Updated 7/28/12. Classic Media is a worldwide company that owns the rights to many of the most beloved cartoons and cartoon characters we know, such as The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, Felix the Cat, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and even She-Ra. Variety reports they may be selling sold those cartoon characters to mega-animation company DreamWorks, the company responsible for the Madagascar movie franchise, as well as TV cartoons Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Penguins of Madagascar and the upcoming Dragons: Riders of Berk. With such a large, classic cartoon catalog at their fingertips, DreamWorks could churn out not only TV cartoons and holiday specials, but also create feature films based on those characters. Hopefully, DreamWorks would shepherd those cartoons wisely with plenty of talented folks on board. Otherwise, we may end up mourning the sale.
Picture courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.
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Sci Fi and Fantasy Geeks, as well as media hounds and Hollywood players, have arrived in San Diego for the annual Comic-Con. True, I'm not there, but I can live vicariously through YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and so many other wondrous places technology has brought us. If you and I (animated TV fans, natch) were attending, we would be riding FOX's custom pedicabs with our swag bags and "water" bottles to these panels today.
This Father's day, remind your old man how normal your family is by watching the craziest dads on TV try to keep it together in the wildest situations. From 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET, be sure to watch your favorite Pops themed episodes of Regular Show and catch the funniest fathers in your favorite episodes of Johnny Test and The Amazing World of Gumball.
There was a time when fantasy stories were more easily told in animation because visual effects were not nearly so advanced as they are today. Stories like The Hobbit and The Last Unicorn were no less effective, however, because they were cartoons. This list of fantasy cartoons on DVD represent some of the best magical stories told in animation, perfect to give as a gift or add to your own collection.
When I watched Penguins of Madagascar the first time, I did more than one double-take at the voices of the cast. Could it be that Golden Globe winner Sacha Baron Cohen was providing the voice of King Julien in this lowly Nickelodeon cartoon? So, I checked. Here's the skinny on the sound-alike voices of the Penguins of Madagascar cartoon.
Isn't it ironic that Meg Griffin, considered the ugly girl on Family Guy, is played by hottie Mila Kunis? Find out more fascinating facts about the Family Guy cast members, including where you've seen (or heard) them before.
South Park's big Easter egg hunt is in jeopardy when there are rumors of a dangerous beast lurking in the woods nearby. Cartman tries to warn everyone that their lives are at risk if they participate in the egg hunt. No one believes him until he produces video evidence of the mystery being. The title, "Jewpacabra," makes me think I might know who Cartman's prey is. Watch it tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.
Mordecai, a blue jay, and Rigby, a raccoon, lead a pack of characters through misadventures on Regular Show. What sounds like a formulaic TV comedy becomes more when the humor is slightly off, yet heartfelt, and a dash of supernatural magic is thrown in. Read my full review of Regular Show on Cartoon Network.
Classic cartoon lovers will purr when they download their own Talking Felix the Cat app. Yes, there are other talking apps that can amuse you and your friends for literally minutes, but the Talking Felix the Cat is based on the classic cartoon character Felix the Cat. When you talk to him, he repeats what you say in his own voice. But you can also tickle him, make him dizzy and play his mini-game. He even brought his magical bag of tricks. See Talking Felix the Cat in action on YouTube, then download a bit of classic cartoon history for yourself.
Nickelodeon is celebrating Earth Day with a weekend full of exploring nature and helping the environment. Watch a never-before-seen episode of The Penguins of Madagascar, titled "Operation: Big Blue Marble," on Sunday, April 22, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The Penguins are faced with a global battle when their specialty food-making machine (combines fish and churros into dream food) belches out a toxic cloud that threatens not just the zoo, not just the city, but the earth itself.
Today school children all over the world celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. Theodore Geisel). His books have been popular for generations. Starting in the 1960s, some of Dr. Seuss' books became cartoons. These Dr. Seuss characters remain popular cartoon characters year after year.
The Legend of Korra is tearing up Nickelodeon like a Firebender in Bah Sing Se. Before Korra, however, fans came to know and love Aang, the previous Avatar and last Airbender in 100 years. If Korra has you slightly confused about the history of the Bending world, get familiar with Avatar: The Last Airbender.
In one of the more interesting merchandise tie-ins in recent history, you can now buy the Muscle Man Marc Doll from the South Park episode "1%" when Cartman's friends turn on him for dragging down their physical fitness score. The Marc Jacbos doll (on the right, next to that swarthy-looking fellow) can be seen in this scene, when Eric is pouring out his sorrow to Clyde Frog, Peter Panda and Polly Prissypants. The doll is a limited edition for $125. Star tats never looked so good.
