“Oh My Glob!” Adventure Time is coming back to DVD! On the heels of a successful home entertainment debut for Cartoon Network’s breakout smash hit comedy series, Adventure Time will once again wreak havoc on the DVD shelves at all major retailers across the nation with the release of Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere on March 6, 2012. Starring Jake the dog and Finn the human – not to mention the rock-loving Marceline, bodacious Lumpy Space Princess, frigid Ice King and many others – this sophomore release from the Emmy® Award-nominated series will include 16 fun and exciting episodes from the series’ three magical seasons, plus a “Little Did You Know” character profile bonus feature. Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $19.82 and will be available for retailer pre-order until January 31, 2012.

“The fan, industry and retail response to Adventure Time has been nothing short of phenomenal and our second DVD release will only continue to build on the momentum surrounding the brand,” said Erik Resnick, vice president of home entertainment, CNE. “With Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere, we’ve increased the number of episodes included from 12 to 16 to give fans even more of what they want, and we look forward to building this DVD franchise with future episodic and season collectible sets in the coming months.”

The full list of 16 episodes featured in the Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere DVD is:

It Came From the Nightosphere
Rainy Day Daydream
Wizard
Power Animal
Enchiridion
Slumber Party Panic
The Real You
Memory of a Memory
Prisoners of Love
Crystals Have Power
Business Time
Mystery Train
Guardians of Sunshine
The Monster
Hit Man
The Creeps

Cartoon Network will support the release of Adventure Time: It Came From the Nightosphere with targeted on-air advertising spots on Cartoon Network as well as a kid-focused online marketing campaign on Cartoonnetwork.com and other kid and parent targeted websites. Additionally, Adventure Time continues to dominate and grow at retail across a multitude of product categories, including toys, apparel, accessories and much more. The toy line from Jazwares has been a hit since its debut at Toys”R”Us this fall and will continue to expand SKUs and retailers throughout the spring, while the line of apparel, accessories, calendars, sleepwear and more continue to grow for the brand each week.

The Head, which ran from 1994 to 1996, revolves around a young man who teams up with an alien, that had been living inside his head, to save the world from an enemy alien. The creator, Eric Fogel, sought to highlight the problems of uniformity and intolerance existent in present-day society. The show spawned a VHS and DVD collection, as well as a graphic novel in 1996. The Head is the 5th series, joining Aeon Flux, The Maxx, Wonder Showzen, and Liquid Television on the site.

About the Show: The Head follows the story of Jim, a student from New York City, who wakes up one day to find his head has grown to a ghastly size. An alien named Roy soon emerges from his head, telling him he had inhabited his head to adapt to Earth’s environment. Jim and Roy team up in order to stop an enemy alien Gork from taking over the planet, and in the process, assemble a group of freaks that struggle not only against their alien foe, but against society itself.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR “THE HEAD” HERE: http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/71051…-trailer.jhtml
WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE OF “THE HEAD” HERE: http://liquidtelevision.com/video/th…e-1-out-of-20/

Iconic internet phenomenon The Annoying Orange is breaking out of the virtual kitchen as Cartoon Network announced today they’ve acquired the television rights to the most-watched web series of all-time. Inspired by the viral sensation watched by millions on YouTube, a new half-hour television series will premiere in 2012 as part of Cartoon Network’s original programming block.

Created by Dane Boedigheimer and produced by leading entertainment management and production company The Collective, The Annoying Orange features an endearingly annoying and highly entertaining Orange that playfully heckles other fruits, vegetables or nearby objects with puns and jokes. The television series is the latest brand extension for The Annoying Orange, which has already taken the internet by storm. To date, The Annoying Orange Web series has racked up over 850 million total views on its dedicated channel on YouTube as of September 2011, and with new episodes debuting every Friday, it continues to attract millions of views and new fans each week. The Annoying Orange is the ninth-most-subscribed YouTube channel of all time with more than two million subscribers and has over 10 million fans on Facebook and Twitter. The popularity has also translated over to the official web site, www.annoyingorange.com, which generates nearly four million page views each month.

Now YouTube’s favorite fruit is embarking on an all-new high fructose animated adventure on Cartoon Network. The television series follows Orange and his band of buddies as they travel through time in a magical fruit cart. From Prehistoric Era to Colonial Times, Orange and the rest of the Kitchen Crew are dropped into random adventures and forced to squeeze their way out. Joining Orange on his escapades are his fellow popular produce pals from the web series including Pear, Passion Fruit, Apple, Marshmallow and his nemesis Grapefruit.

