News

Netflix Is All Set To Bring A Minecraft Series! ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Minecraft fans, assemble! Netflix is developing an animated series based on the best-selling video game. The streaming giant announced the news on Thursday, unveiling a short teaser about its partnership with the video game.

Minecraft, with its pixelated three-dimensional characters and world, has become hugely popular among gamers of all ages. Meanwhile, a live-action film adaptation of the game is already in the works at Legendary Pictures.

Netflix Announces Minecraft Animated Series

The announcement was made on May 30, marking the 15th-anniversary celebration of the video game’s launch. The teaser that accompanied the announcement shows the iconic green Creeper from the game arriving on the screen and blowing up.

Trending ‘Stranger Things’ Star Maya Hawke Snagged First Film Role For “Nepotistic Reasons,” Admits Being Favored As A Famous Offspring Exclusive: Kalyug Fame Ssmilly Suri On Her Comeback Film House Of Lies,...

Netflix is developing an animated series based on the wildly popular sandbox video game “Minecraft.” The streamer will produce the project alongside Mojang Studios, the Swedish developer of the game.

Plot details are not yet known, but according to Netflix, the series “will feature an original story with new characters, showing the world of ‘Minecraft’ in a new light.”

The series, which will be CG-animated, is in development with WildBrain, the Canadian studio behind animated Netflix projects including “Sonic Prime,” “Ninjago: Dragons Rising” and “Carmen Sandiego.” In 2022, Netflix debuted a revival of WildBrain’s “Johnny Test,” which originally ran on the WB and later on Cartoon Network for six seasons from 2005 to 2014. The studio has also produced “The Snoopy Show” and “Snoopy in Space” on Apple TV+ and “Fireman Sam” on the UK’s Channel 5.

Mojang released “Minecraft” in 2011. In its signature pixellated style, the game allows players to...

Picture: Netflix

For the past seven years, Netflix has been gradually releasing a collection of interactive, choose-your-own-story games within the Netflix Ui, known as Interactive Specials. According to a recent report, we may not see many more of these, if any, in the future.

Netflix began rolling out this feature in 2017, and to date, 28 of them have been released, with the majority targeting family-oriented audiences. IP such as Carmen Sandiego, The Boss Baby, Barbie, Johnny Test, and Jurassic World have all featured interactive specials, along with Netflix’s own array of shows receiving this treatment, including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and We Lost Our Human.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was undoubtedly a major breakthrough for this technology, targeting adults and pushing the feature to its limits with numerous branching storylines. The last major interactive movie came over the summer in the form of Choose Love, a rom-com starring Laura Marano, Avan Jogia,...

Chinese video streaming firm iQiyi has teamed with Canada’s Wildbrain to jointly produce kids’ animation series “Jonny Jetboy.” The series was hatched by Keith Chapman, creator of “Paw Patrol” and “Bob The Builder” and will run to an initial forty 11-minute episodes.

The story follows Jonny Jones, the youngest member of a family of heroes as he learns to become a superhero like his JetForce family. They are committed to protecting the high-tech city Calamity Canyon, from its many villains. Jonny wields a JetGlove and is the fastest member of the force, but often he struggles to control his special powers.

The deal marks first global partnership for original China IP struck by WildBrain’s dedicated Shanghai team. Now under way, production is taking place at China’s WingSing Animation Studio with WildBrain acting as supervisor. Delivery is scheduled for 2023.

The Canadian company is also handling global distribution and licensing outside of Greater China.

Netflix is ringing in the new year in atypical fashion. Throughout 2021, the streaming giant’s original offerings swelled while its library titles shrunk. With its list of new releases for January 2022, however, Netflix is expanding its non-original market quite a bit.

Jan. 1 sees the arrival of a truly stunning amount of impressive non-Netflix movies and TV shows. The big titles available on the first of the month include: 300, Interview with the Vampire, Paranormal Activity, Superman Returns, Terminator 2, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and much more. Later on in the month, Netflix is also set to add Phantom Thread (Jan. 16) to its roster.

