To anyone who loves cartoons for all ages, they’ve probably followed the trajectory of Cartoon Network, from its original focus on classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, to the increased inclusion of anime to its current streak of hit original content. This nostalgic video with music by Mad Decent and animation by ILOVEDUST highlights nearly 100 cartoon characters that have helped make the network what it is, from Scooby-Doo and Dexter to Meatwad and Jake the Dog.
Assassin’s Creed III Liberation looks to be a highlight for the PS Vita this holiday season. Find out more about making Aveline’s adventure, where she will eventually meet Assassin’s Creed III hero Connor.
Disney and Pixar have launched a viral site for the prequel film, Monsters University set on campus while Mike and Sully were not the greatest of friends. Built like a college website, we are given historical facts, maps, news Alumni pages, and a store.
The brief history states:
“Established in 1313 following a land grant from the city of Monstropolis, Monsters University has grown from a small local center of learning to a leading global institution of higher education. Upon this hallowed ground, some of the most fabled academic buildings in the world have been built, serving the hundreds of thousands of alumni that have walked the halls and grounds of MU.”
A new piece of artwork that is visible across the top of every page of the site.
A map shows the layout of the campus.
The store sells MU-branded shirts, sweatshirts and mugs redirects to the Disney Store website, where checkout can be completed. Monsters University arrives in theaters on June 21, 2013.
What do Nike, Hot Wheels, and Nerdist have in common They’re offering lessons on how branded YouTube channels can be truly entertaining destinations.
Whether it’s Hot Wheels’ episodic adventure, Nike’s infectious amount of variety, or Nerdist’s display that is way too appetizing not to click, these three super brands are captivating their audiences. And they’re not necessarily doing it in extraordinary ways. Ultimately, the key is to make the most of display elements YouTube offers, as well as the various interactive opportunities within the videos themselves.
Find out more at iMedia Connection.
Ubisoft is teasing something on their Splinter Cell Facebook page, and it isn’t clear what for. The most popular theory is that it will have something to do with a Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer mode, though some are hoping that it will be announced that Michael Ironside has been brought back as Sam Fisher or perhaps even a Metal Gear cross-over has been greenlit.
“We’re getting ready to make a big announcement…” said Ubisoft in the post. “Click ‘LIKE’ (and share, if you’d be so kind) to reveal more of the image!”
Source: Facebook {page no longer active}
Laurence Toney has confirmed that he has left as general manager of Zynga Poker. The veteran of three years at Zynga joins a list of departures in the past month that includes CMO Jeff Karp, chief security officer Nils Puhlmann and the creators of Words With Friends.
“My departure is less about Zynga and more about the vast number of opportunities that currently exist in the Valley,” said Toney. “I have been approached by several organizations to lead teams and companies that I find exciting and compelling. It is the right time for me in my career to move on.”
Source: AllThingsD
Sony is asserting that Jerry Lambert appearing in a Bridgestone ad where he enthusiastically reacts to the Wii was unfair competition, breach of contract, tortious interference along with trademark violation under the Lanham Act for confusing consumers over the spokesperson’s appearance. For its part, Bridgestone denies that Sony has an interest in the character or the possibility of confusion and notes its intentions to fight the suit.
“Mr. Lambert is one of the actors who appeared in the commercial as a Bridgestone engineer,” says the defendant. “Bridgestone denies that ‘Kevin Butler’ appears in the Bridgestone commercial discussed herein and thus denies that he speaks or does anything whatsoever in the commercial.”
The ad for Bridgestone that promised consumers a Nintendo Wii upon the purchase of four tires did notably occur September 3, just three days after the expiration of an agreement between Sony and Lambert’s loan-out company Wildcat Creek.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Supercell reports that Clash of Clans and Hay Day bring in over $500,000 a day, or roughly $350,000 to the company once Apple takes a 30 percent cut. With Clash of the Clans estimated to be the top grossing title on iPad, the company has shifted from PC browser games to tablets.
“The technology and hardware performance really is close to on-par with that of consoles,” said U.S. general manager Greg Harper, who thinks that dedicated portable games consoles are losing out to tablets. “That market seems in trouble to me. The iPad mini could be one of the final nails in the coffin.”
Source: New York Times
SkyVu Entertainment’s popular series of Battle Bears games for Android and iOS is headed to television; they’ve signed an agreement with W!ldbrain Entertainment to bring a half-hour animated series to life. The popular series of stuffed animal shooters was created by SkyVu co-founder Ben Vu when he was an animation student at CalArts, and it’s clear that he had animation in mind all along. The starring group of six fighting teddy bears each have distinctive personalities and combat profiles, battling hordes of mindless enemies in an attractively bloodless fashion. In other words, rainbows pour our instead of blood when an enemy is beheaded.
Vu saw the potential for a cross-platform brand from the beginning, and no doubt his experience as an animator on the movie Coraline helped his vision along. Battle Bears games feature bears that talk like surfer dudes, reminiscent of the once-dominant Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series and toy line. Battle Bears has been downloaded some 18 million times, making one of the more popular games on mobile platforms.
Michael Polis, the president of W!ldbrain said, “Between its built-in fan base and the expandable universe that lends itself to consumer products and character-driven extensions, Battle Bears has the potential to become the next big boys action comedy brand.” W!ldbrain is producing a full season of half-hour episodes based on the game, and they are planning on producing a series of Battle Bears action figures and toys.
SkyVu notes proudly that this is the first time a mobile game has become an original TV series. While Angry Birds is an enormous hit, and has several animated shorts, but a TV series has not yet happened for that game. Disney’s popular Where’s My Water game featuring Swampy the alligator has become an animated series on Disney.com, but again it hasn’t made it to television.
The TV series will follow the Battle Bears as they travel to a distant pink planet and uncover some dangers that threaten the entire galaxy. Of course the Battle Bears are the only thing that stand between the alien threats and the safety of many worlds, and their battle prowess and skills will be on full display.
The official Internet poster to Looper was revealed, which is part of an intriguing trend of animated GIFs. Here’s also a few animated images draw from the movie’s animated teaser.
