As we mentioned here back in May, PBS will soon be releasing a new Flash-animated series called Click & Clack’s As The Wrench Turns, which is base don the NPR radio show Car Talk. As we await the premiere on July 9th, 2008 at 8pm ET, we’re treated to a 3 minute clip from Campaign, an episode in which Click and Clack run for President.

The series is being animated by Atomic Cartoons and directed by Tom Sito.

You may have already read about this over at Cartoon Brew, but PBS has announced their new Flash-animated series Click & Clack’s As The Wrench Turns. The series is based on NPR’s Car Talk, the Peabody Award-winning talk show about cars that boasts 4.3 million listeners. The series is being directed by Tom Sito, who once presided over the Local 839 animator’s union and has dozens of animated feature credits to his name, including Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Here’s a teaser for the series:

Vancouver-based Atomic Cartoons is handling the animation, and I read that Hidden Door is as well.

Crash Bandicoot, who began life on the original Playstation back in 1996, went on to become the 14th biggest selling game franchise.

And on October 2nd, his gaming legacy continues on a multi-platform title Crash of the Titans, an adventure game built by Sierra Entertainment. The game features a 2D Flash-animated intro that was produced by Atomic Cartoons. The 1-minute shadow puppet sequence moves beautifully.

According to Jeff Agala, the director at Atomic, the entire piece was animated in Flash and then brought into After Effects to “goose the shadow effects.”

Thanks to Neil LaPointe for the story tip.

Atomic Cartoons, the studio behind Atomic Betty and Big City Birds, has been working on a new series concept. It’s called Mythunderstood and this promo below was written and directed by Tyler Schroeder. Tyler had help from Pat Pakula, Jeff Agala, Mike Gauss, Todd Ramsay, Jhun Terrones, Jon Affolter, Augusto Kapronczai and Aaron Saunders.

You should also check out Schroeder’s festival short Fowl Play (m4v file - ipod style), which he created with Pork and Beans.

Flash-animated projects faired well at this years’ Leo Awards, which took place in Vancouver on May 12th and 13th. The Leo Awards are “where the best and brightest film and television talent and programs in British Columbia are honoured for their work,” according to the awards website.

Best Animation Program or Series
Being Ian
Kathy Antonsen-Rocchio, Blair Peters, Chris Bartleman - Producers

Best Screenwriting in an Animation Program or Series
Colin Yardley, Larry Raskin
Pucca - A Force of Won, Cat Toy, Noodle Round the World

Best Overall Sound in an Animation Program or Series
Marcel Duperreault, Todd Araki, Jason Fredrickson, Kirk Furniss
Pucca - A Force of Won, Cat Toy, Noodle Round the World

Best Musical Score in an Animation Program or Series
Hal Foxton Beckett
Edgar and Ellen

Congrats to the winners, and all the nominees (including ‘Atomic Betty‘).

First, ‘Captain Flamingo’ premiered on January 10th on Canada’s YTV. It’s a Flash animated series “created by Heroic Film Company and developed with YTV, Breakthrough Animation and Atomic Cartoons, this 26-episode series, commissioned by YTV, is a co-production of Breakthrough Animation (Atomic Betty), Heroic Film Company (Our Hero), Atomic Cartoons (Atomic Betty) and PASI Animation (Bob and Margaret),” according to the press release. Haven’t found any ‘Captain Flamingo’ clips on the web, but when I do….

Next, Jennifer Shiman’s The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre shorts are being used by Volkswagen to promote their Fox car. The ads are only airing in Germany, and you can watch them over at ad-rag.com if you give them a couple bucks. ****UPDATE*** - in the comments below, Jennifer just tipped us off that you can view the German-dubbed commercials FOR FREE at shortbutfun.com

According to Brandweek magazine, the ‘Happy Tree Friends’ parent company, Mondo Media, signed a deal with the Walt Disney Internet Group. According to the article, the plan is to offer “wallpaper, ringtones, episode downloads and games beginning in the second quarter of 2006.” Also mentioned was G4’s plans to begin airing a ‘Happy Tree Friends’ series in the Fall. Currently, G4 is airing shorts, but I’m guessing longer format episodes are underway. In similar news, AWN reports that the ‘Happy Tree Friends’ podcast hit number one on the download list over the holiday.

Breakthrough Animation, one of the fine companies behind the international Flash-animation hit ‘Atomic Betty,’ is rolling out a fresh new show. ‘Captain Flamingo,’ a 30-episode co-production with Heroic Film Company, Atomic Cartoons and PASI Animation, will be rolling out on Canada’s YTV in January 2006. The show centers on Milo Powell, a little boy with a terrycloth cape who fights for justice along with his next door neighbor Lizbeth. The property bowed at NATPE 2005, and expect a worldwide rollout to commence soon.