Read more TV Interview with the Vampire Series Will Tweak Anne Rice’s Story By Alec Bojalad and 1 other Movies Superman Returns: What Went Wrong? By Mike Cecchini

Though Netflix is lighter on original content in January 2022, there is still plenty of intriguing titles to check out.

Andy Heyward’s Genius Brands has acquired Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media in a deal valued at $53 million.

Wow! brings to Genius a busy content operation that has produced mostly children’s programming for such outlets as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock and studios such as Sony, Dreamworks, Moonbug and Mattel. Wow! also is home to the Channel Frederator Network, a streaming platform for animation creators. That will pair nicely under the Genius umbrella with its existing Kartoon Channel service.

Wow! said it had earnings of $5.1 million during the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021 on revenue of $56.4 million. The deal is a mixture of cash and stock. Genius also emphasized the importance of Wow!’s status as a Canadian firm in making the most of the country’s generous production incentives.

“The acquisition of Wow! substantially accelerates the financial growth of Genius Brands, delivering on our...

Genius Brands International has agreed to buy Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media for roughly $53 million in cash and stock.

Beverly Hill-based Genius and Vancouver-based Wow are publicly traded on, respectively, the Nasdaq and Toronto exchanges and shares of both were trending higher Wednesday morning.

Genius Brands CEO Andy Heyward said the merger will substantially accelerate financial growth and expansion in the global children’s entertainment market. The deal provides it access to various Canadian federal and provincial tax credits, which will allow Genius Brands to transfer its current animation production from China at great savings, he said.

Wow productions includes Adventure Time, FairlyOdd Parents, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Castlevania (Frederator Studios) and Madagascar – a Little Wild, Barbie Dreamhouse (Mainframe Studios). Its CEO Michael Hirsh’s track record includes the first Star Wars animated programs, Magic School Bus, Care Bears, Babar, Johnny Test, and Beetlejuice, among others.

Wow also...

By the power of Grayskull, Netflix’s list of new releases for July 2021 is here!

As you may have been able to tell by that clever opening, July is the month that Masters of the Universe: Revelation arrives on Netflix. This animated series from Kevin Smith continues the classic stories of He-Man and his buff friends. If nostalgia not be what ye seek, Netflix has plenty other original series this month as well. The amazingly hilarious sketch series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson returns for season 2 on July 6. Also returning for a second season are Beastars, Never Have I Ever (both on July 15), and Outer Banks (July 30).

Netflix’s movie offerings are pretty thick this month since July marks the real beginning of the summer blockbuster season. The streamer is bringing not one, but three Fear Street films based on R.L. Stine’s classic book series. They...

The Loud House creator Chris Savino has been suspended from the animated series following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, Cartoon Brew reports.

According to the outlet, at least 12 female Nickelodeon employees have come forward with accusations about the 46-year-old, including claims that he has made unwanted sexual advances and threats of blacklisting within the industry after consensual relationships with coworkers ended. He was reportedly put on an immediate leave of absence last week.

A Nickelodeon spokesperson would not confirm the news to People, but issued the following statement: “Viacom is committed to the safety and well-being of our employees, and...

Disney Xd has released the first trailer for season two of their Guardians of the Galaxy animated series. It looks like we don't have to wait until Avengers: Infinity War to see the Guardians and the Avengers together onscreen. This trailer shows that they will collide in the animated series when the two superhero teams cross paths with each other.

I don't know if you watch this series or not, but to me, it just seems like wasted potential. It's a very cheaply made series, but the kids seem to enjoy it. There are some fun moments in it, but it could and should be so much better. If you're a fan of it, then this Avengers crossover seems like it'd be something to get excited about.

“Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy” season two will follow Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot on a mission to protect Star-Lord’s home planet of Earth,...

Our famous Lomax is back and not on a video game.

In Ratchet & Clank, the heroic duo must stop a nefarious space captain from destroying the universe. He must join a team of galactic heroes in order to stop the invading forces.

The 3d CGI animated film features the voice of James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Jim Ward and Armin Shimerman from the video games. They are joined by cast members of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson and Sylvester Stallone.

Ratchet & Clank is currently available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download today.

