Tina Fey realizes her inner cartoon

Things are coating up for Tina Fey.

She's the acclaimed, Emmy-winning creator, writer and co-star of 30 Rock; earned rave reviews from fans and critics alike as the hugely popular Sarah Palin twin on Saturday Night Live; and this past spring, co-starred with Steve Carell in the romantic comedy, Date Night. Fey, 40, is trying something different, mostly designed to please her five-year-old daughter Alice. Mom is one of the star voices in the 3-D animated movie, Megamind, which releases Nov. 5.

In the spoofing superhero cartoon, Fey offers the voice for Roxanne Ritchi, a TV reporter and the quasi-love interest in the Lois Lane tradition of the Superman yarn. But unlike Lois Lane, Ritchi doesn't necessarily swoon for just one superhero. After all, in Megamind, there are two aliens from one more planet living in Metro City: Megamind (Will Ferrell) and Metro Man (Brad Pitt).

As luck and the plot would have it, Ferrell's Megamind is the nemesis to Pitt's Metro Man, since Metro Man ends up being a well-liked celebrity offense fighter in sharp contrast to the genius outcast, Megamind. Fed up with being rejected, Megamind uses his intellect for evil, and most probably defeats Metro Man, leaving Megamind lonely, and Metro City vulnerable, after the emergence of the Megamind's dastardly creation, Titan (Jonah Hill).

Ironic heroes and villains are everywhere. That's another reason Fey determined to make room for the project. "And I found the recording conference freeing, because you can really try different things," says Fey. She could also relate to the reporter role in Megamind, having played the droll newscaster on the popular Weekend Update sections of Saturday Night Live. "I am one of America's best known fake reporters," she says. "I'm going to have a fake show on CNN."

Joking aside, Fey did have a hand in making over the passive Lois Lane archetype, giving Roxanne Ritchi a more skeptical outlook. She was also pleased with her cartoon character's look, though the short haircut, she be firm, makes her character come across like a younger version of TV personality Sharon Osbourne.

China's 'Pleasant Goat' on Disney channels

A well-known Chinese cartoon series will be aired on Disney channels in 52 countries and regions, in a milestone for China's homegrown animation industry. Creative Power Entertaining Corporation (CPE), a Guangdong Province-based animation company, said Monday, October 18, 2010 that it had reached a television license broadcast agreement with Disney affiliate Buena Vista to air its products.

"In the coming three years, audiences in countries such as India, Australia and Singapore will be able to enjoy the latest 100 episodes of the hit cartoon series 'Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf - Joys of Seasons'," said CPE General Manager Liu Manyi. The cartoon series will be broadcast in more than 10 languages.


"Disney's wide range of channels will help Chinese cartoons enter the international market," said Liu. The cartoon is China's most popular in decades. It stars a quick-witted goat named "Pleasant" and a wolf couple - "Grey Wolf" and "Red Wolf". The cartoon became enormously popular with Chinese school children after its debut in 2005.


Cashing in on the cartoon's success, the producer made an animated feature in 2009. It generated box office revenue of 130 million yuan (US$19.6 million) during the Chinese New Year this year.

'Dragon' series takes flight at Cartoon Network

An animated series based on the DreamWorks film hit "How to Train Your Dragon" will start on domestically on Cartoon Network, and internationally as well, with what is expected to be an initial order of more than 20 episodes. We felt that the story and the characters would make a great television show said Cartoon Network topper Stuart Snyder, who is animation, young adults and kids’ business prexy-chief operating officer for Turner.

Now the work really begins, developing and fleshing out the show. I responded most to the blend of comedy and the action, he said. I think it's a great story, a great basis for our audience, which loves comedy and action in combination. If you look at our lineup, we have instances of shows like 'Clone Wars' and others that I call blends of action and comedy. Announcement comes three days before the DVD release of the film, which is approaching the $500 million mark in worldwide grosses. There is also a film sequel of the property skedded for release in 2013, the year after the TV series debuts.

"It is extremely exciting to be able to bring viewers deeper into the world of dragons and tell new stories each week inspired by our characters from the film," DreamWorks Animation COO Ann Daly said. DWA has had success with Nickelodeon's "The Penguins of Madagascar," adapted from its "Madagascar" franchise. Cartoon Network also said that it will premiere "The Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon," an animated short that is part of the "How to Train Your Dragon" DVD bonus package, at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Stegelin's cartoon

Street Artist Banksy Creates Dark Opening For 'The Simpsons'

It takes some effort for a TV series to inspire shock, amazement, and controversy in its 22nd season, but last night's episode of "The Simpsons" accomplished this apparently impossible feat.

The episode, "MoneyBART," opens with an extended "couch gag" the opening series in which the Simpson family takes its place on their sofa created by British street artist Banksy. The artist's dark vision gives viewers a horrifying look at how he envisages the hit show and its profitable merchandise are made sweatshop conditions for its animators unsafe conditions for producers of its apparel boxes sealed with the tongue of a disembodied dolphin head the center holes popped out of its DVDs with the horn of a shackled, emaciated unicorn.