First, Beavis and Butt-head came sniggering back to MTV. Now Daria will "whatever" her way back onto the schedule, too. From July 30 to August 3, MTV will air select episodes from Daria at 9:00 a.m. ET as part of their Retro Mania block. Perhaps if we all tune in, the MTV button pushers will realize they should air re-runs regularly, 'cause they should. Why keep that gem locked up in the dark? Let her shine!
Easter is just around the corner of the calendar. This Rankin/Bass cartoon isn't as beloved as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but it holds the same charm. Learn more about Here Comes Peter Cottontail, a stop-motion animated Easter special about everyone's favorite bunny.
Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off to summer vacations. The Simpson family has been on many vacations, from Springfield to Florida. Whether you're languishing in air-conditioned comfort or sweating at a picnic table, you can review this list of the best (or is it worst?) summer vacations on The Simpsons.
"Ee-viiil!" Nickelodeon will honor the late Ernest Borgnine with a two-hour SpongeBob SquarePants marathon featuring the actor as Mermaid Man, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 11. Nicktoons also will run the special line-up from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, July 14.
The Hub is a new network, featuring many cartoons based on Hasbro toys, such as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic or Transformers Prime. But on Saturday nights you can tune in for a more mature, and certainly darker, cartoon called Dan Vs.. Read my full review of Dan Vs. to learn more about the cynical titular character and his enablers.
Back in January, I blogged that FOX had plans to dive into the Adult Swim pool with late-night animated comedy programming. Now FOX has announced the first cartoon that will air during that block.
Spring is here and the traditional big networks are winding up their TV seasons. FOX season finales will finish on the dates below.
Either one of the writers on SpongeBob SquarePants was a fan of Jackass, the MTV series that featured Johnny and his posse of idiots performing fraternity-style stunts, or the target audience of SpongeBob SquarePants is now old enough to know who Johnny Knoxville is. I don't know which scenario is more disturbing.
Years ago I asked readers to submit their ideas for Homer Simpson's hamburger recipes. They submitted recipes that were humorous (roadkill, anyone?) and serious (Liquid Smoke!). Perhaps with their help you'll make a success of Homer Simpson's Pringles Burger Recipe, for instance. Enjoy!
American Dad is the new King of the Hill, in that FOX does little to promote it, but it's one of the funniest and most clever TV shows on the air. American Dad dissects family values, politics and most American preconceptions in every episode.
The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after Avatar: The Last Airbender. We learn that Avatar Aang has passed away and has been reincarnated in Korra, a girl from the Southern Water Tribe. But what happened in those 70 years? Fans welcomed the new cartoon and the new Avatar, with 4.5 million total viewers, ranking as basic cable's #1 kids' show and top animated program for the week of the premiere. But there are still questions that need to be answered before die-hard fans can move on. Find out what happened during the 70 years between Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.
The new season of Squidbillies premieres July 22 at 12:15 a.m. ET on Adult Swim. In this YouTube promo, Early Cuyler tells the liberal media, including us, why we should be watching his show. Brace yourself for amateur prostate exams, coitus in cars and Rusty (left) rapping, "Dropping Dope Beats While I'm Slicing Thin Meats! Oh Damn, Here's A Black Forest Ham." Take a peak at what's in store for the sixth season. Y'all.
Bob's Burgers premiered its second season on Sunday, maintaining nearly all of the viewers who had tuned in to see The Simpsons. With over 4 million viewers, it looks like Bob's Burgers is here to stay. However, this season will be split between the spring and the fall. No problem for me. I'll tune in for Loren Bouchard's character-driven 'toon no matter when it's on.
Regular Show, Cartoon Network's hit animated comedy featuring best friends Mordecai, a six-foot-tall blue jay and Rigby, a hyperactive raccoon, presents a special Valentine's Day episode on Monday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET. In "Butt Dial," Mordecai accidentally leaves an embarrassing voicemail on Margaret's phone that tells her how he really feels. Huh, most of the butt dials I get are long periods of car noise sprinkled with tuneless humming.
Just as the sun must die one day, to leave all humans to starve to death on Planet Earth, so, too, must there be a premiere date for Annoying Orange. The operative word in that title is "annoying." If you are unfamiliar with the YouTube phenomenon, Orange has a nasal voice and tells really bad jokes--a lot. He is joined by a cornucopia of fruit and vegetable friends, many who meet their Maker under the knife--literally. Now Cartoon Network is unleashing this monster of comedy in a half-hour cartoon that will feature Orange and his friends (as well as his nemesis, Grapefruit) as they (wait for it) travel through time, solving problems and mysteries as they go.
