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News: 9 Story Entertainment announces new broadcast deals for the animated comedy NERDS AND MONSTERS

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Nerds and Monsters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 Story Entertainment announces new broadcast deals for

the animated comedy NERDS AND MONSTERS

Toronto, Canada – September 15, 2014 – 9 Story Entertainment is pleased to announce that it has signed multiple deals for Slap Happy Cartoons’ hilarious animated comedy, Nerds and Monsters (40 x 11’). Licenses include TVE (Spain), Canal+ Family (France and Africa), E-Junior (UAE), Noga (Israel) and MBC Kids (Middle East). The show was previously licensed to CiTV (UK) and ABC TV (Australia) and was recently greenlit for a second season by YTV (Canada).

Nerds and Monsters tosses 3 nerdy kids and a thick-headed football star on a fantastic uncharted island. The tween castaways must use nothing but their smarts to survive the relentless attacks by the island’s inhabitants – a tribe of hideous but hilarious monsters. And lucky for the Nerds, these dim-witted monsters don’t have any smarts!

SLAP HAPPY CARTOONS INC. has offices in Vancouver, B.C. and Los Angeles, Calif. Founded by top animation professionals Kathy Rocchio, Greg Sullivan, Josh Mepham and Vito Viscomi, Slap Happy Cartoons works with a global base of clients, which include development partners Comedy Central, Kids WB!, DHX Media, Canucks Sports and Entertainment, and Disney XD. With a wealth of experience from working on award-winning animation productions, the founders launched Slap Happy Cartoons to realize their shared vision and passion for creating original, funny – and sometimes twisted – cartoons for both kids and adults. Visit Slap Happy at www.SlapHappyCartoons.com

9 Story Entertainment is one of the industry’s leading creators, producers and distributors of award-winning animated and live-action content for young audiences around the world.  With one of North America’s largest animation studios based in Toronto, 9 Story has over 220 creative and production staff, and has produced over 900 half hours of quality children’s and family programming, seen on some of the most respected children’s channels around the world across multiple platforms.  The company’s distribution affiliate represents a growing catalogue which includes several beloved brands such as Arthur, Wibbly Pig, Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, Wild Kratts and Almost Naked Animals in addition to exciting new series such as Numb Chucks, Camp Lakebottom, Cache Craze, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood and Nerds and Monsters. Last year the company acquired CCI Kids, the family content division of CCI Entertainment, increasing 9 Story’s portfolio to over 1600 half hours of content with popular shows such as Guess How Much I Love You, Joe & Jack, Artzooka! and Extreme Babysitting.   www.9story.com

 

 

For further information: 

Jennifer Ansley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 9 Story Entertainment

+1 416 530-9900 ext 230, jennifera@9story.com

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News: Adult Swim’s Animated Hit “Rick and Morty” Signed to an Animation Guild – IATSE Contract

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PrintPRESS RELEASE:

The animation crew of “Rick and Morty”, one of Adult Swim’s newer blockbusters, has ratified a new labor agreement that will give them hourly wage boosts and health and pension benefits.

The Animation Guild, Local 839 IATSE, was contacted by show staffers in early summer and engineered an organizing drive with artists on the show — which culminated in a union contract on Monday.

Steve Kaplan, the organizer for the Animation Guild, said:

“This is an incredible victory for the Rick and Morty crew. They were the drivers on this, exercising their leverage at the right time. Management knew the artists were a valuable asset to the show. And to their credit, they did the right thing by quickly agreeing to a contract.”

Steve Hulett, TAG’s long-time business representative, added:

“I’ve been repping the Guild for a while now, and this was as focused and dedicated a crew as I’ve seen. After management realized the artists were serious about coming under the Animation Guild’s jurisdiction, they moved quickly to negotiate a fair and comprehensive contract. The talks were intense at times, but also cordial and professional.”

The Animation Guild represents over 3,300 animation workers in Southern California. Over the past three years, it has seen a steady increase in its membership.

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News: The Boxtrolls/”Trolls off the Tongue” featurette

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Bkb_JVDvo

THE BOXTROLLS releases in theaters on September 26!

DOWNLOAD the Official Poster Here:http://www.42west.biz/BOXTROLLS/THEBOXTROLLS_OfficialPoster.zip

For additional information please visit: http://www.focusfeatures.com/the_boxtrolls

Official trailer

Get social with the Boxtrolls:

https://www.facebook.com/theboxtrolls

http://instagram.com/theboxtrolls#

https://twitter.com/TheBoxtrolls

http://www.theboxtrolls.com/

#TheBoxtrolls

THE BOXTROLLS releases in theaters on September 26!

Story: A family event movie from the creators of “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously  feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.

Directors: Anthony Staachi and Graham Annable

Writer: Based on the novel Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow

Voice Cast: Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris, Toni Collette, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan

MPAA Rating: PG

 

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News: Michael Ouweleen Named Chief Marketing Officer, Cartoon Network – Adult Swim – Boomerang

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Michael Ouweleen 2014Michael Ouweleen Named Chief Marketing Officer,

Cartoon Network – Adult Swim – Boomerang

Michael Ouweleen has been named chief marketing officer for Turner Broadcasting System’s Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, it was announced today by Christina Miller, president and general manager who oversees the portfolio of media properties. He will be based in Atlanta and report to Miller.

