The BAKUGAN craze continues as the hit anime series is now ready to air on a number of Cartoon Network channels internationally, Nelvana Enterprises announced today in advance of MIPTV.
The action-adventure series aimed at boys aged 6 to 11 is already a broadcast and consumer products phenomenon in Japan and Canada, and premiered on Cartoon Network in the U.S. on February 24.
In advance of MIPTV, Nelvana Enterprises announced an agreement that provides worldwide home entertainment rights for THE BACKYARDIGANS to FremantleMedia Enterprises for all territories, excluding Canada and the U.S.
This landmark deal will see up to 60 episodes of the popular CG series available internationally on DVD for the first time.
Season 1 will be available in Japan, with Seasons 2 and 3 to be offered in many global territories except for Canada and the U.S., where they are already available.
B. Wooding announces new international agreements for its slate of children's programs leading into MIPTV.
Sales of children's programs include:
Electronic Arts and Starz Media have announced they are developing an animated movie prequel to the highly anticipated sci-fi survival horror game DEAD SPACE.
The companies also have animation projects in development for two other EA franchises. The relationship kicks off with this DEAD SPACE prelude that will deliver new details on the horrifying tale the game will unleash this Halloween.
The script for the DEAD SPACE animated feature picks up the plot where the original comic book series ends and leads up to the beginning of the DEAD SPACE game.
Heading to MIPTV? Have announcements you want to reach the animation community? Then send them to us. Each year Animation World Network publishes a special edition of the Animation Flash newsletter in PDF form specifically geared toward the big show. It's the perfect place to get the word out about the properties you're bringing to Cannes. Please send your news to AWN's news editor Annemarie Moody at annemarie@awn.com. News deadline is March 24th.
French animation company Xilam, has signed a slate of broadcast deals for the third season of its animated comedy OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES, they announced Tuesday.
In addition to French pay TV broadcaster Canal +, which is to air season three in fall 2008, other broadcasters signed up for more OGGY include Mediaset (Italy), VRT (Belgium), MTV Oy (Finland) and Noga (Israel).
Independent producer Novel Entertainment closed an international sales and distribution deal with Little Bird Rights to distribute the popular HORRID HENRY TV animation series around the world (excluding the United Kingdom), the companies announced today.
Commissioned by CITV in the U.K., the 52 x 11 minute 2D series will be available to buyers at MIPTV 2008.
Adina Pitt has been named vice president, content acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, it was announced today. In her new role, Pitt will be responsible for identifying, negotiating and acquiring pre-produced series, specials, movies and short-form product that fit the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands for exposure on all platforms. She'll continue to oversee those programs once they have been acquired and positioned at each of the networks.
Singapore production house Big Communications will team with South Korean character design shop Sieun Design to bring one of the Seoul firm's brands to TV, reports C21 MEDIA from the Asia TV Forum. RPENG BINI ("Penguin & Bunny") will be launched next April at MipTV, according to Big Communications MD Vincent Lim, who also said the show's two penguin and rabbit characters have already been licensed in Asia.
A new series featuring animated versions of porcine puppets Pinky and Perky , who first appeared on the BBC in 1957, will be unveiled by Granada Int. next April at MIPTV, report KIDSCREEN and C21 MEDIA. THE PINKY AND PERKY SHOW (52x13), aimed at kids aged 6-11, was commissioned by CBBC and France 3 and co-produced by Pinky & Perky Enterprises, Method Films and DQ Entertainment. Granada has picked up worldwide distribution rights (excluding the U.K, and France) and subsidiary ITV DVD has secured the home entertainment rights. The debut DVD will be released in 2008.
4Kids Ent. Inc. has appointed Jennifer Askin to the position of Manager, International Broadcast and Digital Sales, in which capacity she will oversee the marketing of worldwide new-media platforms for 4Kids Ent.'s extensive program catalogue. In addition, she will be responsible for securing traditional media sales for television in the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Poland, the Ukraine, Belarus, all countries in Central Asia, South Africa and Africa.
Kahani World Inc. in Canada and Accel Animation Studios in India have packed to produce three motion pictures and 11 direct-to-DVDs, which the parties hope to spin off into further opportunities in TV, mobile, new media & web formats. One of the largest motion picture deals in Indian animation, the parties toasted the deal at MIFA last month during Annecy, to mark the first international market where Indian animation companies had come together to present India's capabilities and accomplishments on the world stage.
