Basic Cable’s #1 Network In Total Day With Adults 18-34 and 18-49 Offers Up 9 New Series/Specials,

8 Pilots and 10 Returning Series

Childrens Hospital Spin-off Newsreaders and Animated Harold & Kumar Make The List

Fan Favorite Toonami Returns to Saturday Nights

Adult Swim, basic cable’s #1 network with young adults for seven consecutive years, sets out to “control” the night by announcing a slate of new and returning programming at its annual Upfront presentation in New York City. Hours before their annual event featuring a scheduled performance by Grammy Award-winning rap artist T.I., the network announced the largest programming commitment in Adult Swim’s history, which includes new and returning series, pilots and specials.

After having its most-watched broadcast season-to-date in its history with adults 18-34, Adult Swim has ordered second seasons of new hit shows China, IL and Loiter Squad. The top-rated series Childrens Hospital returns with a spin-off in tow and an animated pilot based on the Harold & Kumar films is in development. Additionally, in response to overwhelming fan enthusiasm and devotion, the beloved anime programming block Toonami will make its return Saturday, May 26.

New original series and specials:

• · NEWSREADERS – Newsreaders is a satire of the network television newsmagazine genre, from the creative team behind Adult Swim’s highly successful comedy Childrens Hospital. Based upon the “Newsreaders” episodes of Childrens Hospital which aired during seasons two and three, Newsreaders will explore the vital issues that actually don’t affect us every day, from hard-hitting investigations to harder-hitting heartwarming profiles. Created by Childrens Hospital executive producers Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the upcoming films Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and Butter), Jonathan Stern (The Ten; NTSF:SD:SUV::) and David Wain (Wanderlust, Wet Hot American Summer, Superjail!, upcoming films They Came Together and Dr. Dan), with Jim Margolis (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) serving as showrunner, Newsreaders will deliver unparalleled award-eligible reporting every week. The series is produced by Abominable Pictures and Warner Bros. Television Group’s Studio 2.0.

• · THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW – The series premieres on Sunday, May 20, at 12:30 a.m. (ET/PT) The Eric Andre Show may be the most manic and unorthodox late night talk show ever made. The show’s traditional talk show format quickly devolves into chaos as its inept and bipolar host Eric Andre, along with his apathetic co-host Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, SNL), subvert all late night conventions. Taking place on a dingy public-access TV channel within an alternate reality, The Eric Andre Show creates its own distorted pop culture universe by conducting interviews with an unpredictable mix of actual celebrities, “fake” celebrities and extreme real-life weirdos. These interviews are broken up with deranged man-on-the-street segments, surreal flashes of inexplicable studio chaos, talk show desk-pieces and the general deconstruction of late night’s most beloved tropes in every quarter-hour episode. The Eric Andre Show is produced by Abso Lutely and executive produced by Eric Andre, Andrew Barchilon, Kitao Sakurai, Daniel Weidenfeld (China, IL), and Dave Kneebone (Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!).

• · BLACK DYNAMITE – Premiering in July and based on 2009’s critically-acclaimed feature film, Black Dynamite, the animated series, further chronicles the exploits of the central character, Black Dynamite, and his crew. Under the direction of head writer Carl Jones (The Boondocks), the series features the voice talent of Michael Jai White (For Better or Worse, The Dark Knight, Why Did I Get Married?), Tommy Davidson (In Living Color, Bamboozled), Kym Whitley (The Cleveland Show, Brian McKnight Show) and Byron Minns (Mongo Wrestling Alliance), all of whom starred in the feature film. Black Dynamite, the animated series, is being produced by Ars Nova. Jon Steingart, Carl Jones, and Jillian Apfelbaum are executive producers. Brian Ash is co-executive producer. Scott Sanders, Michael Jai White and Byron Minns are producers. Monica Jones is associate producer. Lesean Thomas is creative producer/supervising director. Original music by Adrian Younge. Black Dynamite is being animated by Titmouse, Inc.

• · TOONAMI – Beginning Saturday, May 26, Adult Swim brings back Toonami, the network’s popular block of anime programming. Airing weekly from midnight to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), in addition to the return of previous series featured in Toonami, Adult Swim is also developing new original anime programming for fans.

• · HOT PACKAGE – Premiering this fall on Adult Swim, Hot Package is a live-action fictional Canadian entertainment news program in vein of “Entertainment Tonight,” “EXTRA,” or “E! News.” Hot Package is created by and stars Derrick Beckles (TV Carnage), produced by Abominable Pictures, with Jon Stern and Derrick Beckles as executive producers.

• · UNTITLED HELL PROJECT – This new live-action series from Adult Swim is a workplace comedy about Gary, an associate demon, as he competes on the corporate ladder of the underworld. A Williams Street production, the show is created and directed by Dave Willis (Squidbillies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force) and Casper Kelly (Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1, Squidbillies, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law).

