutors expanding library of resources to train digital artists in the use of Maya 8.5. Maya 8.5 is the award-winning 3D program used in animation, effects, modeling and rendering for both feature films and videogames. THE ARTIST'S GUIDE TO MEL contains 4 hours of project-based training, focusing on how to incorporate greater automation in workflow along with flexibility.

The Annecy international animation market MIFA opened its doors this morning to sunshine and a marked growth in, as well as a greater variety of participants, while the festival, which started on Monday, dealt with rain and less U.S.-based company sponsors.

While the absence of a big presence from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network is quite noticable, the French broadcasters and other Europeans have filled the gap for what is the premiere animation festival in the world.

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) announced the launch of Animax Mobile in Canada and Australia to kickoff a global roll-out of a "dedicated mobile version" of Sony's popular Japanese anime channel that currently can be seen across Asia, Central Europe, Germany, and Latin America on TV via cable and satellite providers. Animax Mobile is specifically designed for mobile TV viewing using mobile streaming technology and targets users ages 14-34.