Calon has sold BIG TATTIE, its first animated series for mobile media, to leading mobile distributor, Player X. Additionally, S4C has commissioned Calon to make 20 shorts of a BIG TATTIE for its Rugby World Cup coverage.
Vooz Co. Ltd., the creator of the love messenger character Pucca, is branching out to the kids market this year with the new series MYO & GA, which combines adventure, fantasy, slap stick comedy and an environmental message. The series sees the world through the eyes of Ga, the sea turtle.
Vooz presented 2:30x7 episodes of the short animation during the 2007 MIPTV and upon garnering positive feedback from television and new media industries, has decided to develop the idea as a larger co-production.
Create Media Ventures and Foothill Ent. announced that they have secured a BBC commission for their new children's animation series, ICONICLES.
Aimed at the 4-6 audience, ICONICLES features an enchanting troupe of iconic animal characters who spring to life in their own digital world, appearing in comedic animated stories, games and musical interludes. Akin to an animated variety show, ICONICLES has been developed both as a participatory television series (with the narrative stories linked by a live-action host) and as an interactive off- and online experience.
Decode Ent. traveled to MIPTV 2007 with a brand new show, BO ON THE GO! The series has been commissioned by Canada's CBC and is produced by Decode's sister company in DHX Media Ltd., Halifax Film.
Employing motion-capture technology and CG, BO ON THE GO! promotes an active lifestyle and an active mind for preschoolers. It has been created by a dedicated group of artists, broadcasters and educators to instill a love of movement in children, as well as promote a more active lifestyle while linking their activity to a plot-driven story.
York International's new emphasis on new media licensing positioned it uniquely to partner with the wide range of emerging Internet and satellite based entities registered for MIPTV. CEO Tanya York explained, "Our library is great for home video, but as the new technologies take over, we are now in a perfect position to assist our clients with Internet and new media based content needs."
Flying Bark Prods. Pty. Ltd. in Autralia has joined forces with A Stark Production to establish a new company -- A Stark Ent. A Stark Ent., which comes under the umbrella of Flying Bark Prods. and will be responsible for creating and developing independent projects in children's entertainment programming.
Icon Animation, a leading production and distribution company in Spain specializing in youth programming, has followed a slew of recent deals for its popular girl-skewed show, LOLA & VIRGINIA, with a sale to TV2 Norway at MIPTV.
MIPTV 2007 in Cannes April 16-20 seems to be off to a bright airy start, partly in thanks to the warm weather and the ever-increasing exhibition space for participants. If you are a MIP regular and think you pretty much know where to find everyone, look again. Many animation exhibitors have moved out of the crowded, yet easy access of the bottom floor of the Palis and are spread out to huge new exhibition halls and tents on the roof of the Riviera or across from the structure along the croisette.
Nickelodeon has partnered with media content company, Chorion, to present OLIVIA, a new children's animated television series based on the best-selling books by acclaimed author/illustrator Ian Falconer.
The new CGI series (52x11 and one 44 minute special) will be animated by Academy Award-nominated Irish animation studio Brown Bag Films. Nick Jr. will present 26 half-hour episodes in the U.S. and sales for the international territories will be made at MIP this month.
Xilam's canine comedy RINTINDUMB (75 x 1 minute 30 seconds), featuring Lucky Luke's sidekick, the dumbest dog in the west, has been picked up by a raft of broadcasters at MIPTV. The animated series, which debuted in September on France 3, has been licensed to Mediaset (Italy), Dutch kids TV channel Z@pp, TV5 (France) and TeleQuebec Canada.
Building on the success of the TV series, award-winning animation companies Xilam (France) and Zinkia (Spain) are launching the 75-minute SHURIKEN THE MOVIE at MIPTV.
The movie is in production, with delivery due August 2007.
Toon Boom Animation Inc. has released Toon Boom Storyboard Pro, the only digital storyboarding software for films, documentaries, gaming, advertising and animation projects. Storyboard Pro is an entirely paperless system, enabling storyboard artists, directors and producers to save significant time and costs, as well as help preserve the Earth's natural resources.
Taffy Ent. will pull into MIPTV with new deals for animated series FANTASTIC FOUR and BOBBY'S WORLD.
Taffy Ent. has signed a U.K. deal for FANTASTIC FOUR, the animated series based on Marvel's superhero franchise. GMTV has acquired the program for its weekend children's strand, Toonattik, which airs on ITV1 and CITV.
In separate deals, the series has also been snapped up by TV Globo in Brazil, MRTL in Hungary and Fox Video for Europe and Latin America.