• · ROBOT CHICKEN DC COMICS SPECIAL – Coming this fall, the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special brings you the awesomeness of the DC Comics universe of characters as only Robot Chicken can, with amazing guest stars and the stop-motion sketch comedy you’ve come to love after five seasons of the popular Adult Swim series. The special features many Robot Chicken favorites including the Robot Chicken Nerd, the Humping Robot, Composite Santa, and the Mad Scientist who will be joined by characters of the DC Comics universe to poke fun at those with the most impressive powers and the lesser ones who can’t really be called superheroes. The all-star cast includes Seth Green as Batman, Robin and the put-upon Aquaman, Paul Reubens as The Riddler, Neil Patrick Harris as Two-Face, Alfred Molina as Lex Luthor, Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern, Megan Fox as Lois Lane, Breckin Meyer as Superman, plus Abe Benrubi, Alex Borstein, Clare Grant, Tara Strong, Matt Senreich, Tom Root, Zeb Wells, and Kevin Shinick as the narrator. The Robot Chicken DC Comics Special is executive produced by Stoopid Monkey’s Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and their Stoopid Buddy Stoodios partners, Buddy Systems’ John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner along with DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, and Warner Bros. Animation’s Executive Vice President and Creative Affairs, Sam Register.

• · VENTURE BROTHERS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL – This October on Adult Swim, the Venture Family fills your Halloween goody bag with fun-sized Truth. Created and directed by Jackson Publick and written by Publick and Doc Hammer, both of whom also provide voices for the special, the Venture Brothers Halloween Special is being animated by Titmouse, Inc.

• · BEFOREL OREL – A Moral Orel special that sheds light on the origin of Orel’s religious nature and the birth of his brother, Shapey. Beforel Orel is created by Dino Stamatopoulos (Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole and Mr. Show).

Pilots:

• Untitled Animated Harold & Kumar Project (In Development) – An animated version of the eponymous blockbuster stoner comedy series. Produced by Lionsgate.
• Rick & Morty – A genius inventor grandfather and his less than genius grandson, and the journeys in life they share. From Dan Harmon (Community, Channel 101) and Justin Roiland. (30-minute animated)
• Colonel Wallace (Working Title) – An eccentric southern fried chicken magnate and his adventures with his family. Created by Greg Cohen (Conan O’Brien, King of the Hill, TV Funhouse). (15-minute animated)
• Coffin Dodgers – A group of misfit grumps get into fraternity-style trouble at a cozy suburban retirement home. From Dave Silverstein and Matt Jeser (Drawn Together). (30-minute animated)
• Green Bench: The American Day Dream – A group of friends have pooled their money to buy a large office space for their business. The only problem is they haven’t quite figured out what that business is. In the meantime, it’s an awesome headquarters where their petty, self-centered, and mischievous minds can wander. From the internet sketch comedy sensation Green Bench and produced by Dakota Pictures. (30-minute live-action)
• Freestyle Love Supreme – These I.T. guys work on their freestyle rapping at the office, much to the annoyance of their co-workers. Starring Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights). From Ars Nova (Black Dynamite). (30-minute live-action)
• King Star King – King Star King is a modern day he-man who’s half-warrior, half-idiot. From artist JJ Villard (Monsters Vs. Aliens) and Eric Kaplan (Big Bang Theory). (15-minute animated)
• Rolling With Dad – A brilliant, but disabled man deals with his much less intelligent family. From Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies; Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter; Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows; The Hard Times of RJ Berger) and David Katzenberg (The Hard Times of RJ Berger). (30-minute animated)

Ridiculous and Absurd Infomercials (That Sell You Nothing):

· NTSF:SD:SUV::Home Security System – The state of the art home security system has arrived. Protect your home from every type of terrorist invasion. Through the installation of electrified moats, attack leopards, gun turrets, and even a mini detention center, NTSF:SD:SUV::HSS is the only type of security to make sure that your mailman is who he says he is and your next store neighbor is as friendly as they seem. Never have a surprise guest again. Be prepared for the worst with the best security money can buy. Produced by Abominable Pictures.

· You’re Whole – Michael Ian Black introduces viewers to the best, most economical system for taking your life to the next level now available on 27 DVDs. Produced by Abominable Pictures.

· Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery (Working Title) – A typical knife/sword infomercial and call-in show goes horribly wrong for host Dragon Shumway when the studio is suddenly attacked by bad guys and our host finally gets to realize the full potential of his weaponry by unleashing each one on his enemies. Created by and starring Rob Huebel and produced by Abominable Pictures.

Returning series:

• AQUA SOMETHING YOU KNOW WHATEVER – What happens when three wisecracking roommates go from chasing tail to the diaper pail? You’ll find out, when Frylock, Meatwad, and Master Shake try their hands—and hearts—at raising a baby. But smelly diapers aren’t the only thing changing this season—Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 has been put to bed for a long nap and replaced by Aqua Something You Know Whatever, the show where Meatwad and the gang can get down to some serious parenting. This season, the Aqua Somethings find an ancient treasure map and follow it all the way to Argentina, where they’re shocked to discover an orphaned baby on the ‘x’ that marks the spot. Outraged, Master Shake begins to throw the child off a steep embankment but one look into the baby’s eyes, and the only thing getting thrown off a steep embankment is Shake’s heart. Introducing Pepe the Pepper, the newest member of the Aqua Something You Know Whatever family—and boy is he a handful! Find out what happens when three not-so-eligible bachelors catch a case of baby fever, and the only cure is snuggle time. The only nipples these guys will be touching are gonna have a bottle on the other end. Aqua Something You Know Whatever premieres in June on Adult Swim. Aqua Something You Know Whatever is created by Dave Willis (Squidbillies) and Matt Maiellaro (12 oz. Mouse).

