Singapore, (23rd August, 2011) – Tiny Island Productions, Singapore’s leading Stereoscopic 3D CG animation production company, today announced that they are working with renowned American director Victor Cook and Silas Hickey, Creative Director for Animation, Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., on the production of both non-stereoscopic and stereoscopic-3D versions of Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens, a 66 minute television movie written by Marty Isenberg, slated for premiere in 2012 on Cartoon Network globally.

The first sneak peek of Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens was revealed to fans at San Diego’s Comic-Con 2011 last month. “The opportunity to work on a project based on such a famous Cartoon Network franchise such as Ben 10 has been an amazing and challenging experience for our production team,” commented David Kwok, CEO of Tiny Island Productions. “Using computer graphics to bring visual effects and characters to life enhances the highly action-adventure driven nature of the Ben 10 property. The addition of stereoscopic-3D depth will create another new experience for fans of the well-loved franchise.”

“Tiny Island Productions is one of Asia’s leading animation studios and it has been great working alongside such talented CG animation experts who have become an extension of the Cartoon Network Asia team,” said Hickey. “Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens continues the Cartoon Network promise to animate kids’ lives and is set to bring this successful franchise to an awesome new level.”

Ben 10, created by Man of Action (Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau, Steve Seagle), has been a Cartoon Network hit internationally, spawning a highly successful global merchandise line. The property was first launched as a 2D television series in 2006 and has continued to expand into multiple series and features.

Montreal, August 24, 2011 – The National Film Board of Canada heads to the 35th Ottawa International Animation Festival (September 21–25, 2011) with a dazzling array of international co-productions by world-renowned animators, and brand new shorts by established and up-and-coming Canadian talent. A leader in auteur animation for over 70 years, the NFB is proud to present nine new short films at the festival, including three in official competition: Paul Driessen’s Oedipus (NFB|il Luster Films); Georges Schwizgebel’s Romance (Studio GDS|NFB); and Koji Yamamura’s Muybridge’s Strings (NFB|NHK|Polygon Pictures). Co Hoedeman’s 55 Socks (Musivision|Coconino|NFB) and Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby’s Wild Life (NFB) are also on the roster. In addition to presenting these new films, the NFB will be awarding the festival’s Public Prize.

The OIAF will pay homage to veteran NFB animation producer David Verrall. As honorary president of this year’s edition of the festival, Verrall is programming a film series called “Ten Reasons to Love Animation.” David Verrall is retiring from the NFB this month after a remarkable 34-year career at Canada’s public producer (including 14 years as Executive Producer) during which he produced or executive produced more than 240 NFB films, including the Oscar-winners Bob’s Birthday (1993), Ryan (2004) and The Danish Poet (2006).

As the festival’s long-time collaborator, the NFB is the exclusive partner of the Meet the Filmmakers series, through which animation fans can meet filmmakers who have a film in competition. The NFB is also offering three master classes with outstanding animators Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby (Wild Life); Koji Yamamura (Muybridge’s Strings); and Gil Alkabetz. There will be lots of fun for everyone, including animation workshops for kids, teens and families at the National Gallery; and Animation Celebration— offered in partnership with the NFB—which provides Ottawa-area elementary school children an introduction to the art of animation. In addition, acclaimed NFB animator Claude Cloutier (Sleeping Betty, The Trenches) is part of the 2011 OIAF jury for animated feature films.

OFFICIAL COMPETITION (NARRATIVE CATEGORY)

Oedipus is Paul Driessen’s parody of the Greek myth, offering up a backwards tragicomic version of the classic tale with a bunch of well-known NFB animated characters thrown in for good measure. Driessen is a leader in the international animation scene and Oedipus, produced by Marcy Page for the NFB and Arnoud Rijken and Michiel J. Snijders for il Luster Films, is Driessen at his absurdist best.

