The Cartoon Network Upfront Conference confirmed that storm of activity around Star Wars, Ben 10, Chowder, and online properties would be part of their grand plan for 2008... along with a few surprises which may change the landscape of American animation.

You know it's big news when George Lucas and a squad of storm troopers don't have a monopoly on blockbuster announcements. The upfronts, wherein networks reassure advertisers that they've still got their mojo, were largely pushed back by the recent writers' strike. As previously reported, CN has spent its winter break preparing a number of big projects, which were indeed part of a larger strategy.

Thursdays and Fridays

'New Thursdays' will indeed become the new night for comedy. The block is already airing and anchored by Chowder and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, along with Camp Lazlo and George of the Jungle. The nautical nuttiness of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack was previewed this Thursday; it's slated for a summer premiere.

The long, storied history of CN Fridays will get a brand new chapter full of fantasy, adventure, and the Force. Yes, the long-awaited Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be taking its thirty (initial) episodes of 3D saga to Friday nights. As if the prospect of new stories weren't enough, The Clone Wars will be presaged by a theatrical release on the 15th of August 2008. Also coming to Fridays is Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The caped crusader's looking going positively old-school — and we're talking pre-Adam West — with new friends and more field-trips out of Gotham to fight crime.

Since Friday is the traditional slot for other networks' genre and niche-audience shows, the moves will put CN right in the middle of major scheduling match-ups, not just the kids' market.

'Saturdays', Sundays, and the Future...

Also coming this fall is The Secret Saturdays, a family of globe-trotting scientists who have adventures reminiscent of the family Quest. Sundays will be designated as movie night. The second live-action Ben 10 movie is in the works, and will likely premiere in that slot. The movie will pair nicely with the "time-skip" series Ben 10: Alien Force coming April 18th.

The biggest impact on the animation industry will be The Cartoonstitute, an initiative to develop a whopping 150 pieces of animation in 20 months. They're certainly saying all the right things: the initiative will be artist-led, in-house, and multi-platform. Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends) and Rob Renzetti (Dexter's Laboratory) will produce this animation think-tank.

Did a big U.S. studio just commit to animation apprenticeship and developing new series? The industry and toon fans everywhere can hope! If it works out, that's welcome news for productions still recovering from the strike.

As covered previously, CN is also working on projects beyond television. Its annual nutrition awareness initiative, Spot the Block, returns this spring to encourage kids to practice healthy habits. The network's New Media division is also replete with plans, including its first MMPORG (massively multi-player online role-playing game). Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall will come with all the usual customization and action bells-and-whistles.