The continued robust success of The Annoying Orange on the internet will present a truly unique promotional platform for the television series. Cartoon Network will work with The Collective to mobilize and motivate the property’s tremendous fan base through You Tube and AnnoyingOrange.com via the short-form original content that will continue to be produced separate from the television program – and can be used to drive tune-in messaging in an innovative manner.

“The Annoying Orange and Cartoon Network were just meant to be squeezed together,” said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network.

The television series was developed and will be produced by The Collective, which also financed the pilot before shopping it to broadcasters. Dane Boedigheimer co-created the television series with Tom Sheppard (Emmy Award-winning writer for Pinky and the Brain). Conrad Vernon (director of Madagascar 3 and Monsters vs. Aliens) will serve as executive producer for the series along with Gary Binkow and Dan Weinstein of The Collective.

“Two years ago when I launched The Annoying Orange, I never imagined that my unhealthy obsession with talking fruit would become such a phenomenon” said creator Dane Boedigheimer. “I’m really excited to bring a new version to Cartoon Network.”

“We want to continue to ensure that The Annoying Orange’s huge and loyal audience can enjoy the fruits of Dane’s creative vision whenever and wherever they want,” said Michael Green, CEO of The Collective. “Our model at The Collective is to partner with creative artists to build global brands across all possible platforms and we could not be more excited to join forces with the Cartoon Network to extend the magic of this property to cable television.”

The television deal comes as the first wave of The Annoying Orange licensed merchandise is being met with strong demand at retail. Leading the way is an ap”peal”ing line of apparel and accessories that began to roll out in October at JC Penney locations nationwide. The highly-anticipated debut toy line from master toy partner The Bridge Direct, Inc. which features a collection of talking plush, clip-ons and collectible figures will hit specialty retailers including Toys “R” Us and RadioShack in time for the holiday gift giving season. Meanwhile, The Annoying Orange: Kitchen Carnage app is now available for iPhone and Android.

Thousand Oaks, CA ¬– Animator Lenord Robinson has released The Art of Lenord Robinson, a series of sketches that capture the artist’s creative process. The book features drawings in multiple media of cartoon animals, rascally kids, rugged heroes and beautiful women—the types of characters who have populated Mr. Robinson’s three decades in the animation industry.

The book’s subjects honor the noted animation producers that highlight Mr. Robinson’s professional credits. Free-spirited nudes recall the works of Ralph Bakshi, who employed Mr. Robinson as a young animator on his 1978 version of Lord of the Rings. Stalwart men and children in various states of diversion and disobedience invoke Disney protagonists. Mr. Robinson worked on several Disney animated productions including The Fox and Hound and The Black Cauldron. A menagerie of cartoon animals conjures the lineup of Warner Bros. Animation, where Mr. Robinson directed episodes of Animaniacs and Tazmania.

“I created the book to inspire other artists to do likewise,” said Mr. Robinson. “These are fun drawings I make throughout my day. They inspire me and give me an outlet for my creativity. Artists, art lovers and animation fans will be able to relate to them with humor and emotion.”

To purchase The Art of Lenord Robinson, visit http://bigdaddyloves.bigcartel.com/.

Title: The Art of Lenord Robinson
Format: Perfect bound
Publication Date: 2011
Price: $11.95
Available From: The Art of Fiction, U.S.A.
Author: Lenord Robinson
ISBN: 978-1-937048-01-3
Pages: 60
Size: 5”x8”

LOS ANGELES — Animation writers Dwayne McDuffie and Earl Kress have been posthumously named co-recipients of the Writers Guild of America, West Animation Writers Caucus’ (AWC) 14th Annual Animation Writing Award, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the craft of animation writing, as well as their work with the Writers Guild in organizing animation.

The AWC’s lifetime achievement award will be presented to McDuffie’s and Kress’ widows, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie and Denise Kress, at the AWC’s 2011 meeting, reception, and awards ceremony held tonight at WGAW headquarters in Los Angeles. 2003 honoree Mark Evanier will present this year’s award to Kress, and AWC member Matt Wayne will make the presentation to (Fullerton) McDuffie. WGAW Vice President Howard A. Rodman is set to introduce the evening.

