Sarah Baisley's Recent Posts

Cartoon Network's CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR, about an undercover international alliance of top-secret 10-year-olds, is gearing up for its final mission Jan. 21, when the network will honor the operatives with a special tribute. The day begins at 6:00 am (ET/PT) with a marathon of the best episodes and a countdown of creator Tom Warburton's top five favorites, all leading up to the premiere of the one-hour series finale at 7:00 pm (ET/PT).

Speed Racer Enterprises has completed another set of licensing agreements for both the new animated television series SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION, as well as the classic animated TV series. SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION is scheduled to air on Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon's 24-hour animation network, in May of 2008.

Dave Howe, erstwhile General Manager of SCI FI Channel, has been appointed president of the network, it was announced today. Howe will oversee Original Development, Programming and Marketing, Global Brand Strategy and Market Development, Strategic Planning, SCI FI Digital (SCIFI.COM, SCI FI Pulse, DVICE.com), SCI FI MAGAZINE, Media Relations and SCI FI's recently launched public affairs initiative, Visions for Tomorrow.

Sundance Institute and Sundance Channel announced today the program of 2008 Sundance Film Festival short films that will be available for free on www.sundance.org/watch and for sale on the iTunes Store, Netflix and Xbox 360. Premiering Jan. 18 and running all 10 days of the festival, the films will be shown one at a time for 24 hours.

Aardman Int'l has appointed Spiral Int'l as its distribution agency for Latin America in order to extend its presence in the area. Spiral will represent the whole of Aardman's catalogue across free TV, DVD and digital rights in Latin America and will be looking to start securing deals at NATPE 2008, where they will be presenting Aardman's children's show SHAUN THE SHEEP to Latin American buyers for the first time. The hit series, launched in October 2006, has already been sold to 150 countries around the world, including Disney Latin America.

U.K.-based Galleon Holdings Plc will premiere the first-ever toy line for the hit kids animated series SKUNK FU! at UK Toy Fair 2008.

Developed and made in-house by Croco Sourcing Worldwide, a wholly owned subsidiary of Galleon, the range will consist of collectible action figures, fighting plush, deluxe action figures with added play features, a SKUNK FU bop bag with sounds, and electronic feature plush. The line will be supported by extensive marketing across the U.K.

Mark Lazarus has vacated the position of president of the Turner Ent. Group, reports VARIETY. Three high-ranking Turner execs -- Steve Koonin, Stuart Snyder and David Levy -- will assume new duties in the new corporate structure. The three, who previously reported to Lazarus, will now report to Phil Kent, Turner Broadcasting chairman and CEO.

Online animation school AnimationMentor.com celebrated its third commencement Saturday, Jan. 12, in San Francisco. Pixar Animation Studios filmmaker Pete Docter (MONSTERS, INC.), joined onstage by animators from ILM, Pixar Animation Studios and DreamWorks/PDI, all of whom teach at the school, delivered the inspirational commencement address. The graduating class included students from 20 countries and an equal number of states.

Three high-profile promotional partners have joined with Paramount Pictures and previously announced partner LG Electronics to publicize Marvel Studio's upcoming IRON MAN, reports KIDSCREEN. Audi will have a sports car featured in the movie, Burger King will mount a QSR promo at locations worldwide, and 7-Eleven will offer IRON MAN Slurpee cups at its 6,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More than 100 licensees worldwide have been signed by Marvel. The film is scheduled for release in the U.S. on May 2.