Sundry animation news is hitting the rumor mill today. Of greatest interest to genre fans is a comment made by omnipresent voice actor Frank Welker regarding the pre-production of a new animated series. According to Welker, "They are doing a new series based on our old shows which neither Peter [Cullen] nor I were cast. I think Corey Burton is playing the new Megatron."

Paws Inc., has issued the following press release:

Paws, Inc. is thrilled to announce that they have entered into an agreement for Dargaud Marina S.A. (Paris, France) to produce and distribute a new fully animated half-hour television series beginning with 26 episodes for the first season.

The series will be produced in the English and French languages, and animated in CGI with 3D tools. The television programming is intended for worldwide distribution.

Mark Evanier will write the series in collaboration with French nationalist writers. Evanier wrote the highly successful Garfield and Friends series. Garfield and Friends started its first season on CBS-TV in 1988. The half-hour program was so popular, it was expanded to one hour for the second season. Garfield and Friends stayed at the top of the ratings chart for Saturday morning shows for 7 years. In fact, the show was the most popular children's program on television in 1993, with an audience that was 40% adult.

Finally, the first DVD collection of the new animated <i>Curious George</i> series appearing on PBS is slated to hit stores on February 20th, says Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  The series is based on the beloved series of children's books by Margret and H.A. Rey chronicalling the adventures of a little monkey who gets into big trouble.  William H. Macy narrates the new adventures, which follow closely in the animation style of 2006's "Curious George" theatrical release.  Children learn about basic science and math as they watch George play and solve puzzles (usually created by his own misadventures).