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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.

 

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Follow us @CartoonNetPR

 

CONTACTS:

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

 

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News: Cartoon Network Enlists One Million People to Share “I Speak Up” Online Videos for Fifth Annual Stop Bullying: Speak Up Initiative

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SPEAK UP WEEK Logo

For Release: September 4, 2014

Cartoon Network Enlists One Million People to Share “I Speak Up” Online Videos to Kick off its Fifth Annual Stop Bullying: Speak Up Initiative

SPEAK UP WEEK (Sept. 29-Oct. 3) Multi-Platform Campaign to Include Celebrity Messages, New Shorts and PSAs as Lead-in to National Bullying Prevention Month

Dad & Daughter Speak Up for Bullying Prevention
Lauded Initiative Provides Bystanders with Tools Needed to Stop Bullying By Encouraging All to “Speak Up” Via Social Media Using the Hashtag #ISpeakUp

As bullying continues to affect millions of kids nationwide, Cartoon Network is kicking off its annual Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign with a video call-to-action encouraging people to speak up on behalf of kids who need help. With a goal of attaining the combined voice of one million user-generated videos, the network is giving people the opportunity to say to the world, “I Speak Up.” By proclaiming those three words into a mobile device and sharing the video at www.StopBullyingSpeakUp.com as well as their own social media platforms using the hashtag #ISpeakUp, participants are vowing to say something if they witness bullying.

The initiative, which first launched in 2010, will culminate during CARTOON NETWORK’S SPEAK UP WEEK September 29 through October 3, as a kick-off to National Bullying Prevention Month in October. The goal for this year is simple: To collect one million user-generated videos that unite the voices of kids, parents, educators, celebrities and government officials, each committing to speak up—either themselves or to a trusted adult—when someone is bullied.

Select videos from participants will become part of new campaign spots to appear on Cartoon Network, its digital platforms and Boomerang throughout October. Cartoon Network’s partnering organizations—including Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), 4-H Clubs, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention—also will be reaching out to their targeted audiences and communities to help reach the one million videos goal. Through these combined efforts toward a united cause, Stop Bullying: Speak Up underscores that speaking up is one of the most effective ways to help bring a bullying situation to an end.

“We’re so proud of the youth who inspired this campaign by their courage and kindness. Our goal is to give young people, and the adults who care for them, the confidence and competence to speak up safely and effectively when bullying happens,” said Alice Cahn, Cartoon Network vice president of social responsibility. “Working with expert partners nationwide, Cartoon Network provides practical bullying prevention advice kids can put into action. This new phase of our campaign is meant to empower anyone who wants to take an active role in seeing bullying come to an end. We embrace and thank the one million people out there willing to publicly take a stand; coming together, we can all make a difference for our nation’s children.”

During CARTOON NETWORK’S SPEAK UP WEEK, in addition to the videos, Cartoon Network will air shorts, bumps and PSAs with anti-bullying themes featuring the overlying message that “speaking up” should become the action when bullying occurs. Each message will remind viewers to visit StopBullyingSpeakUp.com to learn how they can participate in the one million video challenge. Additional spots will feature animated characters from Cartoon Network’s original series interacting with kids and families who have shared their “I Speak Up” message at StopBullyingSpeakUp.com. Furthermore, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Turner Broadcasting sister networks TBS, TNT, CNN, HLN, NBA TV and TruTV will air special bumps showcasing recorded messages from Turner celebrities encouraging even more viewer participation. Finally, an official “I Speak Up” tally will appear onscreen each day noting how many people have officially “spoken up” by submitting videos and/or pledges during within the campaign.

For anyone interested in sharing their own “I Speak Up” video, easy instructions are readily available at www.StopBullyingSpeakUp.com, along with recommendations for optimum video results. All participants will be asked to sign a digital release form to clear use of the video for all on-air, online and/or social media opportunities. Users under the age of 18 will be encouraged to ask a parent for permission and for help in submitting a video. Those that participate are also encouraged to use the hashtag #ISpeakUp to share videos via their own social media platforms to help spread the word and enlist friends to take part in the challenge.

 

About Stop Bullying: Speak Up
Cartoon Network’s Stop Bullying: Speak Up is an award-winning, multi-platform pro-social campaign, created with experts in the field to raise awareness, build partnerships and empower young people to speak up against bullying safely and effectively. Campaign resources include video, print and online content—including an award-winning documentary introduced by President Barack Obama—available at StopBullyingSpeakUp.com, available at no charge to schools, community groups and parents to motivate bullying prevention activities or discussions.

 

About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is regularly the #1 U.S. television network in prime among boys 6-11 & 9-14. Currently seen in 97 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.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

CARTOON NETWORK CONTACTS:

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

Joe Swaney                                   (404) 885-0657                            joe.swaney@turner.com

Los Angeles          Courtenay Palaski                       (310) 788-6903                            courtenay.palaski@turner.com

 

THE LIPPIN GROUP CONTACTS:

Los Angeles          Pam Golum                                  (323) 965-1990 x325                 pgolum@lippingroup.com

New York              Sara Levin                                    (212) 986-7080                            sara@lippingroup.com

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News: Doctor Who’s back as a Saturday morning cartoon

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Creative Bloq.com is reporting that we’re only two weeks away form the premiere of Dr. Who as an animated cartoon. I had no idea it had even been greenlit! It DOES look an awful lot like Gravity Falls but then, the creator does site it as a main influence so I guess that makes sense.

From the site:

The Animated Adventures of Doctor Who is a captivating take on the series by Seattle-based art director and newspaper cartoonist, Stephen Byrne, which takes the Doctor Who we all know and love and brilliantly reboots it as a Saturday Morning cartoon. Byrne describes it as the same as regular Doctor Who, “with the silliness amped up and the darkness dialed down”.

 

From the title sequence, it’s very clear it’s done in Flash and to me that takes a way from it a bit but I understand the need to keep costs down. Anyway, it’s coming but honestly from the artile I can’t figure out to where!?!?!?

Byrne spent two long weekends and a few long evenings making the video, using Photoshop, Flash and Premiere. “I haven’t done animation in a few years,” he explains, “and so it was a little self-motivated project to relearn the principles of animation and the subtleties of the software. It was also an experiment to see if I could produce something half-decent in a reasonably limited time frame.”

You can read more about the new Animated Adventures of Dr. Who by clicking the link.