• THE BOONDOCKS – Since the debut of the first season in 2005, The Boondocks has been one of Adult Swim’s most popular and critically acclaimed series. The Peabody Award-winning animated series is based on Aaron McGruder’s comic strip by the same name. Produced by Rebel Base in association with Sony Pictures Television, The Boondocks returns with a new season on Adult Swim.

• CHILDRENS HOSPITAL – This August, Childrens Hospital returns for its fourth season and continues to live up to its reputation as the greatest hospital drama in the history of recorded media. Applauded for its tight stories and medical accuracy, this season reaches new heights: an airborne virus threatens to destroy the hospital and perhaps society, a search for the mysterious PA announcer Sal Viscuso reveals an undercurrent of evil powering the hospital, the origins of Chief’s handicaps are revealed, a beloved regular character dies a couple of times, and Sy gets a dog! Also, from across the pond, we bring you the British version of Childrens Hospital (subtitled). Finally, 30% more story and character development! For free! The show’s creative team is led by Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and fellow executive producers/writers Jonathan Stern (The Ten; NTSF:SD:SUV::) and David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Wanderlust, Superjail!). Childrens Hospital is produced by Abominable Pictures and Warner Bros. Television Group’s Studio 2.0, and distributed by Warner Bros. Television.

• CHINA, IL – Renewed for a second season, China, IL is about the worst school in America, where the teachers are crazy and the students just want to learn. In this second season of new half-hour episodes, we’ll continue to follow the Professor Brothers, Frank & Steve Smith, as well as their TA Pony Merks & their man-child friend Babycakes, along with a host of other teachers, students and townies. Some examples of stories we’ll see this season are Baby Cakes’s Joe McCarthy-esque witch hunt for actual wizards and witches, Frank & Ronald Reagan’s quest for Thomas Jefferson’s legendary Crystal Castle, and a god who descends down on China, IL, turning it into a surfer town. China, IL was created by Brad Neely and is executive produced by Neely and Daniel Weidenfeld.

• THE HEART, SHE HOLLER – Renewed for a second season, The Heart, She Holler is a live-action soap opera about folk who ain’t never used soap or seen an opera. It’s a satire on the emotional Hee-Hawification of America, set in a town so inbred, the folks have become almost supernaturally wrong. The series is produced by PFFR, and stars Patton Oswalt, Kristen Schaal and Heather Lawless.

• LOITER SQUAD – Renewed for a second season after a top-rated premiere this March, Loiter Squad will continue to wreck havoc on Adult Swim. Loiter Squad is a 15 minute live-action show that features sketches, man on the street segments, pranks and music from Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. The cast, featuring the Los Angeles collective of rappers, artists, and skateboarders, channel their multi-faceted creative talents in this off-the-wall showcase. Loiter Squad is produced by Dickhouse Entertainment—the Hollywood production partnership of Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze who have been the creative power behind hits including Jackass, Nitro Circus, Rob & Big, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, Wild Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, The Birth of Big Air and Wildboyz. Jeff Tremaine, Shanna Zablow, Dimitry Elyashkevich, and Lance Bangs from Dickhouse Entertainment are executive producers.

• NTSF:SD:SUV::— This August on Adult Swim, terrorism is back and better than ever. Join Special Agent Trent Hauser and his elite counter-terrorist unit, NTSF:SD:SUV:: (National Terrorist Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle) for a second season of passionate yelling, pregnant pauses, and even more civilian casualties than last season! There will be Time Traveling, Robot Murders, Food Stealing Swedes, Talking Dogs, a Killer Santa Claus and a wedding. Terrorists—you’ve been warned—again! NTSF:SD:SUV:: is created by Paul Scheer and stars Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Rob Riggle, Kate Mulgrew, Brandon Johnson, June Diane Raphael, Martin Starr and Peter Sarafinowicz as the first sentient robot on television. NTSF:SD:SUV:: is produced by Abominable Pictures, Inc. Paul Scheer (The League, Human Giant), Jonathan Stern (The Ten; Childrens Hospital) and Curtis Gwinn (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet) are executive producers.

