Jetix Europe N.V. today announced the launch of the zany animated comedy series KID VS. KAT. Created by Rob Boutilier, the series is being produced by Canada-based Studio B Prods. Inc., a DHX Media Ltd. company, in association with Jetix Europe and Canadian kids broadcaster YTV.
Jon Hofferman surveyed a host of filmmakers to find out what we can expect from them in the near and distant future.
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) have inked a domestic-based master toy licensing agreement to create toys and related products based on Nickelodeon's hit series SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. JAKKS Pacific plans to launch the line in 2008 with collectible micro-figures and plush products based on characters from the series. The agreement also covers playsets, preschool toys, youth electronics, water toys, novelty items and more.
U.K.-based RDF Kids and Family will enlarge its offerings to include animation for the first time, reports C21 MEDIA.
The new strategy for the group's children's and family division is a significant departure from the original plan to concentrate on sitcoms, entertainment, preschool and drama. However, according to division head Nigel Pickard, the children's producer "can't really afford not to be in that market, so for the first time we're going to look at animation."
Multi-platform animation network Aniboom is launching a branded ad-supported animation channel on Joost, the world's first broadcast-quality Internet television service.
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.
Canada's Portfolio Ent. is hoping to vastly expand its catalogue, with its next properties likely coming from the gaming world, according to C21 MEDIA. The company's goal is to add as many as 700 episodes to its offerings in the next six to 12 months through acquisitions from producers. Portfolio currently distributes more than 1,000 episodes of primarily animated series, including CARL2 (65x30).
Award-winning visual effects company Zoic Studios has announced that Elexis Stearn has been promoted to executive producer from head of sales for commercials. Stearn has been with the company since its inception five years ago, and has worked closely with co-founder Steve (Scof) Schofield to shape the company's successful commercial division.
Fatkat Inc.'s SPACE KNIGHTS, an animated parody of super hero cartoons of the late 1990s, will debut in fall 2008 as a part of The Detour on TELETOON Pilot Project. The Project is a recent initiative of TELETOON that invites producers to submit new, no-holds-barred comedy to be broadcast on the network's popular teen/adult-oriented programming block.
ELLEN'S ACRES, Animation Collective's comedy series for young viewers, has been acquired by Cartoon Network Latin America, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (broadcast & video/DVD), Al Jazeera and TV Ontario. It currently broadcasts on Cartoon Network UK.
ELLEN'S ACRES is about a five-year-old girl named Ellen whose enormous imagination leads to a host of amazing adventures.
License! Global Magazine's 4th Annual Licensing Challenge, held in conjunction with MIPCOM Jr., was in fact won by two properties, Breakthrough Animation's MY BIG BIG FRIEND and Alphanim's award-winning HAIRY SCARY (52x13 or 26x26). In a story published Monday, AWN identified the former show as the winner, but failed to include co-winner HAIRY SCARY. The complete results were reported in LICENSE! GLOBAL WEEKLY E-NEWS.
Cartoon Network and LucasArts will transport viewers into another dimension this October with Cartoon Network 3-D Halloween. The special presentation, to be aired Oct. 12 as part of the Friday Fried Dynamite block, will feature the popular series OUT OF JIMMY'S HEAD and FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS. In addition to these special 3-D episodes, viewers can also get a 3-D sneak peek at the LucasArts video game THRILLVILLE: OFF THE RAILS, where players create and experience the theme park of their dreams.
Continuing its support of new talent in Canadian animation, Teletoon today announced the winners of the 2007 TELETOON Animation Scholarship. Eleven young animators will receive prizes totalling over $70,000, with four awards given in three categories.
In each category first-prize recipients are awarded $10,000, second place receives $7,000 and $5,000 goes to the third-place finalist. New this year, three filmmakers were awarded the Voter's Choice Award carrying a cash prize of $1,500. Winning films are currently available to view on The Detour at teletoon.com.
AG Properties, the television arm of rights management company American Greetings, and Canada's Decode Ent. have agreed to a co-production deal for SUPER BAD GUY, reports C21 MEDIA. The animated series that follows an unattractive but popular outcast superhero is aimed at tweens and will provide the company with its oldest-skewing property.
Taffy Entertainment has signed a deal with VEO of Spain to create a two-hour Taffy-branded kids block called Taffy Kids. The programming block, targeted to kids 6-12, will air Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00-5:00 pm and will feature such Taffy shows as the animated detective comedy FUNKY COPS and WHEEL SQUAD.
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) announced today the signing of Animation Collective to an exclusive worldwide publishing administration agreement.
Through the agreement, UMPG will administer Animation Collective's entire catalogue of original music created for its popular animated and live-action children's programming, including ELLEN'S ACRES and KAPPA MIKEY. The deal encompasses worldwide administration rights, as well as synchronization rights worldwide.
PBS KIDS Sprout (SproutOnline.com), the first and only 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online, launched two new original morning blocks, in addition to a new season of its hit program THE GOOD NIGHT SHOW.
The two new morning blocks are MUSICAL MORNINGS, airing every weekday morning from 6:00 am - 9:00 am ET, and THE SUNNY SIDE UP SHOW, airing from 9:00 am - noon ET.
DreamWorks Animation has announced the premiere of a new music video, WE GOT THE BEE, tonight on Nickelodeon at 7:00 pm (ET/PT). The video can also be accessed on BeeMovie.com, DWA.com and Nick.com.
Released in support of the studio's upcoming BEE MOVIE, which opens Nov. 2, the video is a takeoff on the Go-Go's WE GOT THE BEAT and features kids from all across New York who take to the streets of Manhattan to spread "BeeMania" everywhere.
Breakthrough Animation and 2-D Lab's children's animated series MY BIG BIG FRIEND (52x11) has won The Licensing Challenge, sponsored by License Global! at this year's MIPCOM Jr.
The Licensing Challenge is a pitching session that showcases the TV property with the highest licensing potential. The international jury included Leigh Anne Brodsky (Nickelodeon), Stan Clutton (Fisher Price), Anna Hewitt (BBC), Andrew Lane (Hasbro), John Lee (World World), and Richard Woolf (Jetix). The panelist of judges selected MY BIG BIG FRIEND from a short list of five entrants based on:
Amberwood Productions has announced that, following the most recent sales of THE SECRET WORLD OF BENJAMIN BEAR, including a DVD deal brokered by Porchlight Entertainment, the series has now been licensed in over 100 territories worldwide.
In making the announcement, Jonathan Wiseman, Vice President, Sales & Acquisitions at Amberwood said, "The series continues to generate meaningful sales worldwide and we are delighted that Benjamin is being so well-received."
The 39x30 (or 78x11) series was commissioned by Canada's Family Channel.