Read the full transcript below.

Lrm: Thank you for speaking with me. The last time I’ve talked with you, I had you and your counterpart together for an interview. It’s interesting to talk to Ratchet and not Clank.

James Arnold Taylor: [Chuckles] It’s strange to have Ratchet and not Clank around me. I’m telling ya.

Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales is coming to DVD March 1!

Star Wars and Lego are together again with five complete episodes that awaken the lighter side of the force in Lego® Star Wars: Droid Tales on DVD March 1st!

The story picks up just after the victory celebration in the Ewok village on Endor at the end of “Return of the Jedi," as R2-D2 and C-3Po have gathered to entertain the Rebels with the tales of their adventures. An accidental kidnapping occurs while the droids are story-weaving, and suddenly you’re taken on a new journey that leads to the retelling of the entire Star Wars saga, as told by R2-D2 and C-3Po!

Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales features the voice talents of Eric Bauza (Spongebob Movie, Ben 10: Omniverse, Batman: Assault on Arkham) as Luke Skywalker/Porkins Pilot; Michael Daingerfield (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Catwoman) as...

Exclusive: Distributor sets an April 29 release for the animation based on the video game franchise.

UK distributor Vertigo Releasing has picked up Ratchet & Clank, the animated film based on the popular PlayStation video games series.

James Arnold Taylor (Johnny Test), David Kaye (Up) and Jim Ward (Wall-e) lead the voice cast, which also includes Sylvester Stallone, Paul Giamatti and John Goodman.

The story sees the titular duo combatting the evil intentions of Chairman Drek, who plans to destroy every planet in the Solana Galaxy.

Rupert Preston of Vertigo and Edward Noeltner from Cinema Management Group, who are handling international rights outside of the Us, conducted the deal.

The company has set a theatrical release for April 29, which is set to coincide with a new entry in the Ratchet & Clank video game series.

Groot news, everybody! Disney Xd on Monday announced that its animated adaptation of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will officially debut Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9:30/8:30c — but you don’t have to wait that long for your first look.

VideosA Series of Unfortunate Events: Watch (Fake) Teaser for Netflix Adaptation

In addition to a sneak peek of the series premiere airing Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 pm, the network is also rolling out 10 two-minute shorts which will explore each of the Guardians backstories. Here’s a full schedule of origin short premieres:

* Aug. 1: Star Lord, Part 1 (8:...

After successfully meeting the World, Will Friedle will next become acquainted with the Galaxy.

RelatedGirl Meets World First Look: Eric and Cory Reunite in Season 2 Set Photo

The Boy Meets World alum has been tapped to voice Star-Lord — made famous on the big screen by Chris Pratt — in Disney Xd’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy animated series, the network announced Wednesday. Guardians will premiere later this year.

Watch him make the announcement here:

Friedle’s extensive voice-acting credits include Ultimate Spider-Man, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Thundercats, Kim Possible and Batman Beyond.

Joining Friedle in the Guardians series are...

Dhx Media has signed a deal with Sony Pictures Animation to expand film franchise Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs into television with a new adaptation. Dhx Media will develop and produce 26, 22-minute traditionally animated small-screen episodes of the computer-generated animation feature films; that includes global television and non-u.S. home entertainment exploitation rights to Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs: The Series (Sony will distribute home entertainment in the U.S.). The deal also has Dhx Media representing merchandising for the television series on a worldwide basis.

The 2009 animated comedy Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and its 2013 sequel, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 were produced by Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The films grossed a combined $510 million in theaters. The first movie, based on the best-selling book by Judi and Ron Barrett, followed the adventures of Flint Lockwood, an eccentric young scientist...

It took him a while to find out about it but David Straiton wants his money from the animated show he says he co-created and he wants to put his former business partner in front of a jury to get it. The journeyman TV director today filed a complaint (read it here) in La Superior Court over Johnny Test against Big Time Rush Ep Scott Fellows. Straiton, who has helmed episodes of House, Grimm, Netflix’s Hemlock Grove and the second episode of ABC’s upcoming Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.Ld., says that he and Fellows came up with the Johnny Test show idea back in 1995. They partnered on the concept and even tried unsuccessfully to pitch it to various networks and cable stations. Seems after that didn’t work out, Straiton dropped the project to move on to other things. Fellows, according to today’s complaint of constructive fraud,...