• ROBOT CHICKEN— Premiering its sixth season this fall on Adult Swim, Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format. The Emmy Award^®-winning series began airing in February 2005 and remains among the top-rated original series on Adult Swim. Robot Chicken is created and executive produced by Stoopid Monkey Productions’ Seth Green and Matthew Senreich and their Stoopid Buddy Stoodios partners, Buddy Systems’ John Harvatine IV and Eric Towner, also serve as executive producers. Green and Senreich also write, voice and with Zeb Wells, direct the multiple Annie Award-winning series. Robot Chicken head writers/co-executive producers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root are joined by season six writers Matthew Beans, Rachel Bloom, Mike Fasolo, Jessica Gao, Breckin Meyer, Jason Reich, Mehar Sethi, Tom Sheppard, Erik Weiner and Wells. For season six, Robot Chicken welcomes Elizabeth Banks, Sarah Chalke, Kat Dennings, Sam Elliott, Ben Foster, Whoopi Goldberg, Lucas Grabeel, Megan Hilty, Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Levi, J.B. Smoove, Liev Schreiber, Jon Stewart, Patrick Stewart, Stanly Tucci, Olivia Wilde, and Alex Winter.
• SQUIDBILLIES – Premiering its sixth season this July, Adult Swim welcomes you back to the North Georgia Mountains, birthplace of hell raising and inhalant huffing. At the epicenter of this rural paradise is Dougal County, home to crippling gambling addictions, murderous corporations, sexual deviants, and the authentic southern mountain squid. Early Cuyler continues his reign as America’s favorite cephalopod in season six of Squidbillies, filled with love, murder, sobriety, and the secrets of the Catfish Kingdom. This time around Rusty tackles fatherhood, Early defends his reputation as the town’s biggest badass, Granny helps the Sheriff solve a series of butt thefts, Lil embraces the boring life of sobriety, and the Sheriff finds love east of the Iron Curtain. Come watch the Cuylers chase the southern dream of a rewarding job in the food service industry, all while using violence and alcohol to tackle life’s toughest problems. It’s good clean family fun, if your family is in the 18-35 demographic! Squidbillies is written and produced by Dave Willis (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) and Jim Fortier (Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The Brak Show).
• SUPERJAIL! – This fall on Adult Swim, Superjail! slams back in general population for a third season of destruction. Triple the insanity. Triple the crazy. Triple the pain of being kicked in the guts really hard. Superjail! is produced at Titmouse Studios in N.Y. Series creators and executive producers Christy Karacas (Cartoon Sushi, Robotomy) and Stephen Warbrick (Beavis and Butthead, Celebrity Deathmatch) have teamed up again to take this over-the-top animated series to the next level.

Returning acquisitions:

• · AMERICAN DAD
• · BLEACH
• · CLEVELAND SHOW
• · FAMILY GUY
• · FULL METAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD
• · KING OF THE HILL

Regina Pessoa’s Kali the Little Vampire, Georges Schwizgebel’s Romance and Franck Dion’s Edmond Was a Donkey also featured at Toronto festival

Toronto, May 15, 2012 – The National Film Board of Canada’s pioneering role in short filmmaking will be showcased once again at the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival, taking place in Toronto from June 5 to 10, 2012.

The festival will be featuring the world premiere of Halifax-based filmmaker Andrea Dorfman’s new NFB animated short, Big Mouth. In her latest film, Dorfman explores the experiences of a bright-minded child who has an unfiltered and deeply curious way of looking at the world, honestly commenting on whatever she sees—be it a big mole or a big belly. A film for anyone, young or old, who has ever gotten in trouble for saying too much, Big Mouth is an animated short about one of life’s big lessons. It’s the latest collaboration between the filmmaker and St. John’s-based NFB producer Annette Clarke, who also teamed up on Dorfman’s award-winning 2010 NFB short Flawed.

More NFB titles in official selection

Featuring an outstanding performance by Canadian Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer, Regina Pessoa’s Kali the Little Vampire introduces audiences to an aged vampire named Kali, who remembers the day he learned to accept being different and found his place in the world. This beautiful and moving fable is the conclusion of Pessoa’s trilogy of shorts about childhood, following the 1999 film A Noite and the multi-award-winning 2005 NFB film Tragic Story with Happy Ending. Kali the Little Vampire is produced by Abi Feijó (Ciclope Filmes), Julie Roy and René Chénier (NFB), Pascal Le Nôtre (Folimage Studio), and Georges Schwizgebel and Claude Luyet (Studio GDS).

Georges Schwizgebel’s animation talents are also on display at the festival with his own Genie Award-winning short, Romance. Schwizgebel masterfully sweeps us into another world through music and movement, breaking down the boundaries between desire and reality in a tale of two strangers who undergo a turbulent airline flight together. A dazzling visual transcription of the second movement of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, op. 19, Romance is produced by Georges Schwizgebel (Studio GDS) with Marc Bertrand and René Chénier (NFB).

Franck Dion’s Edmond Was a Donkey illustrates the challenges of being true to oneself in a world filled with social conformists. When co-workers tease him by crowning him with a pair of donkey ears, the film’s central character discovers his true nature—only to open a widening chasm between him and everybody else. Edmond Was a Donkey is produced by Franck Dion and Richard Van Den Boom (Papy3D Productions), and Julie Roy (NFB).

DALLAS, TX – NCircle Entertainment has acquired distribution rights for The Gruffalo’s Child, the highly anticipated follow-up to the Academy Award-nominated animated short, The Gruffalo, produced by Magic Light Pictures. The Gruffalo’s Child reprises the all-star voice cast of Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, James Corden, Robbie Coltrane, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson, and welcomes Shirley Henderson as the title character. NCircle Entertainment will release The Gruffalo’s Child on DVD on August 14, 2012.

“We are extremely pleased to bring the amazing animated versions of Julia Donaldson’s beloved children’s stories to families in the comfort of their own homes,” said Debbie Ries, senior vice president and general manager of NCircle Entertainment. “The Gruffalo DVD won the hearts of viewers of all ages when it was released last year, and The Gruffalo’s Child extends the magic of the original with a new story that promises to delight audiences once again.”