Ouweleen, who was most recently senior vice president and executive creative director for Cartoon Network’s Creative Group and has been one of the brand’s key creative drivers for the last 17 years, will now provide the overall creative direction and strategic leadership to all areas of marketing, on-air, trade and sponsorship partnerships that support the three networks and all of its ancillary businesses, including digital, gaming, ad sales and consumer products.

“Michael has that strong combination of creative vision and strategic thinking,” said Miller. “He has a deep knowledge of our brands, and with him now leading the efforts for both the marketing and creative teams there is an opportunity for us to have a more holistic and creative approach to our marketing.”

As senior vice president and executive director for Cartoon Network’s Creative Group, Ouweleen oversaw and directed the development of creative materials for Cartoon Network’s off-channel needs, including print advertising, show launch kits, sales materials, PR materials, premiums and event environments. He also supervised all on-air promotions, program franchise packaging and sponsored promotions for both Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Additionally, he managed the development of on-air spots for the networks’ multiple licensed promotion partners.

Ouweleen began his career with Cartoon Network in 1996 as associate creative director of the on-air department. Within six months, he was promoted to vice president and creative director. In this capacity, he served as the primary writer/producer of on-air short-form material aimed at establishing Cartoon Network’s distinctive brand identity, winning multiple industry awards for his team’s creative accomplishments. Ouweleen was also a key member of the small team that championed and launched Adult Swim. While serving as Creative Director for the new block of programming, he also co-created, co-executive produced and co-wrote one of the first Adult Swim original series, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

His accomplishments brought both networks significant industry and pop culture buzz, and got Ouweleen named to Entertainment Weekly’s creative “It List” for the year 2000.

In 2003, as SVP of development and programming, Ouweleen oversaw the creation of such animated hits as Ben 10, Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, as well as the network’s first live-action adaptation of a network property, Ben 10: Race Against Time.

Prior to joining Cartoon Network, Ouweleen worked in advertising in New York and on several animated projects. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a major in both English and Theology.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is regularly the #1 U.S. television network in prime among boys 6-11 & 9-14. Currently seen in over 98 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network among persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 98 million U.S. homes.

Boomerang is TBS, Inc.’s 24-hour cable/satellite network offering the best in classic animated entertainment. In partnership with Cartoon Network, the service boasts 75 percent unduplicated programming and is available to cable/satellite operators and their customers in Spanish.  Boomerang’s official Web site is located at http://Boomerang.CartoonNetwork.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

 

#  #  #

 

Follow us @CartoonNetPR

 

CONTACTS:

Atlanta             James Anderson            james.anderson@turner.com            (404) 885-4205

 

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Reviews: Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon

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Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon
Reviewed by Melissa Milo

Tom-and-Jerry_The-Lost-Dragon_Box-Art_2D

Warner Bros. Animation, who’s produced countless hits such as Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Batman the Animated series and many more has brought back the dynamic duo in a big way.

Rather than the usual setting Tom and Jerry takes place in, this time our heroes dwell in an otherworldly village, filled with wizards, witches, and dragons and blue skinned people. Amongst them is a young, green-skinned witch named Athena who lives there as well along with our other two protagonists: Tom and Jerry.  Why she’s green is never really revealed.

Hated by the residents of this village due to the association with her evil aunt Drizelda, Athena is misunderstood and lonely, considering her only two friends are a cat and a mouse. When the trio finds an unhatched dragon egg, Tom is chosen to raise it once the creature is born. Aunt Drizelda, who was banished years earlier for use of dark magic, decides she needs the power this little dragon possesses and attempts to kidnap the poor thing. Throughout the rest of the movie everyone is trying to keep the dragon out of harm’s way all the while avoiding their village from being destroyed by Drizelda’s dark powers.

Although this movie was sweet and had a touching sense of child-friendly adventure, there were a few flaws. The plot line was a bit predictable and lacked the traditional fighting between Tom and Jerry, aside from a couple short scenes however in this politically-correct world that’s to be expected and this was not made for adults but for impressionable children. Still I did miss the slapstick humor and rivalry between the famous duo. The end of the film was also a bit perilous, in which some young children might find scary. However, despite these issues the rest of the movie was pretty humorous and adorable, especially with the baby dragon whose cheeks I desperately wanted to pinch.

Maybe this movie was not the Oscar pick of the season, but if you have a child from about four to eight, this movie might be worth watching. Enjoy!

TJ-Dragon-review

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Promote Yourself: Character Animation in Toon Boom Animate 3 DVD out Sept 10th

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Hey Campers,
Tony Ross of tonyteach.com here, and we’ve been working on this since April, but we will finally be releasing our new Toon Boom training, Character Animation in Toon Boom Animate 3, on Wednesday September 10.  This is probably the strongest, most in-depth Toon Boom title tonyteach has released to date, and it covers everything from a basic intro, to completing a short animated scene!
Learn ToonBoom Animate 3 in the most Easy way with this Step by Step Video Course! http://bit.ly/1vNpCS0
Though this course is for Toon Boom Animate 3, a majority of the tutorials work for version 2 as well. In addition, there is a BONUS section covering the Animate 3 Pro version.
Tony Ross/tonyteach.com