Cartoon Network has announced its new and returning shows for 2013, and there are some terrific looking shows coming our way. Unfortunately, two favorites are not on the list. More about that below. First the new programming, which includes a redesigned and re-imagined CG-animated special starring The Powerpuff Girls; two new action-adventure half-hour series based on heroes from DC Comics, Teen Titans Go! and Beware The Batman; and from Lego, three quarterly installment specials of CG-animated The Yoda Chronicles.

Here are the pertinent portions of the press release:

Cartoon Network New Series

Steven Universe: Slated to debut in 2013, Steven Universe is a coming-of-age story told from the perspective of Steven, the youngest member of a team of magical Guardians of the Universe. The animated series was conceived as part of the shorts development initiative at Cartoon Network Studios, and is created by Emmy® and Annie Award-nominated writer and storyboard artist Rebecca Sugar...

Cartoon Network has revealed their 2013-2014 TV show lineup today and, much to the dismay of fans, confirmed that that “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” and “Young Justice” have been canceled. While this may not come as the biggest surprise for the “Young Justice” viewers who paid attention to both the series’ hiatus and subsequent cancellation of its comic book counterpart, the news certainly comes as a blow for fans. Together with the end of “Green Lantern: The Animated Series”, this leaves only “Beware the Batman” and “Teen Titans Go” as the remaining DC Nation shows, both of which have yet to premiere on the network.

While the absence of the shows didn’t necessarily cement the cancellation of the series, Giancarlo Volpe, the showrunner for “Green Lantern: Tas” confirmed the news via his Twitter stating, “This time we knew. They just didn’t want us to announce it publicly until they did.

Cartoon Network has announced more than 20 new and returning TV series for their 2013-14 season. They include Incredible Crew, Steven Universe, Uncle Grandpa, Clarence, Teen Titans Go!, Beware the Batman, Total Drama, Legends of Chima, Grojband, The Tom and Jerry Show, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Annoying Orange, Mad, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Looney Tunes Show, Ben 10 Omniverse, Dreamworks Dragons: Riders of Berk, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Johnny Test, Pokemon Black & White: Adventures in Unova, Beyblade Metal Fury, Almost Naked Animals, and Scaredy Squirrel.

Here are some additional details:

Cartoon Network Gets In Front of the Upfront

#1 Boys Network Breaks Tradition and Takes The Show on The Road To Over 15 Cities

New and Returning Hit Series to Highlight the 2013-2014 Season Following Cartoon Network's Most-Watched Year Ever

Armed with record-setting...

America’s Cartoon Network has unveiled the new season line-up for the channel which is home to one of my favourite cartoons, Adventure Time. That show Is coming back for another season, the same of which can’t be said for Green Lantern or Young Justice – those two superhero shows have, at least according to the press release, been replaced by Teen Titans Go! and Beware the Batman. Also detailed in today’s press release is The Yoda Chronicles, which ties into the new Lego Star Wars releases.

Also returning are: Regular Show, Annoying Orange, Mad, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Looney Tunes Show, Ben 10 Omniverse, Dragons: Riders of Berk, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc., Johnny Test, Pokémon Black & White: Adventures in Unova, Beyblade Metal Fury, Almost Naked Animals and Scaredy Squirrel.

From the press release:

New Series

Teen Titans Go!: Featuring the return of Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg in all-new,...

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I popped Ape Escape into my DVD player. My frame of reference of the series was the original Ape Escape on PS1; the pioneer software for Sony's dual-stick Dualshock controller; a sweet soundtrack filled with poppy drum 'n' bass, and more ridiculous monkeys than you could count - trying their hardest to put their Iq-giving 'Pipo Helmets' to good use.

Plot-wise, the Ape Escape DVD provides the last of those three. A series of two-to-three minute episodes that largely focus on Specter - the villain of the Ape Escape series. He's an evil ape granted a genius intelligence though an experimental helmet. With his army of fellow apes (given helmets of their own), he intends to take over the world... but never manages to succeed.