The Gruffalo’s Child is based on the companion book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo tells his child an extraordinary story of “The Big Bad Mouse,” warning her never to go in the woods alone because there is a terrible creature lurking there. Waiting until her father falls asleep, the Gruffalo’s Child sneaks out into the deep dark woods to see The Big Bad Mouse for herself. Along the way she runs into a snake, an owl, and a fox and discovers that while they have similar features to The Big Bad Mouse, they are, in fact, not him. Just as she is about to give up her search, she stumbles upon a tiny mouse. Cautious of her, the mouse listens to what The Gruffalo’s Child is looking for, and then decides to reveal his big bad secret!

NCircle will be promoting The Gruffalo’s Child through national advertising, including TV and radio, as well as a broad social media campaign.

WARNER HOME VIDEO POWERS UP GREEN LANTERN: THE ANIMATED SERIES —RISE OF THE RED LANTERNS (SEASON 1 PART 1) WITH DVD RELEASE ON AUGUST 28, 2012

Hal Jordan Faces His Ultimate Threat in New Two-Disc DVD Set

Green Lantern: The Animated Series – Rise of the Red Lanterns (Season 1 Part 1) Includes First 13 Episodes of the Popular Cartoon Network CG-Animated Action Series

BURBANK, CA, (May 15, 2012) –Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps embark on their latest intergalactic missions as Warner Home Video (WHV) releases Green Lantern: The Animated Series — Rise of the Red Lanterns (Season 1 Part 1) on DVD. Based on the adventures of the popular DC Comics super hero, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, currently part of Cartoon Network’s DC Nation programming block (Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET/PT), is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and animation legend Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series; DC Universe Animated Original Movies). The two-disc DVD set featuring the first 13 episodes of the CG-animated action series will be available on August 28, 2012 for $19.97 SRP.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series — Rise of the Red Lanterns (Season 1 Part 1) follows Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps on a treacherous journey through deep space. As Earth’s Green Lantern, Hal must face down an invasion from the villainous Red Lantern Corps, who will stop at nothing to destroy and silence the Green Lantern Corps forever. Joined by his former drill sergeant Kilowog, and several all-new heroes, Hal brings the cosmic battle against the forces of evil to the far reaches of the galaxy. Equipped with a new squad and new spacecraft, The Inceptor, Hal and the team set out to protect the universe — and the Green Lantern Corps itself!

“Green Lantern: The Animated Series has really taken us into a realm we hadn’t explored before:  our first completely CG-animated series,” enthuses Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, at Warner Bros. Animation. “Like Teen Titans and Batman: The Animated Series, it’s an incredible, groundbreaking action series, combining the legendary instincts of Emmy®-winning executive producer Bruce Timm and the incredible artistry of WBA’s CG animators. It’s a beautifully rendered, epic space adventure with a scale that’s simply breathtaking.”

“With the release of the live-action movie last summer and the wildly popular Cartoon Network series, Green Lantern mania is at an all-time high,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President of Family and Animation Marketing and Partner Brands. “Warner Bros. Animation is known for creating outstanding animated series, and we are thrilled to be able to bring these new super hero adventures to DVD.”

Executive produced by Sam Register (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ben 10), and Bruce Timm, Green Lantern: The Animated Series is produced by Giancarlo Volpe (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Jim Krieg (Ben 10: Alien Swarm). Based upon the popular DC Comics character, the series features the voice talents of Josh Keaton as Hal Jordan, Jason Spisak as Razer, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kilowog and Grey DeLisle as Aya. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Green Lantern: The Animated Series airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. (ET/PT) as part of Cartoon Network’s DC Nation programming block.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series — Rise of the Red Lanterns (Season 1 Part 1) includes the following episodes:

1. Beware My Power…Green Lantern’s Light (Part One)
2. Beware My Power…Green Lantern’s Light (Part Two)
3. Razer’s Edge
4. Into the Abyss
5. Heir Apparent
6. Lost Planet
7. Reckoning
8. Fear Itself
9. …In Love and War
10. Regime Change
11. Flight Club
12. Invasion
13. Homecoming

The DVD also includes a four-page preview of the Green Lantern: The Animated Series comic book.

THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS Available on August 14th

HOUSTON, May 15, 2012 – Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its August slate of releases; including This Boy Can Fight Aliens. Written and created by director Soubi Yamamoto, the newest and most innovating creator in the anime field, and produced by CoMix Wave Inc., This Boy Can Fight Aliens will be released on DVD & BLU-RAY by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks.

Product details follow, in order of release

Coming August 2012

Title: THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS SEASON 2

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 300 min.

Street Date: 8/7/2012

Format: DVD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Every otaku’s favorite dating sims champion is back! And Keima still has his adorable lost soul-hunting, demon cutie with him! Together, they continue their pursuit of finding escaped lost souls who are hiding within beautiful, young school girls. But how to release these trapped spirits? Why they have to get the girls to fall in love of course! And this time when lost souls turn up in everyone from the school’s sexy bully to the school’s hottest new student teacher, Keima finds even his romantic powers are going to have to be working over time. And when a giant loose soul turns the entire school into a group of love-starved zombies, Keima and Elsie have to recruit a new demon to help! It’s two times the adventure, two times the excitement, and two times the romance in The World God Only Knows Season Two!

