Raving Toy Maniac

Cartoon Network Gets In Front of the Upfront

#1 Boys Network Breaks Tradition and Takes The Show on The Road To Over 15 Cities

New and Returning Hit Series to Highlight the 2013-2014 Season Following Cartoon Network's Most-Watched Year Ever

January 28, 2013 - Armed with record-setting ratings success as the only top kids' network to achieve across-the-board growth in 2012 and its most-watched year in Prime in its 20-year history, Cartoon Network is jumping ahead of the customary Kids Upfront season and taking its show on the road with the CARTOON NETWORK ROAD TOUR. With more than a dozen new productions and multiple returning hit series now slated for the 2013 and early 2014 season, Cartoon Network brought its road-show presentation directly to key clients and promotional partners at their respective home bases the week of January 21 and will continue into March.

January 28, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

We've just learned of another awesome Takara Masterpiece figure!

MP-19 Bluestreak - $79.99
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TAK11670&mode=re...

Don't miss out on the MP-17 Prowl and MP-18 Smokescreen:
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/search.aspx?search=takara%20masterpiece

Dragon Ball Kai: S.H. Figuarts Frieza Final Form (Tamashii Web Exclusive)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=BAN14923&mode=re...

S.H. MonsterArts - Destroyah Evolution Set (1995)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=BAN14924&mode=re...

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including these POP! Marvel Vinyl figures of Iron Man (Mark 42), War Machine, and Iron Patriot.

Expect to see these in stores around February 18th.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including these Wacky Wobblers of Iron Man (Mark 42), War Machine, and Iron Patriot.

Expect to see these in stores around February 18th.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including these Plushies of Iron Man and Iron Patriot.

Expect to see these in stores around February 21st.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including this Boxos Papercraft set.

Expect to see these in stores sometime in March.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including these 3D POP! Vinyl Bookmarks of Iron Man and Iron Patriot.

Expect to see these in stores around February 18th.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a big batch of new items based on the upcoming Iron Man 3 movie, including these Can-Tivities sets.

Expect to see these in stores sometime in March.

Future Can-Tivities sets will include Batman, Joker, Hello Kitty, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

January 2013 - Funko has announced a new batch of 2.5-inch blind-boxed Mystery Mini vinyl figures, this round based on Disney/Pixar characters. This first series will have 8 different characters, each in 3 different poses.

Expect to see these in stores near the end of February.

"Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite"

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

January 25, 2013 - After a bevy of emails and phone calls, the formalities have been wrapped up, and at long last everyone can exhale and properly share the word with an excited Internet. Yes, J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

"It's very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie," said Kennedy. "J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture."