Animation Insider has a great article up about the upcoming Rollbots series. A joint venture between Canada’s Amberwood Entertainment and TYV, AI says it “may be one of the most intelligently designed computer animated TV properties developed in recent years.”

Of course, if you’re like me, you’ve never heard of Rollbots (before now). So what’s the scoop?

Flip City, a labyrinth of a network of roller coaster tracks and ever-winding steel paths, is occupied by a race of robots. These robots possess arms and legs that extend from and retract into an otherwise spherical body, which allows them to travel throughout Flip City at high speeds with great efficiency. As the setting for Rollbots, this city is rather simple and peaceful, making use of trade and barter systems as their base for social networking and other communal interactions. The tribal organization and hierarchical arrangement makes it rather simple for communities to deal out responsibilities and to make sure order is maintained. Unfortunately, such a city makes things rather difficult for an orphan, such as Spin, Rollbots‘ main character.

Spin doesn’t really know where be belongs; but he often makes use of his incredible speed and daredevil disposition to occupy his time and his interests. With a roller coaster city such as Flip City as his home, Spin’s adventurous personality in many ways feels right at home. But it isn’t until he begins to hang out and take pointers from the CopBots and their law enforcement group that Spin begins to learn that there may be some practical applications of his speed and energy.

This is reminding me of something. Hmmmm. I’m not sure what. But oh, that feeling of deja vu… it’s coming on strong. Let me think. I’ve almost got it.

Aha! Now I know. I could’ve saved Animation Insider a lot of time, I think. Here’s your Rollbots summary: It’s Rolie Polie Olie on steroids!

Oh, just kidding. It actually sounds like the sort of thing my kids will eat right up (it’s aimed at the 6-11 set). And with 26 half-hour shows in production, there should be plenty for them to enjoy once the series premieres next year.

Go read the whole piece, and then when you catch it on television you can be all, “Oh, right, Rollbots. I know all about this. Yeah, the Toy Box Mommy told me. We’re tight.” It’ll be our little secret.

I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting great things from Surf’s Up when it opened this weekend. I think I may be feeling a bit burned out on animated feature films, right now. Enough with the animated films. (I’m actually really looking forward to Nancy Drew opening next weekend, perhaps because she won’t be animated.)

Regardless, for whatever reason, the world doesn’t revolve around me (I know), and so the movie opened to… critical acclaim. It’s not the greatest, most stupendous movie of all time, or anything, but by golly the critics are really enjoying it.

(Do spend some time reading through the reviews, if you like that sort of thing. I suppose it was inevitable, but there are some truly harsh Happy Feet slams embedded in the praise for Surf’s Up, which is worth the read just because it’s always interesting to see what folks can get themselves worked up about.)

One of the recurrent compliments for the movie is that its animation is simply stunning. Want to learn more about how they do what they do with that crazy CGI stuff? Go behind the scenes and read about the decisions behind the design, as well as having a look at some stills from the film. I find the discussion about realistic vs. stylized really interesting, personally. As a non-designed that just isn’t the sort of thing that occurs to me.

But then, surfing penguins really never occurred to me. So, clearly, I am not a font of radical thinking. Oh well. Thank goodness for the internet, to keep me informed.

My daughter is something of a bookworm. I have no idea where she gets that from. (Hold on a sec… I just have to finish this chapter….) She’s a methodical sort when it comes to books she enjoys: If the book is any good, and it’s part of a series, she will read the entire series before moving on to something else.

During that time she will talk of nothing but the characters about whom she’s reading, and if I haven’t read the books, myself, I spend a lot of time nodding and mmmhmming and hoping there won’t be a quiz.

Earlier this year I spent a lot of time being regaled by details about Principal Kidswatter and the students at Wayside School. Each new tidbit of information was prefaced with, “Mom, this part is so silly….”

I guess she’s not the only one who loves the crazy antics of the Wayside gang, because according to Animation Insider, Nickelodeon will be premiering a series based on the books later this month:

“Readers have enjoyed Wayside tales from Louis Sachar,” Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Nickelodeon Television stated, “and now fans can watch their favorite stories come to life as its first-ever TV series joins Nickelodeon’s hit animation line-up.” He continued: “The stories are absurdly funny interpretations of how kids perceive the world around them and the issues they face in their daily lives.” Wayside will premiere on Nickelodeon at 12:30pm (ET) on June 25tth, 2007; appearing on weekdays thereafter at 12:30. The animated television series, produced by Nelvana studios, will be twenty-six episodes in length.

Not a bad way to kick off the summer, methinks.

The licensing industry is abuzz today over the announcement made yesterday: Disney has signed a multi-year first-look deal with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.

If you don’t know who Stan Lee is, allow me to welcome you to Planet Earth. I hope you enjoy your stay. And you may wish to brush up on the man, the myth, the living legend that is Stan Lee; take a brief crash course here, if so. As the Godfather of the action comic, I think it’s safe to say that Lee is more icon than man, at this point.

His production company, POW! (Purveyors of Entertainment), is relatively new, having been founded in 2005. But Disney swooping in to acquire Lee’s genius comes as a shock to no one. And the official word on the merger is a non-stop mutual lovefest:

Bob Chapek, president, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, […] said, “Stan is not only loved by fans of the genre, but is one of the most respected and admired figures in the entertainment industry. In fact, it’s hard to think of another individual who has created as many memorable and appealing characters. We’re thrilled that Stan has decided to make Disney his new home, and feel very fortunate to be collaborating with him on a wide range of new projects for all divisions of our company. His track record is impressive by any measure, and Home Entertainment is sure to benefit from his creations.”

Gill Champion, POW! Entertainment, COO says, “There can be no better opportunity to perpetuate the Stan Lee/Pow! brand for all media than to be associated with the Disney Studio. No one better understands the incalculable value and importance of Developing, Producing, Distributing and Marketing new global franchises. We are incredibly impressed with the professionalism and valuable input from the executive and creative talent whom we now so eagerly join.”

I guess that makes for better PR than everyone announcing “Resistance is futile. Spider-Man’s creator will be assimilated.” Best of luck within the Borg, Mr. Lee.

Got plans for tonight? If you don’t, and you live in a participating city, you could go check out the one-night-only showing of Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow. It debuted in Japan in 2004, but this will be your big chance to see it on the big screen in America. (Proud Canadian? Your chance is coming on June 23rd.)

Find a participating theater by checking here, and then make sure you’re free at 7:00 tonight. Just keep in mind that although the television series is for ages 7 and up, the movie is apparently suited to teens and older. Unless you have a little kid who’s pretty unflappable, I guess.

For even more Naturo goodness, check out this interview with Mary Elizabeth McGlynn about the series in general and the movie in particular. As a relative newbie to Naruto, I didn’t realize the fanatical following it enjoys until I read this:

MEM: It’s become the Harry Potter of the anime world. What’s amazing is it’s not just the teens, but the parents. I get letters from people of every age group. They just love the show and really connect to it.

I think what it is it has so many characters, each one different and individual. The whole thing is about growing up and working together as a team, but really it’s all about enhancing your own individuality. It actually says by becoming a strong individual you can really contribute to the team.

NRAMA: It’s also the classic Horatio Algers story with a ninja setting.

MEM: Yeah. It says even the lowliest can rise to the top. It also shows Naruto isn’t the only one. Each kid is finding his or her own path. For instance, look at Naruto and Gaara. They both have similar backgrounds, but they chose different paths. Naruto has chosen to use his powers for good and he’s one of the most honorable characters I’ve ever come across. In Gaara’s case, he became so beaten down he eventually took the path of isolation and evil. Naruto never let himself get beaten down. Naruto will go on forever.

Read the whole thing, and catch the film if you can. (Then come back and tell me how it was, because I live in the sticks and it’s not showing anywhere near me. Hmph.)

When I first came across this article, I immediately started humming the theme song to Wonder Pets. Hey, it’s a lot of pets to keep straight. Wonder pets, Neopets… there’s a limited amount of space still available in my brain, and I’m not sure that keeping track of all of these creatures is the best use of my mental capacity.

Upon closer inspection, though, I did realize this was something different. Neopets aren’t at all like Wonder Pets, actually. They’re more like a cross between Webkinz and Pokemon. Regardless, they’re coming to Nickelodeon later this month:

Popular online youth community Neopets.com will make its television debut on June 23 when Nickelodeon launches the first series of animated Neopets “mini-shows,” shorts that will air in between Nickelodeon’s longer-form programs. The network hopes a good percentage of the 40 million registered Neopets members will tune in to see characters and stories from the world of Neopia brought to life through animation.

Many of the spots will feature surprise, multiple endings as they introduce such characters as mad scientist creature Lab Ray, an ocean floor vacuumer named Trunkard and a Haunted Woods swamp witch named Sophie. Fans will also find hidden clues embedded in each episode that will help them unlock puzzles and trivia questions on the Neopets web site.

The mini-shows will also appear on Neovision, Neopets.com’s broadband video player, which also features user submitted content and Neopets animated originals.

The article goes on to talk about some recently enhancements to the Neopets website, but I mostly found myself paging through the Neopedia and wondering if I could remember all of that information even if I wanted to. I think I’m getting old.

My children, however, will likely meet this new development with great glee and perfect memorization. I expect to be hearing repetition of these spots at the dinner table for months to come.

Today’s tots are more likely to know Elmo’s World than Bobby’s World, but now that could all change. The brainchild of Howie Mandel, Bobby’s World first debuted back in 1990. It chronicles the overactive imagination of one Bobby Generic, a 4-year-old boy with a little voice and a big family. Dad is oblivious, Mom is the Minnesota housewife stereotype personified, big sis Kelly is a Cyndi Lauper wannabe, and big brother Derek is a mouthy skaterboy. (Later in the series, Bobby has infant twin brothers as well.) In the midst of everyday life and these myriad characters, Bobby’s mental fantasies spin out with entertaining regularity.

Maybe it’s due to Howie Mandel’s reclamation of fame now that he’s the host of Deal or No Deal (aside: dumbest. show. ever.), or maybe there’s just an exec somewhere who really loves the show, but Bobby’s World is back! You can watch episodes in their entirety over on Kabillion. (When I last checked, there were 16 available. More are being added.) Chances are your kids will find them hilarious. My children are still talking about “remember how Bobby was picking his nose?” Yeah. It’s not high-brow entertainment, folks, but it certainly seems to have captivated my crew.

After you go and get your family hooked on the show, you can bop on over to the brand spankin’ new Bobby’s World Store here at Ty’s Toy Box. (Ahem… speaking of nose-picking….) Ty’s is excited to be taking part in this little slice of retro culture come back to life. But I think I speak for everyone here when I say that even though it’s funny when Bobby does it, we recommend all fingers stay out of all noses. Thanks.

It’s been a while since there was any good Teen Titans news to share, and today I’ve got three items of interest to keep you happy over the weekend. Because I know your weekend would’ve been empty and meaningless, otherwise. You’re welcome.

First: Are you a fan of the Teen Titans Go! comics? J. Torres has posted a preview of some pages from TTG #43 over on ComicSpace. (The issue is available for purchase now, but why not whet your appetite?)

Second: Newsarama has an interview with Marv Wolfman up where he discusses (among other things) the upcoming animated Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. Just be aware that this is based on the The New Teen Titans comics (read: it’s for adults), though it’s interesting to hear Wolfman praise the Cartoon Network series:

NRAMA: Is it connected to the Cartoon Network version of Teen Titans?

MW: No, this has nothing to do with that. This is an adult version. It’s a very strong PG-13 based on the comic, not the cartoon show.

NRAMA: Do you suspect it will be less anime influenced?

MW: I don’t believe art designs have been done but what I’ve always been told was that this was going to be done straight. But I loved the Cartoon Network version of “The Judas Contract”. I thought for a show aimed at eight year olds, they did a story that an adult could watch and not at all be insulted by. We are aiming for a PG-13 audience so hopefully we’re going to be able to do all the emotion that they did and more, but also make it closer to the original comic.

And last but not least: Teen Titans is on its way to becoming a live action feature film through Warner Bros.

The live-action adaptation is being produced by Akiva Goldsman and Kerry Foster through their Weed Road banner, while Mark Verheiden has been brought on board to write the script.

[…]

Goldsman said the tone will be consistent with such recent Warners’ comic book fare as “Batman Begins,” “Superman Returns” and the upcoming “Watchmen.”

Newsarama weighs in with their commentary on this last item, and that’s worth a read, as well.

Any way you slice it, the Titans seem to be alive and kicking. Maybe we’ll get them back on Cartoon Network someday, after all.