Title: THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS SEASON 2 BLU-RAY

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 300 min.

Street Date: 8/7/2012

Format: BD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $69.98

SYNOPSIS: Every otaku’s favorite dating sims champion is back! And Keima still has his adorable lost soul-hunting, demon cutie with him! Together, they continue their pursuit of finding escaped lost souls who are hiding within beautiful, young school girls. But how to release these trapped spirits? Why they have to get the girls to fall in love of course! And this time when lost souls turn up in everyone from the school’s sexy bully to the school’s hottest new student teacher, Keima finds even his romantic powers are going to have to be working over time. And when a giant loose soul turns the entire school into a group of love-starved zombies, Keima and Elsie have to recruit a new demon to help! It’s two times the adventure, two times the excitement, and two times the romance in The World God Only Knows Season Two!

Title: PARASITE DOLLS COMPLETE COLLECTION

Published by: AEsir Holdings

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 95 min.

Street Date: 8/7/2012

Format: DVD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: In a near future world where the dividing line between the people and the plastic is becoming increasingly blurred, it’s the job of the Branch to keep the streets of Genom City safe from the dangers of a technology that no one yet knows the limits of. If it even has any. Between the evolving sentience of an entirely new manufactured species, the chaos that inevitably ensues when backyard cyber-hackers attempt to do their own field mods and the willingness of powerful hi-tech corporations to cut a few corners, the men and women of the Branch have already got their work cut out for them. And that’s before they factor in the danger of internal corruption, given that one of their own members boasts a metal endoskeleton. Join the ultimate robo-cops as they patrol the dark side of the day after tomorrow in PARASITE DOLLS!

Title THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 28 min.

Street Date: 8/14/2012

Format: DVD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $14.98

SYNOPSIS: When aliens suddenly invade the world, Earth seems to be fighting a losing battle until Arikawa, one of the defense command staff, accidentally discovers a young man lying on a hill. Tests soon prove the impossible: this one teenager, Kakashi, has the power to defeat the attackers! Unfortunately, Kakashi has also lost his memory, and with it the knowledge of how to actually use his power. Moving Kakashi in with himself and his own commander, Shiro, Arikawa accidentally starts a strange triangle of emotions and relationships. A triangle that threatens the fate of the planet as Kakashi begins to question his own motivations! From up and coming director Soubi Yamamoto, and CoMix Wave, who spearheaded Japan’s new wave of independent anime production with the works of Makoto Shinkai, comes a film that turns The War of The Worlds inside out: THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS!

Title: THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS BLU-RAY

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 28 min.

Street Date: 8/14/2012

Format: BD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $24.98

SYNOPSIS: When aliens suddenly invade the world, Earth seems to be fighting a losing battle until Arikawa, one of the defense command staff, accidentally discovers a young man lying on a hill. Tests soon prove the impossible: this one teenager, Kakashi, has the power to defeat the attackers! Unfortunately, Kakashi has also lost his memory, and with it the knowledge of how to actually use his power. Moving Kakashi in with himself and his own commander, Shiro, Arikawa accidentally starts a strange triangle of emotions and relationships. A triangle that threatens the fate of the planet as Kakashi begins to question his own motivations! From up and coming director Soubi Yamamoto, and CoMix Wave, who spearheaded Japan’s new wave of independent anime production with the works of Makoto Shinkai, comes a film that turns The War of The Worlds inside out: THIS BOY CAN FIGHT ALIENS!

Title: SULTRY ASSASSIN: NINJA BRAINWASH

Published by: Switchblade Pictures

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 73 min.

Street Date: 8/14/2012

Format: DVD

Language: Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $19.98

SYNOPSIS: When Yui Kusunoki, an undercover geisha secretly in the employ of the Inner Secret Guard, disappears while en route to deliver an oral message concerning rogue Koga Ninja penetrations in southern Hikone, there’s just one sword-mistress who can go down after her: the notorious but very easy on the eyes Rin Saejima a.k.a. the Sultry Assassin! But knowing that her identity may have already been compromised as a result of the Koga’s Erotic Brainwashing technique, Rin devises a cunning plan of her own: one that involves bringing her “associate” Yasuburo back into her fold posing as her husband! Get ready for sword-handling of every kind and lots of derring-do getting done in the most unexpected places (and locations) as the team behind the sizzling escapades of THE APHRODISIAC KILL reunite for a double-sworded, sordid ero-ninja epic that scholars of Japanese history would very much prefer that you don’t bring up in class: SULTRY ASSASSIN: NINJA BRAINWASH!

Title: NO. 6

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 275 min.

Street Date: 8/21/2012

Format: DVD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: In a near future world after the last great war, most of mankind now lives in a handful of city states. There, for the privileged elite, life should be perfect. But for young Shion, the only thing perfect has been the nightmare his life has become since letting a strange boy called Rat spend the night in his apartment. Banished to the outskirts of the city and stripped of all privileges for helping the mysterious stranger who has since disappeared, Shion now finds himself in even worse danger as his inquiry into a new series of mysterious deaths results in his being arrested on suspicion of murder! But even as Shion is being sent to the city’s Correctional Institute, the long missing Rat reappears to rescue him! Now, on the run, the two young men have only one chance at survival: uncover the mysterious secrets that lie at the sinister heart of No. 6!

