At the Network of Cartoons

Yesterday was Cartoon Network/ Bento Box day.

At the CN, there is actually quite a bit of product happening ...

The Regular Show has been picked up for more episodes past its original order (the original order being 6) ... Ben Ten has received a big extension, as it's a cartoon production that's prospering internationally. As a staffer reported:

"What's happening now is the network orders six episodes of a new show, then they decide if they want to do more later. But they're figuring out that they lose the crews pretty fast after just six, so they're starting to make earlier decisions about extra episodes ...

For instance, Symbiotic Titans is doing 20 episodes with possibly more on the way; the second season of Generator Rex is happening (even as it waits for its April debut), and there are four new shows in development that could go to initial orders of six half-hours. A CG video feature of Firebreather is in pre-production in the main studio building. An old CN hand mentioned that he thought there were six series in various stages of work. (Fishhooks Flapjack looks to be wrapping up.) There are four or five different projects being developed, but how many make their way to being full-blown series is anyone's guess.

I also bopped by Bento Box studios on Magnolia Boulevard. They've set up a really nice facility in an airy, one-story building near Buena Vista that at this point has a lot of work space waiting for crew. The first series to go into the new studio will be Bob's Burgers, with development of various pilots happening at the same time ...