Happy Halloween!

Hope you guys are having a great Halloween.

I did nothing but stat at my computer, and updated bits of the website while adding new music to the play list. Time to start the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season! I will start running holiday music on Thanksgiving (November 24, 2011), but I may play a few random Thanksgiving-specific cartoon insert songs before then.

So, have a great time tonight. Toon Radio is here if need a tune or two.

Kool Kids Klub Podkast Episode 26: Angel Cop part 2 and return of the Mailbag

The kids are back to wrap up Angel Cop and to hit up the Mailbag some more.



Download HERE!

Streaming to Windows Media Player

While most mp3 players natively support the Shoutcast mime type, Winodws Media Player does not, and will probably never will.

You see to launch an internet radio stream you need to send your music player the appropriate playlist file. These files tell the player where to get the audio. Some streaming platforms, such as Shoutcast, come with their own playlist file embed into them. Others require these files to be generated manually.

The shoutcast playlist file is .pls. Pls files are simple text files. They are a list of steam address that are checked in sequence by your player. This is a great way to provide back up servers in case the primary servers are down and such. I don't make these playlist files manually. I direct link to the stream servers, and just use the emeded ones. I may make a few in the future, but I need them for Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player does not natively understand the pls file type. There are ways  to install a pls interpretor into WMP, but that requires thirf party software. The nateive WMP playlist is the ASX file (.asx), and WMP will only work with it. Thus, I need to make ASX files so that you can listen to Toon Radio with Windows Media Player. I have one. It is currently listed as WMA in spite of no longer having WMA streams. (WMA means Windows Media Audio, by the way.)

I could add an WMA stream, but my current hosting plan does not allow for Windows media. I would have to outsource my servers or get a new hosting plan. I may end up gettting an additional server for the WMA stream, but for now, nateively supporting WMP would cost too much. Thus, I need to create ASX files for my shoutcast stream. I need to better label the link, and then add a second one for mobile WMP users. I pondered having the WMA link read MP3 for Windows. What do you guys think?

In the meantime, feel free to listen with your player, including Windows Media Player, by clicking here.

Kool Kids Klub Podkast Episode 23

Episode 23 of the Kool Kids Klub Podkast is now available for download!

This episode contains summaries and reviews of every Flashpoint tie-in mini-series' #3s, the main Flashpoint series' #s 4 and 5, and Booster Gold #47.

Kool Kids Klub PodKast Episode 25; Gundam Age

This week we talk about Gundam Age episode 1, and throw in Gundam general talk, as we usually do regardless.

Episode is HERE.

Transformers 4 Or No Transformers 4

There have been many rumors about a possible Transformers 4 and 5 movies. Hasbro has made it public that they are actively pursuing the production with Paramount and they key cast and crew. However, SlashFilm is reporting that neither Michael Bay nor Shia LaBeouf has been contacted yet. In fact, Labeouf wants out of the franchise, and Bay is currently working on an indie film.

Though it is still early with Jason Statham early rumored replacement for Lebeouf, I say such things have a way to working themselves out. There will be a Transformers 4 and a Transformers 5 (shot at the same time!), but nothing will be confirmed for at least a year. As for Bay and the actors? Bay will most likely return after his tour in indie land, Stathon will most likely be the new Spike. The studios may have only contacted the agents, and not Bay and the actors directly. Thus, creating the communication mismatch.

This would be all be less confusing if they were making animated films instead.

Four Signs We’re Possibly in an Animation Bubble Right Now

Charles Kenny posted on his blog his concerns that animation might be in a bubble. 

First, any excuse to post a picture of Bubbles is a good thing.

Second, CGI animation may be in a bubble. Animation is not.

Let's examine Kenny's points:

1. Revenues aren’t rising as fast as costs
As Kenny noted, this is primary a technology issue.There is no realy reason for animation studios to use CGI. The success of the re-issued Lion King is proof of this. To audiances, animation is animation. It's the story that counts. 3D, 2D, CGI, etc are only really important inside the industry itself. 2D is also much better for internet streamming, the future of all media. On top of that, technology has a knack of getting chepaer over time. CGI and 3D are in the bubble, not animation as a whole.

2. The Number of Players in the Market is Rapidly Growing
Kenny didn't count all the freelancers that post to sites such as YouTube. The number of players in the market are far greater than the animation industry itself would admit, and this has been true for at least a decade. The number of players has been increasing since day one, and I doubt it will stop until everyone is doing some animation in some form. You may get fewer that release to say cinema, but that does not mean the others won't be around.

3. Competition is Becoming Intense
Since Kenny hasn't considered the freelancers, he has failed to note that competition has been intense for years. Animation will eventual come highly split into niches, but like every other medium before it, animation will find its purpose.

4. The Market is Limited And Changing To Boot
As anyone that does any business online, knowing how to market to the world is important in every venture. Animation is no different. Even with that, the animation market in North America is not tapped out. Most companies have yet to conceive every way to use animation. This will come more appearant as younger demographics get older. Those raised on cartoons will accept animation more readily than those that haven't, and that describes just about everyone under 40-years of age. The market is there for those that want to take the risks. Though, there will be many failed experiemnts along the way.

Having to research this for this website, the amount of animation has been exponentially increasing since day one. I don't see it stopping any time soon. The market is there, and waiting. We have not yet seen how big it is. But, that does not mean growth will come smootly either.

New Courage The Cowardly Dog in 2012?

I found the following video posted to the Cartoon Brew's Facebook page. It seems legit as far as anyone can tell. While the video can still be fake, it seems unlikely at the moment, and that means one thing: Courage: The Cowardly Dog is returning with a brand new season. Now, whether or not CN changed their minds on this is anyone's guess, but things looks promising. Let's hope this is true. Maybe CN will say someting at this year's New York Comic-Con?

Toon Radio Stream Servers Now Stable (Sort Of)

After a bit of testing, I narrowed some of the random disconnect from last week to issues with the server host. It's not a new problem, and it does not just affect me, but it is annoying problem. Go Daddy's virtual dedicated plans tend to break down after awhile. When this happens the servers are completely unaccessible, and require hard reboots to recover. It's a problem on Go Daddy's end, and tehre is nthing I can do about it execpt not use a virual account. I have plans to move everything over to my other Go Daddy account, which currently just hosts the database and music player, but this will take time to recondigure oall the domain links. Plus, I need to make sure if I need to upgrade anything first. In the meentime, things are stable now for at least another month. So, stop by our launch page and start listening to Toon Radio today!

Families' Animation returns to Toon Radio

The radio play and fat art show Families' Animation returns with a brand new season starting this Friday (October 14, 2011) at 10 pm ET (7 PM PT, 3 AM GMT). Encores will run Saturday mornings at 8 AM ET (5 AM PT, 1 PM GMT).

Kool Kids Klub Podkast Episode 22 Angel Cop

The Kool Kids Klub Podkast episode 22 is now available for download.

This week the Kool Kids Klub Podkast talks about the first three episodes of the infamous Angel Cop OVA.