Inside Out
Seen and heard...
By Cliff Annicelli -- Playthings, 5/1/2008
The Licensing Show may have been two months away, but that didn't stop Disney from announcing several of its key upcoming initiatives at its annual advertiser meeting in New York last month. Among the highlights were three new Disney Channel original movies, Princess Protection Program, Dadnapped and Hatching Pete. It also confirmed the renewal of Hannah Montana for a third season and that freshman live-action series Wizards of Waverly Place and animated comedy Phineas and Ferb would both be back for sophomore stints. Disney previously announced a June debut for its next stab at High School Musical-type tween superstardom, Camp Rock ... Marvel Entertainment said it was teaming with HarperCollins Children's Books to launch a children's reading program starring Spider-Man. The partnership will result in an “extensive” Spider-Man publishing program, including children's story books, readers and chapter books, a phonics box and a novelty gatefold. The initial line of titles will be available through mass and trade beginning this fall ... Kiz Toys has appointed Major League Baseball legend Phil Niekro as the first member of its board of advisors. He'll help the fledling Cumming, Ga.-based toymaker develop its KizSport baseball line.
