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Peppers Ghost Productions CGI-animated series TINY PLANETS has been licensed to Germanys Super RTL network and ITV1 in the U.K. The show recently received two BAFTA Interactive awards nominations and is scheduled to debut in the U.K. and Germany in the first quarter 2002.

French childrens cable and a satellite channel Canal J has partnered with Nickelodeon U.K., Spain, Australia and Latin America and acquired Japanese anime series YU-GIOH, which will be broadcast in France in spring 2002.

Activeworlds Corp, provider of three-dimensional technology on the Internet, has released Active Worlds' version 3.2, the most sophisticated addition to its 3D software. Version 3.2 will offer users many significant improvements including OpenGL support, software-rendering support, simplified modes for new users, skyboxes, cell grids, increased visibility ranges and additional firewall support. The new version is available for consumers to download free at http://www.activeworlds.com.

Cartoon Network Latin America turned two lucky viewers into heroes for their schools by choosing them as winners of the POWERPUFF GIRLS Super Power Contest, which ran from June 6 through July 6, 2001. Diego Armando Ojeda Jimenez of Mexico, age 11, and Caique Tony de Andrade of Brazil, age 7, were each awarded the Grand Prize - a computer for themselves and ten more for their schools. In addition to the grand prizes, 20 first-prize winners received Nintendo 64s, 80 second-prize winners took home Nintendo Gameboys, and 200 third-prize winners each won a POWERPUFF GIRLS Gameboy game.

Mainframe Entertainment, Inc., a creator of computer animation for television, has entered into a co-venture with professional skateboarder Tony Hawk to develop an animated series. Hawk will serve as executive producer for the new series, which is in the early stages of development. The lead character will be based on the famous skateboarder, who will team with a group of kids who look up to him and become involved in various capers. The teen CGI comedy will feature many of the impressive stunts that have made Hawk a top player in the world of extreme sports.

Canadian independent production-distribution outfit Portfolio Entertainment has sold all 210 interstitials of the animated series KLOOTZ to Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel. The dialogue-free series follows the adventures of two pears and was created by Canadian 3D animation studio Klik Animation. Canadian network The Family Channel has already picked up English Canada broadcast rights.

PDI/DreamWorks created a CGI fairy tale for the Latin American market with the new Life Takes Visa spot for New York agency BBDO. The spot will be aired in Latin America in English, Spanish and Portuguese. In this modern take on the Three Little Pigs, the pigs get wiser and wiser as they successively build houses out straw, sticks and finally, after the wolf has huffed and puffed and blown the houses down, brick, bought with a Visa card at the local hardware store. The end shot shows the wolf using his Visa to buy a bulldozer at the same store.

In its KIDS' WB! debut, the new Japanese anime series YU-GI-OH! ranked No. 1 among the broadcast competition in its time period in Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11. The Japanese anime series follows the adventures of a young boy named Yugi, who morphs into a monster-fighting hero after piecing together the "millennium puzzle" given to him by his grandfather. YU-GI-OH! is represented world-wide outside of Asia, by 4Kids Entertainment.

Activision, Inc. has released SPIDER-MAN for the PC and SPIDER-MAN: MYSTERIO'S MENACE and X-MEN: REIGN OF APOCALYPSE, both for the Game Boy Advance. These releases mark the super heroes' debut on Nintendo's new handheld video game system. SPIDER-MAN: MYSTERIO'S MENACE lets pocket gamers live the fantasy of Marvel's legendary webslinger with the enhanced, side-scrolling gameplay and powerful graphics of the Game Boy Advance. When Mysterio unleashes his illusory schemes, Spider-Man must stop his evil plan and restore life to normal.

Activision, Inc. has acquired Treyarch Invention, LLC., a leading console software developer with a focus on action and action-sports video games. The acquisition further enables Activision to implement its multi-platform development strategy by bolstering its internal product development capabilities for the next-generation console systems, strengthening Activision's position in the action and action-sports genres.

So! Animation, a creative, cross-platform design shop, has joined forces with John Lovelace, So!'s new partner and executive producer/director of new business development. Former executive producer and director of new business development for the New York division of Click 3X, Lovelace brings the skills and knowledge gained at Click 3x to So! and will lead the company in their commitment to target commercial spots as well as long-form. Coinciding with the addition of Lovelace, So!

Test your skills and challenge your brain with AWN's Animation Trivia Quiz. This week, we're asking more questions about feature year of release. Back in 1981, which films were released? 1973 saw the release of which memorable features? Good luck...you'll need it!