Title: NO. 6 BLU-RAY

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 275 min.

Street Date: 8/21/2012

Format: BD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $69.98

SYNOPSIS: In a near future world after the last great war, most of mankind now lives in a handful of city states. There, for the privileged elite, life should be perfect. But for young Shion, the only thing perfect has been the nightmare his life has become since letting a strange boy called Rat spend the night in his apartment. Banished to the outskirts of the city and stripped of all privileges for helping the mysterious stranger who has since disappeared, Shion now finds himself in even worse danger as his inquiry into a new series of mysterious deaths results in his being arrested on suspicion of murder! But even as Shion is being sent to the city’s Correctional Institute, the long missing Rat reappears to rescue him! Now, on the run, the two young men have only one chance at survival: uncover the mysterious secrets that lie at the sinister heart of No. 6!

Title: K-ON! SEASON 2 COLLECTION 2

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 350 min.

Street Date: 8/28/2012

Format: DVD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $59.98

SYNOPSIS: Sometimes music and words come together so perfectly that the combination is far more powerful than either would be alone. In much the same way, the five members of the Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School’s Light Music Club have become far more than just a group of girls with similar interests. More, even, than just a group of friends. Through the medium of music they’ve found a common course in life, and whatever the future may bring, they know they can get through it if they stand together. Which makes the coming end of the school year and the graduation of the four older members something that’s dreaded as much as it’s looked forward to. But in the meantime there’s so much going on, it’s as life has decided to throw everything it can at them. Going to music festivals won’t be hard to swing, but running a marathon? That will be a stretch! Yearbook photos? The horror! And a school play with Mio and Ritsu cast as Romeo and Juliet? Ooo, VERY awkward. And then, of course, there’s one big final performance for the band! The tempo is rising and emotions run wild as the final encore approaches in K-ON! Season 2 Collection 2!!

Title: K-ON! SEASON 2 COLLECTION 2 BLU-RAY

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 350 min.

Street Date: 8/28/2012

Format: BD

Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $69.98

SYNOPSIS: Sometimes music and words come together so perfectly that the combination is far more powerful than either would be alone. In much the same way, the five members of the Sakuragaoka Girl’s High School’s Light Music Club have become far more than just a group of girls with similar interests. More, even, than just a group of friends. Through the medium of music they’ve found a common course in life, and whatever the future may bring, they know they can get through it if they stand together. Which makes the coming end of the school year and the graduation of the four older members something that’s dreaded as much as it’s looked forward to. But in the meantime there’s so much going on, it’s as life has decided to throw everything it can at them. Going to music festivals won’t be hard to swing, but running a marathon? That will be a stretch! Yearbook photos? The horror! And a school play with Mio and Ritsu cast as Romeo and Juliet? Ooo, VERY awkward. And then, of course, there’s one big final performance for the band! The tempo is rising and emotions run wild as the final encore approaches in K-ON! Season 2 Collection 2!!

Title: KOIHIME ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Published by: Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by: Section23 Films

Run Time: 975 min.

Street Date: 8/28/2012

Format: DVD

Language: Japanese with English Subtitles

SRP: $89.98

SYNOPSIS: You’ve heard of Mulan, you may have heard of Wu Zetian, but even before those legendary lady warriors, the soil of Ancient China had proved fertile ground for the cultivation of an elite force of ferociously female fighters! The saga begins as a girl named Aisha takes on the name Kan’u and sets forth on a journey that inspires others to shatter the shackles of their own tradition and take up the way of the sword. And once you and the girls have accomplished one heroic quest, how do you top it except by taking up another? And then another! (Some epochs it just seems like a woman’s work is never done!) All three epic adventures in the spectacular Koihime Muso series, including the OVAs, are collected together at last as the ancient epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms takes on an unexpected new look and some very feminine curves in KOIHIME MUSO – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION!

This weekend, Stuttgart’s International Festival of Animated Film announced the winners of its 19th Trickfilm competition (May 8-3). Martin Snopek and Ivana Laucikova’s The Last Bus (Slovakia), Alke Arndt’s Atlas (Germany) and Ignacio Ferreras’ Wrinkles (Spain) were among the big winners at this well-attended event.

Here is the complete list of winners:

International Competition
Grand Prix [15.000 Euros]
Posledny Autobis (The Last Bus)
Director: Martin Snopek, Ivana Luaickova [Slovakia]

Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film
Award for the best graduation film. [10.000 Euros]
Heldenkanzler
Director: Benjami Swiczinsky (Germany)

SWR Audience Award [6.000 Euros]
Atlas
Director: Aike Arndt (Germany)

Meckatzer Lena-Weiss-Award [5.000 Euros]
Body Memory
Director: Ulo Pikkov (Estonia)

Young Animation
Award for Best Student Film [ 2.500 Euros]
The Making of Longbird
Director: Will Anderson (U.K.)