“This year, animation lost two talented, hard-working people who have given much of themselves and their talent to our field. Dwayne McDuffie was a talented writer and creator of comics and animation who worked hard for others, particularly for minority writers. Earl Kress was a writer whose career included both feature and TV animation and hard work on behalf of all animation writers as a member of the WGA Animation Writers Caucus and the Animation Guild Board of Directors. Both were people I was glad to call friend and colleague, and whose efforts, it can truthfully be said, made all of us the better for them. They left us much too soon and too young, and I’m pleased we can commemorate their work and their memory with this year’s award,” said AWC Chair Craig Miller.

“Earl Kress spent 30-plus years working tirelessly to improve the lot of animation writers. He leaves behind a legacy of iconic cartoons and well-deserved awards, along with scores of fellow animation writers who have health and pension benefits because of Earl, and Earl alone,” commented AWC member and 2009 AWC Animation Writing Award honoree Stan Berkowitz.

“Dwayne McDuffie came to L.A. to work on Static Shock, the animated adaptation of an African-American comic book hero he co-created, and it wasn’t long before he was one of the leading lights of superhero animation. Though his stories were often set at the edges of the universe and in other dimensions, they invariably reflected Dwayne’s all-encompassing humanity,” added Berkowitz.

Born on August 22, 1951, and a WGAW member since 1994, Kress recently died on September 19, shortly after turning 60, of complications due to liver cancer.

Launching his career in 1975 with The Oddball Couple, his cartoon adaptation of The Odd Couple, Kress’ animation writing credits over four decades include Transformers, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, Tom & Jerry Tales, The Smurfs, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The Little Rascals, The Berenstain Bears, Ghostbusters, DuckTales, Pound Puppies, Tiny Toon Adventures, Kim Possible, Krypto the Superdog, and the memorable, final “Road Runner” Looney Tunes short Little Go Beep (co-written with Kathleen Helppie-Shipley), among many other animated programs. Kress’ animated feature co-writing credits include story work on Disney’s The Fox and the Hound (1981), as well as several direct-to-video animated features such as the recent Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes (2010) and Wakko’s Wish (1999). His live-action TV writing credits include Down to Earth and Wally and the Beaver.

In 1998, Kress earned an Annie Award for his work on the Pinky and the Brain episode “The Family That Poits Together Narfs Together (shared with co-writers Charles M. Howell IV and John Ludin). A five-time Emmy nominee, Kress shared two Daytime Emmys over the course of his career, one for Pinky and the Brain in 1999 (Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, the other for Pinky, Elmyra, and the Brain in 2000 (Outstanding Children’s Animated Program).

Over the course of his career, Kress worked at studios such as Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney, and animation production companies including Hanna-Barbera, Marvel, DePatie-Freleng, and Filmation.

In 1995, Kress joined the Animation Guild’s executive board and was elected vice president of the Animation Guild (Local 839) in 2004, a position he held until his death earlier this year.

In addition to writing comic books for The Simpsons and Looney Toons, Kress most recently “ghostwrote” Life is a Pic-a-Nic: Tips and Tricks for the Smarter Than Av-er-age Bear with Yogi Bear, published in 2010 as a tie-in for the recent big-screen animated feature Yogi Bear. He also co-authored the 2009 autobiography of voiceover legend June Foray, “Did You Grow Up with Me, Too?” with co-writer and close friend Mark Evanier.

A man of diverse talents, Kress worked as a voice actor and a puppeteer for The Muppets, in addition to serving as a sought-after animated programming historian, playing a key role in producing several DVD box sets of classic Warner Bros. cartoons and contributing “special feature” supplemental materials to many animated TV series DVD collections, as well as working with Rhino Entertainment to release several CDs of vintage Hanna-Barbera cartoon soundtracks, among other animation-centric industry projects.

Well-respected comic book and animation writer McDuffie, who died at age 49 this past February 21 of complications after undergoing emergency heart surgery, was co-founder of Milestone Media, a ground-breaking company that created multi-cultural comic lines which introduced black superheroes such as Hardware and Static.