At the very least, I expected an animation of the Ape Escape series to be an anime.

If you’ve never watched an episode of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, or maybe have only caught the clips we show you here on SciFiMafia.com, this 100th episode featurette provides not only an excellent summary of all five seasons and some great views of the beautiful animation, but it places the series in context with the whole Star Wars mythology.

It’s a real treat. Enjoy:

Featurette: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Celebrates 100 Episodes

Click here to view the embedded video.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Marks its Milestone 100th Episode Saturday January 5, 2013 on Cartoon Network

Star Wars: The Clone Wars celebrates 100 episodes with a new installment that uncovers an elite Republic clone commando who has gone “Missing in Action,” airing Saturday, January 5th at 9:30am Et/Pt on Cartoon Network.

Given the series’ title and its backdrop of galactic warfare, Star Wars: The Clone Wars...

I want to make you aware of something that isn’t going to be for all of our readers though I think more of you out there will find this an interesting grab despite its contents. Mill Creek has been sending us some excellent Halloween treats available at some very reasonable prices perfect for a variety of tastes and age groups. As you may know I have a gruesome twosome of little ones at home. Let’s just say that I don’t shy away from showing them some spooky offerings especially around Halloween. My little girls, aged eleven months and eight years old, love TV, and I am making it my duty to get them into the Halloween spirit and darker cartoons and age appropriate horror. For those of you who want to get on my ass about “too much TV” for kids, I am the product of my TV; shove it.

So you’re a horror fan, but you’re on a budget. You like a little of everything from Hostel to Browning’s Dracula and the gamut that is run in between especially during the month of October. How do you pick up a respectable horror movie collection, quickly, spending as little money as possible? Mill Creek (not Wolf Creek or Boggy Creek). These guys put out a nice series of collections from the Drive In theater favorites to those rad 100 movie boxes you might find on the shelves of Walmart.

Make sure you take a gander at the selection below and stop by their website. We’ll have product reviews as we watch them and make sure you know what you’re getting inside each box. No matter what, you’ll be getting a pile of movies at a low price. I’m sure you’ll be able to...

Dhx Media, a Canadian media production company formed in 2006 by the merger of Halifax Film Company and Decode Entertainment, is acquiring Cookie Jar Entertainment to create Canada’s largest independent children’s entertainment company. The deal will be completed in mid October subject to getting shareholder and regulatory approvals. The transaction values Cookie Jar at $111 million. More than half of it, $66 million is debt Dhx will take on, with rest a combination of shares and cash. According to the announcement, the merger brings together Dhx’s kids property of Yo Gabba Gabba!, Rastamouse, Franny’s Feet, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs. Kat, Angela Anaconda and Martha Speaks as well as Cookie Jar’s Caillou, Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, The Doodlebops and Johnny Test. For the past few years, Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears have been embroiled in litigation between previous owner American Greentings and Cookie Jar, which tried to...

Couldn’t make it to the Star Wars: The Clone Wars panel at Comic-Con this past Saturday, and missed the sneak peeks at what’s to come in the show’s fifth season this fall on Cartoon Network? Don’t worry, the lovely people at Lucasfilm have shared the preview clips with us, and we have them right here for you. They are a great reminder of how gorgeous this series is:

Clip: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 5 – Maul

Click here to view the embedded video.

Clip: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 5 – Mandalore

Click here to view the embedded video.

They also released a trailer of the stunning Season 4 box set – if you liked it on TV, imagine it on Blu-ray – oooo!

Trailer: Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 4 DVD & Blu-ray

Click here to view the embedded video.

The box set will be in stores on October 23rd.

Cartoon Network is 20! And as far as we’re concerned, it’s Never been for kids only, even though they’re celebrating with “a new generation of content for a new generation of kids.” The press release below starts off talking about their numbers, but make sure to stick with it to see their lineup of new series, including Ben 10: Omniverse, Dreamworks Dragons: The Series, a new Lego series, and Beware the Batman.

