Press Release from Moving Picture Books

From Hollywood blockbuster to striving independent filmmaker, from mobile phone games to characters advertising products on television, from pseudo live action through to virtual environments, animation is able to transcend boundaries to reach new audiences.

New book ANIMATION IN PROCESS shows how artists, designers, filmmakers, programmers, directors, writers, and producers have seized the chance to entertain using a versatile and compelling medium.

Press Release from Comic-Con International

SAN DIEGO, June 18 -- A new hardbound collector's book entitled COMIC-CON: 40 YEARS OF ARTISTS, WRITERS, FANS AND FRIENDS begins pre-sales today.

Two years after being killed, Marvel Comics will bring back to life Captain America, according to the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS (via IESB.net).

"The original Captain America is finally coming back," Marvel Comics editor in chief Joe Quesada said. "We've been patiently planning for this moment for 21/2 years."

Press Release from Lincoln Butterfield Animation

Burbank, CA -- May 27, 2009 -- On the heels of signing its publishing deal with Fantagraphics, Lincoln Butterfield Animation has secured one of the industry's preeminent comic book artists to ink its new RIP, M.D. graphic novel. Mike Vosburg, whose multifaceted background is steeped in horror and fantasy projects, has been tapped to work on the edgy, teen-targeted series.

After an Academy Award win for WALL-E, where else could Pixar Animation Studios go but UP? Their latest film tells the heartwarming story of Carl Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner), a 78-year-old widower who feels that life has passed him by -- until a twist of fate takes him on a fantastic journey across the globe to fulfill his destiny.

Press Release from Lincoln Butterfield Animation

Burbank, CA -- May 19, 2009 -- Lincoln Butterfield Animation has signed a deal with Fantagraphics Books to publish a graphic novel series based on its newest animated television concept, RIP, M.D. From veteran animation producer Mitch Schauer, RIP, M.D. is an edgy, teen-targeted property that takes a comical look at the real-life problems of monsters. Fantagraphics Books -- a respected publisher of sequential art since 1976 -- plans to release the first volume of RIP, M.D. in Q1 2010.

Cartoon Network Enterprises will work with Del Rey Manga to develop graphic novels based on the animated adventure series THE SECRET SATURDAYS, reports KIDSCREEN.

The first title is set to debut in September, with volume two coming before the end of the year. Featuring detailed, full-color stills from the series, the SATURDAYS comics will follow the same format as those based on BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE and BAKUGAN BATTLE BRAWLERS.

Press Release from Ballistic Publishing

Adelaide, South Australia - 27th April 2009 -- Ballistic Publishing is proud to announce the pinnacle of digital art with EXPOSE 7, the latest book in its groundbreaking series celebrating the Finest Digital Art in the Known Universe. With more art, more artists, and a judging panel unanimous in its praise for the remarkable standard of work, EXPOSE 7 showcases a talented community of digital artists and their inspirational art.

Press Release from University Press of Mississippi

Iwao Takamoto (1925-2007) spent a lifetime in the animation industry and was influential in the creation of some of the most beloved characters in the medium's history. Among the characters he designed are Scooby-Doo, Atom Ant, THE JETSON'S Astro, THE FLINTSTONES' Great Gazoo, and THE WACKY RACES' Penelope Pittstop and Muttley. IWAO TAKAMOTO: MY LIFE WITH A THOUSAND CHARACTERS (now out from University Press of Mississippi) is the story of this legendary and influential American artist, told in his own words.

Press Release from IDW Publishing

San Diego, CA (April 16, 2009) -- Ten years ago this month, four young entrepreneurs launched a small creative services company. A decade later, IDW has grown to be the fourth-largest comic book and graphic novel publisher, with a diverse catalog of new and classic books, representing every major entertainment genre. To commemorate its tenth anniversary, the company will release the two-volume hardcover IDW: THE FIRST DECADE in May, 2009. Volume 1 of IDW: THE FIRST DECADE is currently available online at IDWPublishing.com.

Press Release from VIZ Media, LLC

Press Release from Michael Wiese Productionsi

Michael Wiese Productions is proud to announce:

GREENSCREEN MADE EASY: KEYING AND COMPOSITING TECHNIQUES FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS
Jeremy Hanke and Michele Yamazaki
$19.95

APRIL 13, MILWAUKIE, OR -- Dark Horse officially announces participation in the Diamond "Final Order Cutoff" program, or "FOC" for short. Dark Horse first announced the intent to participate in this program at last fall's Diamond Retailers summit in Las Vegas, Navada to a roar of applause heard throughout the casino.

For the first time, the complete series of animation lectures by Walt Stanchfield have been compiled and published in an 800-page, two-volume set entitled DRAWN TO LIFE: 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES (Focal Press, $29.95 each, April 2009).

Book publisher HarperCollins is preparing two new Michael Crichton books for late this year and late 2010, per VARIETY.

The author of JURASSIC PARK, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, CONGO, RISING SUN and others died last year of cancer at age 66.

A SPIDER-MAN graphic novel in an elementary school library in Millard, Nebraska, USA is causing some controversy, according to local TV station KETV Omaha (via ICv2.com).

Preschool property, THOMAS & FRIENDS continues its phenomenal publishing success with U.K. book sales up 10 percent in 2008.

First published in 1945 in a series of classic story books entitled THE RAILWAY SERIES, written by The Reverend W. Awdry, THOMAS & FRIENDS has sold more than 200 million books globally to date. Egmont UK has been working alongside rights owner and producer, HIT Ent., to spearhead this growth with an expanded range of titles and formats including classic story books, novelty books, magazines and television tie-ins.

IDW Publishing will release THE COMPLETE ROCKETEER by Dave Stevens, collecting the classic series in its entirety for the first time ever.

After more than a decade out of print, THE ROCKETEER makes a triumphant return to stores this October with a comprehensive hardcover edition featuring artwork digitally re-mastered from Stevens' own maintained collection of originals, and all-new coloring by Laura Martin, the Eisner-Award-winning colorist handpicked by Stevens himself.

"Just 5 more minutes!!" and "Just let me finish this level!" Families around the world hear these proclamations from kids when asked to put down their videogame controller. With his newly released children's book, game industry veteran Scott Langteau coins a new name for this phenomenon -- SOFA BOY. Now out, SOFA BOY paints a hilarious yet fantastical picture of an extreme case of gaming obsession, accompanied by the eye-popping art of illustrator Rion Vernon.