Aardman Rights has concluded a number of television and home entertainment pre-sales for its brand new preschool series TIMMY TIME.

Currently in production, the 52 x 10-minute series has already been pre-bought by CBeebies in the U.K. for debut in 2009 and it has been picked up by Disney Channels worldwide, including the US. ABC TV Australia, TF1 France, DRTV in Denmark, YLE Finland, NRK Norway and SVT Sweden have also committed to the broadcast rights to the show.

The Jim Henson Company and BIG Communications are showcasing their new CG animated series DINOSAUR TRAIN at this year's MIPTV market. DINOSAUR TRAIN is produced by The Jim Henson Company with Singapore's BIG acting as co-producer and with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, MARLEY & ME and SEVEN POUNDS debut on DVD/Blu-ray, along with HANDY MANNY and SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK DVDs and THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK and PITCH BLACK on Blu-ray for the first time.

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK on Blu-ray

Fusion CI Studios and Department of Motion Graphics pooled talents recently to create this lively spot for New Zealand creative agency, Sugar and client, Fonterra. Fonterra's new "smart" water, Whole, leaps into the air then transforms itself into shape after shape -- first a brain, then a bridge, then bananas -- displaying a vigorous character and life of its own.

National Geographic Television International finalized a raft of key new sales for its preschool animated series TOOT & PUDDLE (52 x 11), launched at MIPCOM in 2008.

Recent deals have been finalised with France 5, Cartoon Network Spain, SVT Sweden, TVB Hong Kong, RUV Iceland and Egyptian TV. These new sales join those made previously, which include Nickelodeon in the U.K., Germany, Australia and New Zealand, YLE Finland and TV2 Norway.

This April, Nick Jr. will be opening the tiny doors to BEN AND HOLLY'S LITTLE KINGDOM, the latest preschool TV production from the creators of PEPPA PIG.

London-based animation company Astley Baker Davies have once again teamed up with E1 Kids UK (formerly Rubber Duck Entertainment) to produce the new animated TV series following the adventures of Princess Holly the Fairy and her best friend Ben Elf in a tiny kingdom hidden amongst the flowers and grass. The series will have its exclusive world premiere on Nick Jr. from Monday, April 6.

Family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has appointed Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) as its international partner for its new preschool TV series, OLIVIA. This deal follows Chorion's appointment of SPHE as worldwide distribution partner on THE MR. MEN SHOW last year.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is uniting its domestic and international television divisions as part of its strategy to produce and distribute content on a worldwide basis.

The announcement was made by Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO, Michael Lynton, and Co-Chairman, Amy Pascal.

Columbia has tapped Scott Silver (8 MILE) to rewrite BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Chris Bertolini penned the original script about an alien invasion in L.A.

Original Films' Ori Marmur and Columbia's Sam Dickerman picked up the project in April. Original's Neal Moritz is producing.

Aaron Eckhart is set to play a Marine platoon commander. Jonathan Liebesman (THE KILLING ROOM) will direct.

DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., has scored a hat-trick of deals for Adastra Creative's GRANDPA IN MY POCKET following hot on the heels of a second series commission from CBeebies in the U.K. Canada's TVO, Australia's ABC TV and Al Jazeera Children's Channel have all scooped up the live-action with visual effects kids' show.

MTV Networks Latin America has opened its new office in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which will serve as the company's headquarters in region as well as a creative center for both Latin America and MTV Networks International (MTVNI).

Independent French production company Moi j'aime la television (MJTV) is launching its own in-house licensing division and has appointed Alexandre Mayaud as consultant.

This move reflects the company's growth into new areas and its plans to further exploit its key brands across merchandising and other media including music and book publishing, videogames and educational language learning toys.

Family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has signed a raft of licensing deals for The World of Eric Carle on the eve of the 40th anniversary on March 20, 2009 of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, the brand's most iconic character.

Moonscoop has scored a raft of international sales for its unique preschool series AVA RIKO TEO (65x7). The animated paper cutout show is a co-production with Character Plan, France 5 and EBS.

Italy's Rai 3, Al Jazeera Children's Channel in the Middle East, Disney Australia, MTV3 Finland, Israel's HOP, Venevision and CEE channel JimJam have snapped up the show which is the second highest-rated on EBS in Korea and rates number one on France 5 out of all co-produced series.

Paramount and Marvel have moved THOR again, this time from June 16, 2011 to May 20, 2011, according to multiple news sources.

ROPEOFSILICON.com reports that the date is now two weeks after SPIDER-MAN 4's release from Columbia.

Casting rumors include Josh Hartnett as either the winged-helmeted hero or his nemesis Loki, as well as Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Hemsworth and Joel Kinnaman, according to DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD DAILY. Nikki Finke also reports that she's told Natalie Portman is top choice to play the female lead.

Giorgio Stock has been promoted to exec VP and managing director, Disney Channels, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and will lead The Walt Disney Company's portfolio of kid-focused, family inclusive television channels including Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Disney XD and Cinemagic, in the territory. He will also serve as a Disney representative on the board of SRTL, Disney's joint venture with RTL Group.

Aasif Mandvi, Shaun Toub and Cliff Curtis have joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan's THE LAST AIRBENDER for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Shyamalan, Sam Mercer and Frank Marshall are producing with principal photography to begin mid-March 2009.

The casting of THE LAST AIRBENDER has come under significant scrutiny, as Caucasian actors were hired in initially for the main characters, who in the animated series are of Asian descent and culture.

The first feature-length film from 3D Entertainment's filmmakers Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello (the Mantello Brothers), OCEANS 3D - INTO THE DEEP (working title), has been acquired by Wild Bunch, a Paris-and London-based sales, distribution and production outfit.

The film is set to become the first ever documentary to be both filmed and released in Digital 3D. The deal marks the first collaboration between the two companies. Under the terms of the agreement, 3D Entertainment retains the rights (all-media) for the U.S. and Canada.

FitzRoy Media has new licensing agent appointments in France, Brazil and The Philippines for its leading U.K. girls' brand SECRET WINGS, in addition to new licensing deals in two territories.

BLG, Brand Licensing Group of Sao Paulo, recently named licensing agents in Brazil for Secret Wings, have secured their first licensee for notebooks and stationery-related items, Sao Domingos. Fitz Roy's agents in The Philippines, Empire Int'l Merchandising Corp., has signed new licensee Asian Business Paper & Printing Corp. for notebooks and stationery-related items in the region.

Submissions for the annual Into the Pixel art exhibition are open for the 2009 exhibit. Now in its sixth year, this is the only juried digital art exhibition that brings together experts from the fine art world and the interactive entertainment industry.