The feature animation world is about to get a bit bigger as Paramount Pictures is looking to expand its original animation output.  The studio surprised last year with the excellent Rango, a film which many (myself included) stood head an shoulders above what Pixar and DreamWorks Animation had to offer in 2011.  The studio has since put into development a number of properties, but thus far the only one we’ve known much about was The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie 2.

A new report just hit that clues us in on much more of what Paramount has in store, including an animated project from J.J. Abrams and feature film adaptations of a number of Nickelodeon shows like The Legend of Korra and Dora the Explorer.  Hit the jump for more.

In the wake of Paramount’s endless push backs and delays regarding its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (now simple called Ninja Turtles), Nickelodeon has quietly developed a new (and improved?) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series set to air this fall.

The first official trailer for the series begins, naturally, at the beginning – four turtles! an accident! a secret! “They were trailed for battle,” the narrator recounts solemnly, “and now, when their city is under siege, the fate of humanity is in their hands” (or feet, perhaps). The original TMNT cartoon was one of my absolutely favorites as a kid, and it seems Nickelodeon may be doing a decent job of resurrecting the franchise for a new generation of fans. To see the trailer, hit the jump.

Back in March we learned that a handful of programming from the 90′s would make its way to late night time slots on TeenNick for a great block of shows called The 90′s Are All That. Originally starting with All That, Kenan & Kel, Doug and Clarissa Explains It All, the line-up has since expanded to include shows like Hey Arnold! and Rugrats. Now another Nickelodeon classic is joining the ranks as EW has word that Hey Dude is saddling up for some reruns. If this just didn’t hit during your childhood or you just didn’t have Nickelodeon as a kid, the series, which aired from 1989-1991, followed a wacky group of teenagers working at the Bar None western dude ranch and starred David Brisbin (Mr. Ernst), David Lascher (Ted), Christine Taylor (Melody), Kelly Brown (Brad), and Joe Torres (Danny).

Not only is Hey Dude coming around, but the entire programming line-up is moving from the late night time slot to a primetime start at 10/9c. And for even more great news for children of the 90′s another staple from Nickelodeon will return every Friday. The popsicle stick host Stick Stickly (I still remember the address where you could send letters that could be brought up on air) will host UPick with Stick where every Friday night, episodes can be chosen by viewers via Facebook and www.90sAreAllThat.com. Honestly, why can’t we just have a whole channel dedicated to Nickelodeon’s programming from the 90′s? Until that day comes, this will have to suffice I suppose.

If we can all forget M. Night Shyamlan’s atrocious The Last Airbender (I went through a lot of counseling in order to do so), we can perhaps go back a little further and appreciate the original Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender.  Last year it was announced that the saga would continue with the miniseries Legend of Korra.  There was a panel for the miniseries this year at Comic-Con but unfortunately we were unable to attend.  The good news is that the teaser trailer they showed has now gone online!

The central premise of Legend of Korra is that it picks up 70 years after the original series and Korra of the Water Tribe is the new Avatar.  Because the Avatar must learn all four elements, that’s a bit of a problem seeing as Aang was the last airbender so who can teacher Korra airbending?  As you’ll see in the trailer, she’s at least got waterbending and firebending down pretty well.  No official release date has been announced for Legend of Korra, but we’ll let you know as soon as it’s announced.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer and to learn more about the upcoming miniseries.

Back in March we got our first look at Nickelodeon’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series by way of a cool teaser trailer and some stylish character posters. But now we finally have word on who will be voicing our heroes in a half-shell. EW reports Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) will voice the rough-around-the-edges Raphael, Jason Biggs (American Pie) will voice the leader Leonardo, Greg Cipes (Teen Titans) will voice party boy Michelangelo and TMNT series veteran Rob Paulsen will voice the intelligent Donatello (he actually voiced Raphael in the original animated series). The series is currently set to air sometime in the fall of 2012, but you can expect an exclusive first look to be debuted at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. Hopefully we’ll have someone there to catch that debut, so stay tuned.

Almost three weeks ago we brought you the first look at Nickelodeon’s forthcoming animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series. Today, we have some very cool character posters from the series that is set to hit cable television screens in 2012. Personally, I’m a fan of the harsh lines that the characters feature as it gives them a comic book feel that simultaneously emphasizes their badass nature (especially Donatello, I mean, the dude is super smart and is self-confident enough to fight with a freaking walking stick). Hit the jump to check out the posters for yourselves.