According to the Guardian, Banksy's involvement marks the first time "The Simpsons" has begged the work of an artist unconnected to the show. And though "Simpsons" executive producer Al Jean's comment on the disturbing sequence was, "This is what you get when you outsource," he and his colleagues had to have known that Banksy couldn't help delivering something subversive. Banksy who recently reached a wider audience with last summer's documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop" is known for making notorious statements with his work, which most frequently involves stenciling public buildings all over the world. Banksy even once creep into the Louvre to hang one of his paintings, which mimicked the "Mona Lisa" with a yellow smiley face in place of the original visage

The opening also joins a long tradition of "Simpsons" producers sardonic their corporate masters. There have been countless jokes over the years about the moral bankruptcy of Fox programming and the evil genius of Rupert Murdoch, founder of Fox parent company News Corp. However, this instance pushed the show's self-mockery to a new level.

Cartoon Network Arabic - launch

Cartoon Network Arabic, which will begin broadcasting on the 10th October, was launched last night at Media One in Dubai’s Media City.

The free-to-air channel will broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will feature a mix of both imported and locally produced content. Indeed, although much of the channels initial output will be dubbed versions of its European sibling, parent company Turner Broadcasting’s VP Alan Musa was keen to point out at the event the importance the channel places on developing local content. This is a real statement of intent that we believe there are talented people in the Middle East that will help us grow.

And the network have great shows like The Powerpuff Girls that have become global franchises around the world, and those shows in Arabic will form the major part of our programming, but more important, network is partnering with local companies who are producing great shows like Freej from Lammtara group, and Rubicon with Ben and Izzy. Recognizing the talent is fundamental to our growth and success here.

Pushing the point further, Musa added that Turner itself would also be making programmes from its new Dubai HQ “I’m pleased to add that in two weeks time, Turner will be making its first ever production in the Middle East, a quiz show where kids will battle there favourite cartoon characters for prizes. We’ve got to get this channel right or the kids will go elsewhere, and we are fundamentally focussed on creating a beautiful channel called Cartoon Network Arabic.”

World's first children's story book with 3D animation

Finland has published the world's first interactive 3D animation story book to offer children a brand new experience day.

The 3D animation story book for children is just like normal fairy books, only with some special small black squares in some pages of it to point to the interactive 3D animation. Once the web camera faces toward a black square, 3D-animation cartoon figures and pictures will come into view in computer screen. This latest technology be relevant to the children's story book was uniquely developed by the Technical Research Center of Finland with many years research on "Augmented Reality" technology.


According to a researcher from the technical research center, the so-called "Augmented Reality" is to add virtual reality on top of real video. The technology, though still in the childhood phase, is believed to be widely useful for mobile devices, mobile phones and game consoles, as well as the printing media, like newspapers. However, Finnish book publishers do not see this new 3D technology would threaten the traditional children's books, rather its added value is to bring more surprises to children.

Alien incursion at children’s fair

WODONGA should brace for an alien incursion on Sunday.

The theme for this year’s Wodonga Children’s Fair is In and Out of This World, with a special live recital by characters from the Cartoon Network’s action/adventure series BEN 10.

The animation is centered on Ben Tennyson who, during a summer vacation with his tough-as-nails grandpa Max and snooty cousin Gwen, discovers an eccentric alien device that attaches itself to his wrist.

The watch-like tool allows Ben to change into 10 different alien superheroes, each with their own unique powers.

Ben, Gwen and Ben’s alien hero Four Arms will come to life at the fair, with audience members to be given the chance to see them up close and personal at a special meet and greet sitting after the show.

Other features of the free event include a giant bungee tramp, Wild Action Backyard Biodiversity Show, nomadic entertainers and stilt-walkers and farmyard animals.

The kids have completely loved it in the past and what’s good too is that it’s a free event for the family.

The activities are great with the whole lot from the concerts to cup making.

Mickey Mouse meets Boba Fett

This one is a mix-up sandwiched between the Star Wars villain Boba Fett and the cartoon character Mickey Mouse. I don’t think their parents met in the past, but that Mickey seems tired, wanted to be neutral like Switzerland, that he put on a negative character’s outfit. Is it a good one? A bad one? Nah, it’s… Mickey Fett.
This is the work of Tom from England, a strange combo, but hilarious and cute as well. Now, a bit of a background about these two characters. I’ll start with the villain so I can create a happy ending.

Boba Fett is a character in the Star Wars fictional universe. A reward hunter hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon; he is a major villain in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) sets up Boba Fett’s back story as a clone of Jango Fett, a bounty hunter who hoists Boba as a son. The Star Wars Expanded Universe expands on Fett’s origins and career as a bounty hunter. Fett’s air of danger and secrecy has created a faction following the character, which has been merchandised across multiple media. Fett might be part of the live-action Star Wars series under development.


It’s one of the top five best-selling Star Wars action figures, and Boba Fett-related products are “among the most expensive” Star Wars merchandise; one of the rocket-firing prototypes sold at auction for $16,000 in 2003.

Mickey Mouse is one of the most beloved characters created by American director and cartoonist Walt Disney. Beginning in 1928 with the animated film Plane Crazy, the mouse dressed in red pants became a symbol of American cinema and culture. It’s also the protagonist in the first cartoon that synchronized sound with animation “Steamboat Willie”, which premiered in November 1928.

Apart from impressive its animation movie, the character Mickey Mouse was made known to the public and in many countries around the world by publishing regular appearances (magazine) comic which had worn the name.

No doubt this is one of the cutest and strangest combinations I’ve seen until now, but the thing I’m curious about is what kind of character it will be when it emerges from its neutral state, and which part of the force is stronger in him.