In Romance, by virtuoso animator Georges Schwizgebel, a plane hits turbulence and a man’s spirit plunges into a different world. Here, his desires take control and the result is a grand romantic saga. Romance masterfully marries swirling movement with a Rachmaninoff scherzo, erasing the boundary between dreams and reality. Produced by Marc Bertrand for the NFB and Georges Schwizgebel for Studio GDS.

Muybridge’s Strings is animation master Koji Yamamura’s poetic clash of two worlds, exploring the irrepressible human desire to freeze our fleeting moments of happiness. The filmmaker moves between the lives of photographer Eadweard Muybridge and a Japanese mother, observing their attempts to suspend the course of life. Part reminiscence and part daydream, Muybridge’s Strings is produced by Michael Fukushima for the NFB, Keisuke Tsuchihashi for NHK and Shuzo John Shiota for Polygon Pictures.

Award-winning French animation company Xilam has bolstered its international sales force, appointing Erick Rouillé to lead the company’s worldwide sales.

Erick Rouillé will head international sales, backed by the existing sales manager, Laurence Marty. Erick, who is based in Xilam’s Paris Studio, brings a wealth of TV and merchandising sales experience to the group, having worked previously at Planeta Junior, Saban Consumer Products, Dream Works Home entertainment and The Walt Disney Company.

Priorities for Xilam on the distribution front include the Brand new series Floopaloo, Where are you? (52 x 13’ or 26 half hours), the slapstick comedy Zig and Sharko (78 x 7’ or 26 half-hours) and the Comedy series The Daltons (78 x 7’ or 26 half hours).

Marc du Pontavice, founder and President of Xilam, to whom Erick Rouillé will report directly, said, “We’re delighted to welcome on board Erick Rouillé. His presence allows Xilam to consolidate and strengthen its Brand Management strategy combining TV Sales and Licensing. MIPCOM provides us with a good opportunity to inform buyers about the new sales structure and demonstrate our commitment to investing in a strong sales team to exploit our quality roster of shows.”

NEW YORK – August 23, 2011 – Aniboom Virtual Studio, the world’s first virtual animation studio, has released a new service – The Aniboom Animation Marketplace. This extension of the Virtual Studio addresses the need of production studios and companies to complement their production and creative capabilities with qualified, professional and cost-efficient animation resources.

The Marketplace offers solutions for all types and sizes of tasks that an animation production would consist of; including illustrations, character design, concept art, storyboarding, short animation clips and much more. Aniboom Virtual Studio’s pool of thousands of animation professionals from around the world is utilized to reach the most suitable creators for each project. These professionals are ready to work and include storyboard artists, concept artists, character and background designers, 2D/3D animators, modelers, riggers, texture artists, matte painters, lighters, supervisors, production managers and more.

Uri Shinar, CEO of Aniboom, said, “We’re extremely proud of the Aniboom Animation Marketplace, and I am certain that it is a solution that will benefit animation production companies greatly.” He added, “Using the power of our Virtual Studio and its 10,000 animation professionals, the Marketplace is part of the game-changing progress of the animation industry.”

The Aniboom Animation Marketplace makes it possible to order any size of project, from something as small as components of the animation process up to a full scale animation. Dozens of companies have already signed up and expressed interest, and the first projects are expected to be started soon.

MONTREAL, Aug. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – As one of Toon Boom’s flagship studios in Québec, Oasis Animation today announced that in view of its upcoming project Lucky Fred, a 52 episode eleven-minute series for 6-12 year olds to be aired on Disney Channel in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, India & Australia, the studio will double its workforce and space. Lucky Fred has also pre-sold in over 150 territories including TF1 for France and Nickelodeon in Benelux, Scandinavia, Latin America, Asia & South Korea.

Scheduled for delivery in January 2012, this 2D animated series is the first Disney project done in Québec. Entirely produced using the Toon Boom Harmony pipeline, this high quality project will create 70 new jobs at Oasis. The entire animation production will be done in Montreal. “We are quite thrilled to be working on Lucky Fred, considering the very challenging state of the Quebec animation production industry”, comments Jacques Bilodeau, President at Oasis Animation. “We hope this project will be the first step towards making Québec the animation hub it used to be”, he concludes.