As a comic book author, McDuffie contributed to Marvel’s Fantastic Four and DC’s Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and Justice League of America, among other popular comic book titles. As a television animation writer, story editor, or producer, his animated series writing credits include Static Shock (which he co-created with Christopher James Priest), Justice League, Ben 10:Alien Force, and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, What’s New, Scooby Doo?, Teen Titans, and Friends & Heroes, among other animated programs. McDuffie also penned the 2011 animated feature All-Star Superman, based on the comic book series by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, as well as several animated features in the “DC Universe Animated Original Movies” series franchise, and the videogame Justice League Heroes. The last project McDuffie was working on prior to his death was Justice League: Doom, his videogame adaptation of Mark Waid’s “Tower of Babel” JL story slated for release in 2012.

Born on Feb. 20, 1962, and a WGAW member since 2003, McDuffie attended the Roeper School for gifted children in the Detroit suburbs of Bloomfield Hills. Later, he earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan and attended film school at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Launching his career in 1987 as a special comics editor at Marvel Comics, McDuffie wrote for Spider-Man and other major Marvel characters, and co-created the limited series Damage Control, centering on the novel idea of a firm that repairs property damages caused by epic battles between super-heroes and super-villains.

In 2003, McDuffie shared a Humanitas Prize for penning the “Jimmy” episode of Static Shock (teleplay by Dwayne McDuffie, Story by Alan Burnett, Dwayne McDuffie), which explored the topical issue of gun violence in schools. In 2004, McDuffie received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Static Shock in the Outstanding Special Class Animated Program category (shared with Sander Schwartz, Alan Burnett, Denys Cowan, Swinton O. Scott III, John Semper, Len Uhley, and Andrea Romano), and in 2005 McDuffie shared a Writers Guild Award nomination for co-writing the Justice League episode “Starcrossed” (Written by Rich Fogel, John Ridley, Dwayne McDuffie, Story by Rich Fogel).

After several years spent freelancing as a comic book writer, in 1992 McDuffie co-founded Milestone Media, whose comics were distributed by DC Comics. The company, like McDuffie himself, championed a more multicultural and inclusive approach to comics.

The WGAW’s AWC Animation Writing Award is given to members of the Animation Writers Caucus or Writers Guild who have advanced the literature of animation in film and/or television throughout the years and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the animation writer. Founded in 1994, the WGAW’s Animation Writers Caucus represents over 600 animation writers and works to advance economic and creative conditions in the field. Through organizing efforts, educational events, and networking opportunities, the Guild’s AWC is a leading proponent for animation writers. Recent AWC Animation Writing Award honorees include Mike Scully, Al Jean, Michael Reiss, Brad Bird, Linda Woolverton, and Stan Berkowitz

Universal’s Illumination Developing Woody Woodpecker Feature (THR)

Fabled Disney Feature Background Artist Walt Peregoy Having A Show In Studio City Tonight (TAG Blog)

Seth Green Set To Mkae Animated Star Wars Comedy Within Next Two Years (Shadowlocked)

NICKELODEON SERVES UP A SUPER-STUFFED THANKSGIVING WEEKEND BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23

Slate Includes the Hour-Long Premiere of The Fairly OddParents “Timmy’s Secret Wish,” Brand-New Episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants and the New Hit Series

Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Plus Movies, Marathons and More!

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2011 – Nickelodeon gives kids another reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving with special super-stuffed weekend of premieres and animated awesomeness! The programming feast kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 23 with the hour-long premiere of The Fairly OddParents “Timmy’s Secret Wish” at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT), followed by a marathon of Nickelodeon movies on Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, Nov. 25, Kids will need to save room for a heaping helping of SpongeBob SquarePants beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET/PT), including back-to-back premieres at 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

The weekend continues Saturday, Nov. 26, with Nickelodeon’s newest animated series, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (see schedule below for times), along with brand-new episodes of The Penguins of Madagascar at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT), T.U.F.F. Puppy at 11:30 a.m. (ET/PT) and an hour-long Power Rangers Samurai special, “Clash of the Red Rangers,” at 12:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Nick at Nite will celebrate the holiday with nightly marathons of Friends, Wednesday, Nov. 23, to Sunday, Nov. 27, at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT), while tots can catch encores of Thanksgiving-themed preschool favorites on Nick Jr., Thursday, Nov. 24. Beginning Monday, Nov. 21, Nicktoons unveils its “Feast of Fury Week,” featuring premieres of Speed Racer, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Iron Man and Voltron Force. Finally, TeenNick joins the festivities with a special daily movie Thursday, Nov. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 27, at 12:00 p.m. (ET).

