Monster Safari, Sid the Science Kid

The Jim Henson Co. is set to produce a stop-motion animated feature film titled Monster Safari, which is based on a short film from stop-motion animation studio Screen Novelties, THR.  Monster Safari will be penned by the writing team of Craig Zobel and Matt Chapman, with Screen Novelties' Mark Caballero, Chris Finnegan and Seamus Walsh producing the stop-motion animation.  The movie revolves around two bumbling cryptozoologists trying to save the Earth's monsters from a ruthless hunter.

NCircle Entertainment will launch the animated series Sid the Science Kid on DVD this summer, with the first two DVD titles, Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens and Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club.  Available on August 4, 2009, each DVD includes four episodes of Sid the Science Kid, the PBS Kids series that is co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET Los Angeles.  Additionally, a limited supply of the Sid the Science Kid DVDs will have a special on-pack bonus DVD of Front Row Fun, that includes two hours of preschool shows including as Dive Olly Dive!, WordWorld, Hurray for Huckle, among others.

So Smart! Productions teams with Echo Bridge Home Entertainment to release the first six titles in its new DVD line, Baby's First Word Stories this September 22, 2009.  The releases are part of an exclusive distribution agreement between the companies that includes DVD and digital distribution rights to So Smart's! line of kid-targeted DVDs and CDs.  Additionally, nine DVDs from Baby's Beginnings and King Otis and the Kingdom of Goode series, as well as three CDs, will also release on September 22.  Further Baby's First Word Stories titles are set for release in early 2010.

The new Super Why toy line created by Learning Curve, and based on the PBS Kids preschool series, is set to debut at Toys "R" Us stores this month.  To mark the release of the Super Why toys, Toys "R" Us stores nationwide will host a two-hour Super Why event on Saturday, June 13 (12noon-2p), featuring storytelling, reading-focused games, activities and give-a-ways (while supplies last, of course).  Beginning in August, Super Why toys will roll out to other retailers nationwide.  The Super Why line also includes new product from other licensees, including Grosset & Dunlap (books), University Games (puzzles and games) and PBS Home Video (DVDs).  Super Why is produced by Out of the Blue in conjunction with Canadian-based Decode Entertainment Inc. and C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Inc.