Lucky Fred is co-produced by Imira Entertainment, Spain’s leading production and distribution company specializing in youth programming with Spain’s Televisió de Catalunya, RAI Fiction in Italy and Top Draw Animation in the Philippines.

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (August 20, 2011) – Celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves and Disney announced today at D23 Expo, the ultimate Disney fan event, a creative collaboration with Disney Toon Studios and Disney Consumer Products for Disney Fairies including participation in an upcoming film and a personal care product line, both releasing next year.  To celebrate the collaboration, Paves was joined by Peggy Holmes, director of the new full-length animated Disney Fairies film, Secret of the Wings, releasing fall 2012.

“Inspiration from the women in my life has motivated my life-long passion to redefine the meaning of true beauty and encourage girls of all ages to embrace their own unique style,” Paves explains.  “I am thrilled to collaborate on Disney Fairies for several exciting projects that will encourage girls to be who they really are through a diverse group of strong characters that show how beauty takes many different forms.”

Built around one of Disney’s most famous and beloved characters, Tinker Bell, her fairy friends and the enchanted world of Pixie Hollow, Disney Fairies inspires girls to discover their own talents and build meaningful friendships.

Mercury Filmworks announces former Teletoon production executive Travis Williams as the new head of its development team. In 7 years at Teletoon, Williams supervised the development and production of over 300 hours of television and such series as Jimmy Two-Shoes, Wayside, Johnny Test, Spliced, Total Drama Island, Hotwheels Battle Force 5 and Detentionaire.

“Travis is a great fit.” says Mercury President Clint Eland. “He has a critical eye, an appreciation for detail, and is as uncompromising in his passion for creating standout shows as we are. He also understands the definition of a successfully developed property – which is a perspective unique to someone who’s been a production executive at a major network.”

As Mercury’s Director of Development Williams will drive development on shows Mercury is servicing or co-producing – adding value to Mercury’s clients and partners at their project’s earliest stages. He’ll work directly with writers, designers, and creators to identify concepts with strong appeal and develop them to the point they are ready to present to Mercury’s partners.

“There is a wealth of creative talent at Mercury and I can’t wait to get in the studio and develop great projects for our partners around the world.”

Through August and September, Williams will transition from Montréal to Mercury’s Ottawa studio facilities where he will work with Chief Creative Officer Jerry Popowich to review and prioritize the company’s development slate. Williams will be meeting with creators and production partners at the upcoming Ottawa International Animation Festival in September.

See the Venture Family as you’ve never seen them before: in a 15-minute documentary-style animated special, The Venture Bros.: From The Ladle To The Grave—The Shallow Gravy Story, premiering Sunday, August 28 at midnight (ET, PT) on Adult Swim. Follow the meteoric rise, the equally meteoric fall, and the decidedly un-meteor-like second coming of the most important band Hank Venture, Dermott Fictel and H.E.L.P.eR. robot have ever been in: Shallow Gravy. If you’re hungry for rock, then open wide, because here comes a ladle of heavy metal fire and metaphoric meat drippings.

A marathon of Hank and Dermott episodes will air from 9:30pm – midnight (ET, PT) on August 28th followed by this new 15-minute behind-the-music mockumentary at midnight (ET, PT) on Adult Swim. The Venture Bros. is created and directed by Jackson Publick and written by Publick and Doc Hammer, both of whom also provide voices for the series. The Venture Bros. is being animated by Titmouse, Inc.

In anticipation of the special’s debut on Adult Swim, starting August 23, fans of The Venture Bros. can download the five-song Shallow Gravy EP featuring different reinterpretations and remixes of the band’s smash hit “Jacket” plus a music video via digital retailers. Then, on Monday, August 29, just one day after The Venture Bros.: From The Ladle To The Grave—The Shallow Gravy Story airs on the network, fans can check back with digital retailers and download the full uncensored episode to own.