AniMovie
Award for Best Animated Feature Film [2.500 Euros]
Arrugas (Wrinkles)
Director: Ignacio Ferreras (Spain)

Tricks for Kids
Award for Best Children’s Animated Film [4.000 Euros]
Zing
Directors: Kyra Buschor, Cynthia Collins (Germany)

Award for Best Animated Series for Children
Mia and Me: Talking to Unicorns
Director: Gerhard Hahn (Germany)

Cartoons for Teens [2.500 Euros]
Botanical Nightmare
Director: Thomas Lucas (U.K.)

The Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) was founded in 1982 and is considered one of the world’s top animation festivals. More than 70,000 Euros in prize money is awarded in nine different competition categories. The ITFS works in close co-operation with the FMX 2012, Europe’s largest professional conference for animation, effects, games and digital media (17th Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Transmedia, May 8 – 11, 2012

For a complete list of winners, visit http://www.itfs.de/en/home/

Los Angeles, CA — With a mission to connect high-end talent with awesome brands, iartists has launched in Los Angeles to represent directors, designers, animators, visual effects pros, storytellers and digital experts, working across platforms, devices and spaces. Founded by Danixa Diaz and Ed Rivero, the company’s progressive artists rep model engages hybrid production and mixed-media talent with broadcast networks, advertising agencies, gaming companies and brands from around the globe.

iartists has curated a worldwide roster that includes Prologue, a design and filmmaking collective founded by industry visionary Kyle Cooper; design and live-action production company Süperfad for broadcast, gaming and US Hispanic commercial representation; and exclusive representation of creative shop Iron Claw, Uruguay-based VFX and motion graphics studio Aparato, Madrid-based VFX house La Huella, and COPA, a virtual creative entity founded by visual effects experts Alex Frisch (founder of Method Studios) and former Rhinofx partner Vico Sharabani.

“As a longtime advocate of mixed-media companies, we launched iartists to fill a void in how they’re represented,” remarks Danixa Diaz, partner/executive producer of iartists. “The creative shops and renowned global talent on our roster are not ‘post’ houses. They are full-service production companies with creative capabilities and directors, in most cases treating live-action, visual effects, design and animation as one process.”

“The new breed of directors is more dynamic in all aspects of production,” adds Ed Rivero, managing partner. “They have a strategic, conceptual way of looking at the entire scope of a project, and how everything falls into place, increasing efficiency and continuity. Now we have a more robust budget because it’s being spent on the whole concept versus just one component.”

Diaz will guide iartists drawing from her deep industry roots in branding, production, post-production and mixed media. Prior to iartists, Diaz was Director of Business Development at Imaginary Forces for seven years. In addition to her active involvement with several industry organizations, she has notably served on the PromaxBDA board since 2003, and is currently a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Title Design Executive Committee for the Emmy® Awards.

As hybrid studios continue to play a more integral role in creating content for commercials, broadcast and gaming, iartists aims to bring that trend to the forefront of the industry promoting the full-service capabilities of its client niche. With a single director or team overseeing the project to completion, iartists sees a holistic production approach from which network and agency clients will benefit.

Explains Diaz: “Many jobs are simply more suitable for these companies because nowadays we have designers and VFX artists who are also amazing live-action directors. In the commercial realm, their skills often go hand-in-hand with production and shouldn’t be treated as post; moreover, on the broadcast side, many of them are already acting as creatives for networks developing concepts and producing content from beginning to end. Lots of projects still call for the traditional approach, but we’re here to advocate the alternative when it makes sense in order to get the smartest, best work possible.”

The “i” in iartists stands for “international,” representing the company’s multifaceted mission. On the business landscape, iartists will bring international talent to the U.S. and conversely, it will take American-based talent to international markets.

iartists has already closed several projects for its roster including an ad campaign, branding, promo and main title work for clients in Latin America, Europe and the US.

New York, NY – Production company Hornet announced that it has signed 2011 BAFTA Award-winning director Mikey Please to its talent roster. Having recently finished the festival circuit, Mikey’s BAFTA Award-winning film, The Eagleman Stag, is now making its full-length public debut.

After healing the sprained ankle of a unicorn, Mikey Please was granted one wish. He wished to be the greatest animation director, EVER. Alas, unicorns aren’t magicians. Though, it did tell him that if he worked really, really hard forever, then maybe one day he’d be kind of ok.

So he went off to do a Masters at London’s Royal College of Art, funding it with commissions from a range of clients including Virgin, Rough Trade, Ninja Tune and Universal Records. There he made a short film called The Eagleman Stag, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, won a BAFTA Award and over twenty other awards from places such as SXSW; International Film Festivals in Seattle, LA and Chicago; and AFI.

The Eagleman Stag tells the story of a man who has spent his life in both fascination and fear of his quickening perception of time with age. As the main character nears the end of his days, his interest turns to obsession, which leads him to undertake progressively extreme measures to control and counter time’s increasing pace.

Nike will be among the first major brands to leverage Mikey’s carefully constructed storylines. Due to launch in May, the stop motion film will highlight the fitness-tracking device known as the Nike+ FuelBand and use the product’s slogan to drive the plot. In addition to the project with Nike, Mikey is developing a new short film called Martyn Myller, which will be produced by Hornet.

Hornet will represent Mikey in the US, Canada and South America. Passion Pictures will provide representation in Europe.