Jaws dropped on 90’s kids the world over when it was announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be returning to television, on the network that housed every 90’s kids’ favorite lineup of phenomenal TV series: Nickelodeon. Since the announcement that Paramount would be putting together both an animated TV series and a live-action feature film, not very much in the way of details has been revealed. Well now, a teaser for the animated series has been released and gives us our first look at Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Hit the jump to check it out.

As a child of the 90′s, I have fond memories of lounging around my room and watching non-stop Nickelodeon. Though many of my favorite shows like Rocko’s Modern Life, Doug and more have made it to DVD, some of these shows still aren’t easily available for nostalgic viewing. Well, that changes today as EW reports Nickelodeon is in the midst of establishing a late night block of programming on TeenNick to help kids at heart like myself journey back to the 90′s with all their favorite shows.

The titles mentioned include but may not be limited to Rugrats, Clarissa Explains It All, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, All That, Kenan & Kel and The Amanda Bynes Show. Though I’d like to see a little more Nicktoon action in the line-up, this is a great start to the programming block which is being dubbed The 90′s Are All That. You’ll be able to catch these reruns sometime this fall between midnight and 2am. ” Keith Dawkins, senior VP and general manager of TeenNick, said, “At the time, we were completely devoted to that audience ages 9, 10, and 11. It was ground-breaking and for the young viewers, a powerful and pivotal time in their lives. Those kids who are now 22, 23 and 24 want to bring that back.” I really can’t wait.

Nickelodeon has given the go-ahead to The Legend of Korra, a spinoff of the popular and wonderful Avatar: The Last Airbender.  Before Airbender fans begin hyperventilating about a crappy cash-in on their beloved property (wasn’t Shyamalan’s movie enough?!), series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are behind the new project.   According to Variety, Korra will take place 70 years after the events of Avatar with rebellious teenager Korra as the new Avatar and the center of the storyline.  Variety also says that Nick is hoping the new series will be more “femme-friendly”, which is strange since I know more female die-hard Avatar fans than male ones. Nick toon president Brown Johnson said of Korra, “This new avatar is not only a girl, but also hot-headed, independent and ready to take on the world.”

It’s an interesting take as the main characters of Avatar will either be deceased or very old.  However, without spoiling anything about the series, there was room for the story to grow and I’m excited for whatever DiMartino and Koietzko want to do.

Miranda Cosgrove is one of Hollywood’s hottest young stars. With the title role on Nickelodeon’s highest-rated live-action show, iCarly, a recently released debut solo album called “Sparks Fly,” a campaign for Neutrogena, and various film and theater credits, the 17-year-old already has a career to be envied.

In the 3-D CGI feature Despicable Me, Miranda Cosgrove voices Margo, a young girl who is naturally protective of her two sisters. Raised without a family, she distrusts most people and knows the only ones the girls can count on are one another. Both tough and strong, Margo is not afraid to challenge the mysterious Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), when he decides to adopt the girls.

During a press conference for the film, the teenaged star talked about finding the personality of an animated character, seeing a little bit of herself in the final drawing and how even she has had a despicable moment. She also gave some hints about Season 3 of iCarly and mentioned a possible December concert tour. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

Every once in awhile you hear news that in your wildest dreams you would have never predicted.  Today is one of those days.

Michael Bay and Platinum Dunes (Brad Fuller and Andrew Form) are going to produce the live-action reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon!  Yes, Platinum Dunes.  The guys who make hard R horror movies.  Their most recent movie is A Nightmare on Elm Street!  More after the jump:

While I wasn’t too impressed with the Super Bowl spot for M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, Yahoo! Movies has now debuted a full trailer for the film and it serves as a good reminder that while Shyamalan has seemingly lost all his talent for writing, he’s quite talented with his visuals.  Rather than crumble under the weight of a his first blockbuster feature, it looks like Shyamalan has created a rather impressive world in both the visual effects, the costuming, and set design.  Whether there’s a good script underneath all of this remains to be seen, although he has at least some guidance with this being his first adaptation rather than a new story from his dried-up mind grapes.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer along with the official synopsis.  The Last Airbender hits theaters on July 2nd.

If 7-year-old me read the trades, he would be beside himself today with the news that his favorite TV show, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” would be moving to his favorite network, “Nickelodeon”.  Present-Day me thinks that’s adorable, reflects on our current milieu of toy-based properties and their relationship to the emotional development of adults, and then returns to some recreational reading.  7-year-old me weeps for his future.

No matter your age or the age of your sad-inner-child, hit the jump for what this means in terms of rebooting the project, the upcoming film, and how a new generation can bug their weary parents for every new action figure of Raphael (or whomever their favorite ninja turtle may be).