Cynopsis: Kids!

6/07/07

Good morning. It’s Thursday, June 7, 2007 and this is your first early morning briefing.

When will see Shrek four and five?  In an interview in Australia’s Courier Mail, DreamWorks topper Jeffrey Katzenberg said Shrek the Fourth (not a real title) will be out in 2010, followed by the fifth in 2013. 

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

NASCAR, Inc. and Reel FX Home Entertainment have unfurled the green flag signaling they will begin production this summer on a new animated preschool DVD series (title TBA) based on auto-racing.  Currently scheduled for launch in spring 2009, the DVDs are first part of a line of programming and various products that will fall under the NASCAR Jr. banner.  Designed as an educational series, the project follows the five friends, with their kid-sized cars, on various adventures as they use their problem solving skills, teamwork and learn life lessons.  Each DVD title will also feature original music.  The series is co-created/co-executive produced by Jon Green and Dennis DeShazer (co-creator of Barney).  Given that the Disney/Pixar movie Cars was quite successful last year in its theatrical and home video release, the odds are good for this show.

Entara Ltd, acquired the UK licensing rights to the classic 1960’s kid series, The Magic Roundabout. Ellipsanime, Film Action, M6, and Disney Channel France joined forces to produce the new 3D pre-school animation series based on the classical property. The new Magic Roundabout (52×11′) series is set to bow in the UK on Nickelodeon’s preschool channel Nick Jr.  Meanwhile in Germany, ZDF has picked up the German language rights. Theresa Plummer-Andrews is UK Exec Producer for the new series and Graham Ralph co-directed.

Warner Bros. has taken an option on the big screen CGI animated version of Thundercats, the 1980s animated series and toy line, according to Variety.  Featuring a screenplay by Paul Sopocy, the movie will be produced by Paula Weinstein and her Spring creek Productions, with Dick Robertson and Lew Korman.

Correction: Bakugan, the anime action series, will make its Canadian premiere on Teletoon, July 8 at 10:30a and not as printed in yesterday’s edition.

MORE KIDS STUFF

What Time Is It, the music video for the theme song for High School Musical 2 will debut on Disney Channels around the world this beginning Saturday, June 9, in the US at 7:55p.  The song launched a few weeks back on Radio Disney.  The sequel to Disney Channel’s original movie is set to premiere Friday, August 17 at 8p on Disney Channel.  And for all of you out there who were thinking it might be Howdy Doody Time … what can I say.

Wayside (26×30′), a new animated series based on the hugely popular Wayside School book series by author Louis Sachar, will premiere on Nickelodeon on Monday, June 25 at 12:3p.  The show airs regularly weekdays at 12:30p.  Sachar’s, who is most widely known for his book Holes, funny and peculiar (in a good way) stories take place at the Wayside school, which incidentally was supposed to be a one-story school with 30 classrooms but something went awry and the school is constructed as a 30-story building with one classroom per floor; and that is before the weird faculty, quirky student and a cow here and there show up each day.  The series is produced by Nelvana.

Nicktoon Network is set to premiere the second season of the anime series Kappa Mikey this weekend.  Season two, which contains 26×30′ new episodes, gets underway Saturday, June 9 at 8:30p, with another new episode bowing the following night at 8:30p.  On Saturday leading into the first new show is a marathon of Kappa Mikey episodes from season one beginning at 4p.  The series was created and executive produced by Larry Schwarz, CEO, Animation Collective

MARKETING/LICENSING

DIC Entertainment has inked a deal with Wal-Mart to launch a launch a line of Mommy & Me toys in 1,300 of the retailer’s US stores and online.  The initial August 2007 rollout will feature four “Together Time” toys, including Potty Time, Bath Time, Sleep Time and On The Go Time, which are designed to encourage and support playtime between Moms and their kids 4-years and under.  The toys will run from US $10 and up.  DIC, which acquired 25-year-old Mommy & Me brand in 2002, plans re-launch a newly designed Mommy & Me website later this month.  Finally, the company is currently developing additional products under the Mommy & Me brand, including maternity products as well as packaged consumer goods, which are expected to launch in 2008/2009.