Cartoon Network Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Ratings Growth and a New Generation of Content for a New Generation of Kids The #1 Network with Boys 6-11 Announces Slate of New and Returning Series CartoonNetwork.com Ranks as #1 Domain in Kids Category

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, along with double-digit growth and its #1 status with boys 6-11 on all of television, Cartoon Network announced today several new and returning series to its programming line-up.

Having its best first...

Join EW.com tonight for a live chat with Star Wars: The Clone Wars star James Arnold Taylor, who will take your questions on viEWer from 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Et and provide running commentary for tonight’s episode.

James is best known to Clone Wars fans for voicing the animated incarnation of Obi-Wan Kenobi for both the hand-drawn and CGI incarnations of the series, as well as in numerous Star Wars videogames. And, by the Force, has this ever been a doozy of an arc for Obi-Wan on The Clone Wars or what?

Last week,...

New Wave Entertainment has a new VP of business and legal affairs. Sam Semon has joined the production, management, marketing, design and new media company, New Wave announced Tuesday. Before New Wave, Semon was VP of business and legal affairs at Cookie Jar Entertainment. There, he handled the CBS morning bloc, including "Shortcake," "Johnny Test" and "Horseland." He also handled a variety of digital and international concerns. He also has worked at CBS Entertainment, Disney/ABC Cable Group and Sony Pictures Television International. At New Wave, he'll handle business negotiations and legal matters. Semon holds a...

Airtel digital TV announced that it has entered an agreement with Cookie Jar Entertainment to bring its library to Airtel digital consumers. The first series to launch this venture will be the boys show, Johnny Test. Having had a run of 5 seasons, the series will be available to Airtel digital TV customers on Channel no 158. With this, Airtel digital TV becomes the First Dth operator to offer screenings of globally hit and award winning animated television series on its Pay per View platform. Customers can sit back and ...

It seems like San Diego Comic-Con 2011 is right around the corner, and it's going to be one hell of a glorious weekend of geek awesomeness. Comic-Con International has unleashed the full schedule for Friday July 22nd, once again we have a full day of fun and excitement. There's so much I want to see here, including The Amazing Spider-Man, The Walking Dead, Total Recal, Batman: Year One, Locke & Key, Haywire, Raven and more!

I've gone through the list and put exclamation points next to all of the events that we want to cover. Let us know what panels and events you would like to know about and we will try and get them covered for you! If you are actually going to be at the con, what will you be checking out?

GeekTyrant will once again be at Comic-Con in full force this year, bringing you the best maximum super rad coverage.

A galaxy far, far away become more and more vivid with each season of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series. Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner Home Video have wrapped up season three of the show in a four-disc set with all twenty-two episodes and special features including cast and crew interviews and extensive deleted and extended scenes. Check out the official press release below:

Explore The Farthest Reaches Of The Galaxy With

Star Wars: The Clone Wars On DVD And Blu-ray!

From Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner Home Video, Four-Disc Set Includes All 22 Action-Packed Episodes,

Along with Cast & Crew Interviews and Extensive Deleted/Extended Scenes

San Francisco, Calif. (June 20, 2011) – Pull back the starry curtain and reveal the secrets of the galaxy – with Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ The Complete Season Three, coming to DVD and high-definition Blu-ray Disc on October 18th from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner Home Video. Featuring stunning...

I feel I shouldn't have to explain who Plastic Man to you nerds, but for the uninitiated: Eel O'Brian was a second story man and general lowlife who was shot and doused with an unknown acid during a heist at the Crawford Chemical Works. (And, really. How does robbing a chemical factory seem like a good idea?)

Escaping to nearby mountains on foot, O'Brian stumbles onto the mountain retreat of a friendly monk, friendly monks being incredibly common near major American cities in the comic book universes of 1941. Said monk nurses O'Brien back to health and during his convalescence, O'Brian discovers he know has the power to take any form he can imagine and Plastic Man was born.

The book was known for its warped stories and a particularly bent sense of humor, and Plas readily acknowledged the, uh, erotic possibilities inherent in his powers.

Which brings us to today,...