Back in the day TV shows almost never premiered in the winter, and if one did you knew the network was just burning off episodes of a show they weren't really committed to. Now, however, mid-season TV shows are common and frequently very successful. Keep your eyes peeled and TiVos warm for these upcoming mid-season premieres for cartoons.
The Simpsons will air a record 500th episode tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. After TV-watching marathons, a new star on the Walk of Fame and more hoopla, we'll finally see "At Long Last Leave." In the episode, the Simpsons are evicted from Springfield and join an off-the-grid community outside of town. But when Homer and Marge try to sneak back into Springfield, they are welcomed with hostility from their former friends and neighbors and begin to appreciate their new and more accepting home. 
Long-time fans of The Simpsons know to look for funny signs or headlines while they're watching an episode. Nearly every week there's a sight gag displayed on the First Church of Springfield's marquee or the signs at a convention. Keep a sharp eye out the next time Homer is reading the newspaper. In the meantime, enjoy these sight gags from signs seen around Springfield on The Simpsons.
After a lengthy hiatus, Metalocalypse returns with new episodes tonight at 12:15 a.m. on Adult Swim. This is the fourth season for the bloody grunge fest that chronicles Dethklok, a death metal band, and its crusades into darkness, as well as their exploitation as the world's most popular metal band and most significant cultural force. At least, according to them. According to me? Meh.
A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman features Batman's core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City's criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller uses cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, playing up the darker, more grounded Batman we've come to love in The Dark Knight feature films. Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network. Hurry up!
Lisa and Nelson. Bart and Greta. Barney and Linda Ronstadt. Smithers and Mr. Burns. Whether they hook up at the Sleep-Eazy Motel or Ye Olde Off Ramp Inn, lots of couples have romanced in Springfield on The Simpsons. Here is a picture gallery celebrating The Simpsons couples.
Before basic and paid cable, when the TV air waves were ruled by the four traditional networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, once May arrived all good TV watching came to an end. We were forced to turn our attention to the outside world, where the sun was too bright and the pavement was too hot and our family was anything but animated.
Tweens were all a-Twitter recently when Drake Bell tweeted a photo from the set of the upcoming A Fairly Odd Christmas, which follows the exploits of Timmy Turner (Drake Bell), and his well meaning fairy godparents, as he tries to get himself off the naughty list. A Fairly Odd Christmas is the live-action sequel to A Fairly Odd Movie, the first live-action movie based on The Fairly OddParents.
Ernest Borgnine was a Hollywood legend. He starred in a laundry list of movies that spanned several decades. He won an Oscar in 1995 for Marty, playing against his usual type of the burly, tough guy. In 2010 he played a CIA agent in Red, which starred Bruce Willis. Cartoon fans know him as the hilarious and senile Mermaid Man (far left) on SpongeBob SquarePants. Yesterday, he died from renal failure at age 95. His comedic talent will be missed.
You don't need to visit the local mutliplex for action and adventure on Saturday night, because The Hub is serving up a Transformers: Prime episode titled "Flying Mind," about a plan to end the war between Autobots and Decepticons. But getting caught in the middle of this war are human kids. Josh Keaton plays Jack Darby, a 15 year-old who fights with the Autobots against the Decepticons. Having played Green Lantern and Hercules, Josh knows how to bring action to a character. Read my interview with Transformers: Prime Josh Keaton to find out more about 'Bots, Green Lantern and what it's like to be a voice-over actor.
In tonight's FOX season finale of Bob's Burgers, titled "Beefsquatch," Bob appears in a cooking segment on a local news morning program, but Gene steals the show when he crashes the set with a sasquatch mask.
Nickelodeon just made my summer. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Avatar Korra will be back not only next year, but also for 26 episodes beyond that. Season 1, Book 1 ended with a one-hour finale on June 23. Book 2 will air in 2013 with 13 more episodes. Beyond that, Nickelodeon ordered 26 episodes that will presumably be split into Book 3 and Book 4.
Emmy nominations were announced in the wee hours of the morning, heralding the beginning of the awards season, which lasts almost as long as hockey season. For the first time in several years, South Park was not nominated. However, seeing new names on the ballot for voice-over performance is a pleasant surprise. Following are nominees for the big categories in animated TV.
FX has been in the forefront of networks with quality TV shows for several years, with hits like Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me and now American Horror Story. After Archer premiered three seasons ago, it stepped into the arena of animated comedy. Now FX is building on that cartoon's success by pairing it with Unsupervised on Thursday nights. Unsupervised is at the opposite end of the spectrum from Archer in terms of the income bracket of the characters, the down home setting and subtle humor. However, Unsupervised is a refreshing and funny take on being a teenager. Read my full review of Unsupervised.