Starz Media makes its first trip to the Licensing International Expo (aka the licensing show), June 19-21, 2007, looking for potential partners for a range of animated and live-action TV, movie and video game properties targeted to various demos, including kids, teens and families.  In addition to representing the preschool series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, which it produces in association with Bolder Media Inc. relationship with Bolder Media, Starz Media will be showcasing kids, teens and family centric projects such as:

• Eon Kid – a CG animated series from Korea that revolves around a boy who stumbles on the legendary Iron Fist, which bestows him with fighting power and puts him into an age-old struggle between good and evil. Starz Media is working with Al Ovadia & Associates to develop US licensing and merchandising opportunities for the series, which is set to debut this fall of 2007 on Kids’ WB!
• Hellboy Animated – the series is based on the Hellboy comic book character, created in Mike Mignola; the same character that has also been featured in the live-action movie, the two animated movies on Cartoon Network and on DVD, through Anchor Bay Entertainment, a division of Starz Home Entertainment.
• Space Chimps – Starz Media will be looking for promotional partners for this animated comedy from Fox, which is slated for release in summer 2008.  Fox is handling all licensing and merchandising related to the film.  Space Chimps follows a trio of spunky simians who must overthrow the evil dictator of a distant planet in order to return a missing space probe to Earth.

Cookie Jar Entertainment has entered into an online ad deal with Gorilla Nation.  Under the partnership Gorilla Nation will initially handle online advertising for the websites for two of Cookie Jar’s shows, Spider Riders and The Doodlebops.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Kidz Bop LLC has upped Sandi Hemmerlein to VP/Marketing.  In this role she will oversee Kidz Bop marketing including the website and the forth coming fall 2007 national live tour as well as inking partnerships and sponsorships for the Kidz Bop brand.  Hemmerlein, who had been Sr. Director/Marketing, will report to Co-CEOs Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam.

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: What series would you be on if you cheer on the Bayside Barracudas?  Actually, there could have been two answers to this one. THAT’S SO RAVEN and/or SAVED BY THE BELL.   Kudos to: Jaymie Presberg-Grand Communications, Inc./NY; Sarah Real-Cartoon Network/NY; Todd Merker-Educational Adventures/Charlotte; Sharon O’Donnell-Carat USA/Atlanta; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Bethany Scheuerman-GRP Media/Chicago; Malia Chee-Strata One Source/Chicago; Amanda Zolper-Tokyopop, Inc./LA; Al Ovadia-Al Ovadia & Associates/Calabasas; Justin Meadows-Disney ABC Cable Networks Group/Burbank; Katie Hammill-Stellick Marketing Communications Inc./Toronto
 
Today’s Trivia Question: Where would you find Binya Binya the Pollywog?  ( click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)
 
Later — Gwen
Gwen Billings for Cynopsis: Kids!
06.07.07

Cynopsis Ad Sales:  Jennifer Franko – 203-583-9796 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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JOB OPENING: MRKTNG DIR/Montgomery Village, MD: BA; 3+ yrs exp in the entertainment ind. TV, Radio, Music, Records, Advertising, Sales and Excellent Analytical & Writing Skills. [email protected] (6/14)

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JOB OPENING: WEB PRODUCER/Nicktoons Network NY: 3+yrs online exp. Manage & execute multple online projects on time & on bdget. Undrstnding of internet/technlgy/site architctr. Flash knwldg prfd. Apply: [email protected] (6/14)

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SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at  [email protected] .

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: LA Intern/Banyan Productions: Assist prod. team in ofc & in the field w/new 1hour docu-drama style series.Assist w/research,releases,casting,computer work & more.FT or PT, begin asap,work through summer. [email protected] (6/9)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …

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Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email Trish Pihonak for specs.