Animated Reactions...

Something is brewing in the Hat Building...

I've been getting some interesting e-mails from people I know with somewhat cryptic statements about rather curious moves coming down the pipe line. Walt Disney Animation Studios could soon be making some interesting moves/changes soon. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up.

Progressing...

World Changes. Again...

Three weeks from today something will happen...

What, we don't know. But something (Insanely Great?). It appears that Apple, Inc. will have an event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco; announcing some form of a new device (iTablet, iSlate, WonderSlate, Slabonator?) as well as some possible peeks at an iPhone 4.o interation. Speculation is brewing and geeks like myself and reporters are all wondering what it will be. And will Steve Jobs be the one that presents it? I hope so.

Counting the days...

The Marvel Channel...

Like Peter Parker changing into his secret identity, you can expect Disney XD to start morphing into a different place by the end of this year...

Well, it'll start to begin later this year, but that's more of just announcements and preparations. I'd say between 2011/12 you're going to quite a new line up of the cable network. Formerly Toon Disney, Disney XD is the male-centric cable channel that the Mouse wants to be the alternative to The Disney Channel, which is now predominately female/girl oriented. They've been attempting to duplicate the "Hannah Montana" experience with shows and all, but the drive to get more boys and their toys will kick into overdrive soon.

Marvel characters are being evaluated for several slots on the daily line up and at least two characters have or will very soon get a greenlight to head into production. This is just the first offerings from the Mighty House of Marvel. More are said to be coming, with 2012 looking to cast this network as a very superhero focused place on the dial. Expect every property in Marvel's catalog to be combed through to find the right collection of men in tights to attract the young boy demographic. It's those that Iger actually paid for... he's trying to get instant or close to instant cred with this group. The male sector doesn't go for anything labeled "Princess" too well and this the beginning of the company's attempt to win over these guys. Having them identify Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor and all the others with the Disney name is something that's going to be emphasised over the next few years as these characters make their home in their new house.

So if you need a hero, you're about to get one, or many actually...

Union...

Today, these two souls were united in marriage...

The acquisition/merger of Marvel into the Disney Empire happened today. Here is the official press release:

New York, New York – December 31, 2009 -- Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company founded in 1939, announced that at a special meeting held this morning, Marvel stockholders approved the adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by Marvel and The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”), which provides for a merger in which Marvel will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney. Marvel anticipates that the merger, which, based on the closing price of Disney’s common stock on December 30, 2009, has an estimated value of approximately $4.3 billion, will be completed today after the close of the market.

The completion of the merger is subject to satisfaction of remaining conditions disclosed in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Disney with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424 on December 2, 2009.

May they have a long, happy life together...