The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Fred Weekend Shopping Guide - your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)

Putting to shame all of the holiday specials before, Steven Moffat hit it out of the park with Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$19.98 Srp), which brings the Matt Smith 11th Doctor face-to-face with the Scrooge-like Kazran Sardick, whose heart must be melted in time for a threatened interstellar cruise liner to land safely on his planet. What follows is a lovely...

Today, the Canadian Academy revealed the nominees for the 25th Gemini Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy Awards. So without further ado, let's reveal those who have graced our land of television in fall 2009 and winter 2010.

1. Best Animated Program or Series:

* Glenn Martin, Dds

* Guess With Jess

* Johnny Test

* Kid Vs Kat

* Wapos Bay

2. Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series:

* Degrassi: The Next Generation

* Overruled!

* Pillars of Freedom

* That's So Weird!

* Total Drama Action

3. Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series:

* A World of Wonders

* Canada's Super Speller

* Survive This

* Tvokids: Mark's Moments

4. Best Comedy Program or Series:

* Dan for Mayor

* Less Than Kind

* Little Mosque on the Prairie

* Pure Pwnage

* The Rick Mercer Report

5. Best Dramatic Miniseries:

* Alice

* The Phantom

* The Summit

6. Best Dramatic Series:

* Durham County

* Flashpoint

* Republic of Doyle

* Stargate Universe

* The Tudors

7. Best Music, Variety Program or Series

* 2009 Much Music Video Awards...

Viper Comics has acquired the rights to Inspector Gadget and Johnny Test. The publisher will release graphic novels based on the popular animated shows next year. "We're ecstatic to have been granted the opportunity to give both of these characters the comic treatment. These are two awesome properties to add to our lineup of recently acquired licences," said Viper's Jessie Garza. Developed by Jean Chalopin, Inspector Gadget (more)...

Filed under: TV Previews

Here's this weekend's lineup of new shows and events (all times Eastern). Check your local TV listings for additional information.

* = Series/Season Premiere

** = Series/Season Finale

While we are a site that thrives on TV, this weekend's schedule compels me to ask you to go out and enjoy the beautiful holiday weather. If you're allergic to the outdoors, then spend the time catching up on your DVR and DVD shows.

Saturday 8:00 to 9:00

Fox: 'America's Most Wanted'

NBC: 'Stanley Cup Finals' -- Game 1 with the Philadelphia Flyers at the Chicago Blackhawks

Cmt: 'World's Strictest Parents'

Hgtv: 'Sarah's House' -- 8:30 start

9:00 to 10:00

Cartoon Network: 'Johnny Test' -- 9:30 start

CNBC: 'The Suze Orman Show'

Diy: 'Renovation Realities'

Hgtv: 'Dear Genevieve'

Spike: 'Ufc 114' -- From Las Vegas

Tlc: 'Dr G: America's Most Shocking Cases'

Travel: '...

Toronto -- Canadian animation producer Cookie Jar Entertainment has stepped up its push into live-action comedy with a Cartoon Network pilot from scribe Steven de Souza ("Die Hard," "48 Hours").

The new live-action programming remit also has Cookie Jar developing "Decidedly Debra" for Family Channel Canada, a tween live-action comedy from the veteran Los Angeles comedy writing team of Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers.

The Family Channel pilot, to be directed by Stacey Curtis ("Majority Rules!") with Peter Benison ("The Wild Girl") as director of photography, follows 14-year-old Debra, who sprinkles her magic and special skills to bring out the best in people.

Cookie Jar's live-action development slate also includes a primetime young adult romantic comedy for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. set in a Montreal coffee shop.

While the Canadian producer's lineup is still mostly animation -- Cookie Jar showcased at Miptv the new animated series "Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show" and new seasons of "Caillou,...

Tom Kenny, voice of beloved Spongebob Squarepants helped produce an unaired pilot for Cartoon Network. Even better, the celebrated voice talent lent his tenor to the pliable plastic hero.  While quality shows like "Johnny Test" and "Dude! What would happen!?" got the green light, sadly, this didn't make the cut.