Below please find episode information and an episodic clip from Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness “Owl Be Back” airing Saturday, Nov. 26 at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT). Downloadable artwork is available on www.nickpress.com.

NICKELODEON (all times ET/PT)

Wed, Nov. 23

8:00 p.m. – The Fairly OddParents “Timmy’s Secret Wish” hour-long special

Timmy makes his millionth wish which all of Fairyworld has gathered to celebrate. But after reviewing his wishes, the Fairy Council finds that Timmy should be put on trial for being the worst godkid ever! Wanda, Cosmo, and Poof think they can prove that Timmy’s a good kid, until the truth comes out — Timmy made a secret wish that no one knows about, not even his godfamily.

Fri, Nov. 25

8:00 p.m. – SpongeBob SquarePants “Way of the Sponge” / “Bubble Trouble”

Way of the Sponge: SpongeBob wants to earn his belt from karate master Fuzzy Acorns with Sandy’s help.

Bubble Trouble: SpongeBob and Patrick destroy Sandy’s air supply and have to help her find more oxygen.

8:30 p.m. – SpongeBob SquarePants “The Krabby Patty that Ate Bikini Bottom/ Bubble Buddy Returns”

The Krabby Patty that Ate Bikini Bottom: Mr Krabs uses Sandy’s experimental growth formula on a Krabby Patty with disastrous results.

Bubble Buddy Returns: SpongeBob tries to keep Bubble Buddy’s visiting son, Shiny, out of trouble and away from sharp edges.

Sat, Nov. 26

11:00 a.m. – The Penguins of Madagascar “Arch Enemy”/ “The Big Stank”

Arch Enemy: Private allegedly smashed Dale the Snail and keeps smashing him albeit accidentally. Even a public apology ends with Dale getting crushed. Sadly, Dale should never have been enemies with Private to begin with – it was a different penguin who did him wrong.

The Big Stank: King Julien becomes enamored of a giant toilet the penguins have built. He wants to use it as his new throne, only the toilet is actually a stink bomb the penguins built to trap Dr. Blowhole.

11:30 a.m. – T.U.F.F. Puppy “Doom and Gloom”/ “Law and Odor”

Doom and Gloom: Larry has finally snapped under Snaptrap’s ruthless authority and forms his own evil

agency dubbed “G.L.O.O.M.”! Much to Dudley and Kitty’s chagrin, it turns out Larry is pretty good at being bad!

Law and Odor: Petropolis’ worst smelling villain, the Stink Bug, has returned to make life odorous for T.U.F.F. Keswick has a cold and Dudley’s super sensitive snout is rendering him helpless. T.U.F.F. needs a plan fast, before the Stink Bug turns Petropolis into a cesspool of stench!

12:00 p.m. – Power Rangers Samurai “Clash of the Red Rangers” hour-long special

The Samurai Rangers team up with the mysterious RPM Ranger Red to defeat dual threats from Master Xandred’s Mooger army and an evil robot mastermind from the RPM Ranger’s dimension.

8:00 p.m. – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness “Owl Be Back”

Po learns that the most powerful member of the Furious Five almost always turns evil and begins to worry that his “good guy” days are numbered.

8:30 p.m. – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness “Bad Po”

After an incident with the Mystical Mirror of Yin and Yang, Po is acting strangely; he’s sweet and kind one minute, then mean and violent the next. Is it possible that there are two of him?

Sun, Nov. 27

7:00 p.m. – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness “Sight For Sore Eyes”

Two Kung Fu Masters visit the Jade Palace to check up on Shifu. Po disobeys an order and causes the downfall of the Shifu and the Furious Five.

7:30 p.m. – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness “Rhino’s Revenge”

Po befriends a bitter Rhino and helps him get back on his feet – until he learns that the Rhino’s secret goal is to destroy the Dragon Warrior.

On Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT), Cartoon Network will present an hour-long special event of out-of-this-world proportions! In Ben 10 / Generator Rex: Heroes United, two heroic teenagers – Ben Tennyson and Rex – team up to save both their worlds from an all-new evil menace.

In the midst of battle, Ben 10 is dragged into a dimensional rift and sent spiraling to a strange alternate world where microscopic nanites infect every living creature on the planet: the world of Generator Rex! Are Ben’s alien transformations any match for Rex’s power builds? Who is the mysterious villain threatening to take them down? And can they unite in time to keep both of their worlds from being destroyed? Tune in to find out!