So, for your enjoyment (and don't tell Geoff Johns, Dan Didio, or Jim Lee) here now the unaired pilot for "Plastic Man". We here at ComicMix think it's a bouncing good larf.

Travel Channel has a Man vs. Food marathon all night. At 8, CBS has a new Survivor, followed by new episodes of CSI and The Mentalist. NBC has a new Community at 8, then new episodes of Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock and The Jay Leno Show. Fox has new episodes of Bones and Fringe. At 9, Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Atlanta, followed by a new Real Housewives of Orange County. Comedy Central has a new Jeff Dunham Show at 9. Tlc has a new American Chopper at 9. Cartoon Network has a new Total Drama Action at 9, then a new Johnny Test. Spike has a new Tna Wrestling at 9. Also at 9: Current has a new SuperNews. At 10, FX has the season finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, followed by the season finale of The League. ABC Family has A Flintstone Christmas at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Hankering for some Captain N? In need of the Superhuman Samurai Cybersquad? Been wondering what Penny, Brain and Inspector Gadget are up to? Well, we’ve got just what you need as The Cookie Jar Company has just launched Jaroo.com, a Hulu-esque video site with full-length episodes of over 50 television series that anyone who remembers when Saturday morning was “Saturday morning” will enjoy.

Jaroo.com launches today with one of the largest selections of full-length episodes of popular kids television programming and movies, both current and classic. The new free premium video destination for kids of all ages will initially offer over 50 popular TV series with more than 500 episodes available on-demand, any time, making entertaining your child or inner-child just a simple click away. Full episodes of such longtime favorites as “Inspector Gadget”, “Johnny Test”, “Super Mario Bros.”, “Zelda”, “The Adventures of Paddington Bear” and “Madeline” as well as the exclusive U.

Jaroo comes to the Internet on Tuesday with the aim of being a sort of Hulu for kids.

Jaroo.com is from Cookie Jar Entertainment, the 5-year-old Canadian company that doubled its library last year when it purchased Dic Entertainment for $83 million.

Jaroo launches with 50 TV series and 500 episodes, though it is digitizing its library of 6,000 episodes to ensure fairly rapid growth, said Ken Locker, senior vp digital media.

Like Hulu, the Web site features TV shows that can be watched for free. Each 22-minute episode contains up to 90 seconds of commercials that cannot be skipped.

But unlike Hulu, Jaroo content, including the commercials, is aimed at kids ages 4-12.

Content comes exclusively from Cookie Jar's library, though discussions are under way with competitors who might add shows. And, like Hulu is a joint partnership consisting of NBC Universal, Fox, Disney and others, Jaroo is not averse to adding equity partners,...

Kids' WB! -- the CW's Saturday morning kids programming block -- kicks off its new line-up Sept. 22 with the American network debuts of Eon Kid, Magi-Nation, "Will & Dewitt" and "Skunk Fu!" The shows join returning series The Batman, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! Legion of Super-Heroes, Tom and Jerry Tales and Johnny Test. The block airs 7 a.m.-noon.

Kids' WB! -- the CW's Saturday morning kids block -- is adding five new animated series to its 2007-08 lineup.

In addition to the previously announced brand-new Spider-Man series, Kids' WB! is adding three adventure shows -- the CG-animated Eon Kid, the multiplatform-enhanced Magi-Nation and the action-comedy World of Quest -- and "a series of self-discovery" for younger kids titled "Will & Dewitt."

Spider-Man is set to premiere in early 2008, while the other four are debuting in the fall.

"The Kids' WB! core audience thrives on heightened levels of action and adventure, and these new series promise to take our fans into realms they couldn't have imagined," Kids' WB! senior vp and GM Betsy McGowen said.

The five shows join four previously announced returning series from Warner Bros. Animation: "Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!" Tom and Jerry Tales, Legion of Super Heroes and The Batman. All four series begin new seasons in the fall.

In addition, Cookie Jar Entertainment's Johnny Test will return to Kids' WB! in the fall.

Eon Kid is produced by Daiwon C&A Holdings Co., Design Storm Co., BRB International and Manga Entertainment and distributed by Starz Media.