BET, having recently established its animation division, has announced two major animation projects. BET has partnered with Film Roman, the award-winning animation studio behind The Simpsons and King of the Hill, to produce a slate of animated films and multi-platform series. In addition, BET is re-uniting Denys Cowan, BET senior vice president of Animation and his former creative partner, Milestone Media co-founder Dwayne McDuffie -- the creative minds behind Static Shock, the WB's top-rated Saturday morning cartoon and top-selling comic series -- to create a new action adventure series.
Through its pact with Film Roman, an IDT Entertainment Company, BET plans to produce a slate of animated films, series, and multi-platform content for Internet, broadband, and mobile applications. In addition, the companies plan to jointly develop and produce direct-to-DVD and theatrical releases. The terms of the three-year, non-exclusive deal also include international distribution outside of the BET Network.
In addition to the Film Roman partnership, BET has inked an agreement to develop a new original adult action/adventure animated series with Dwayne McDuffie co-creator (with BET's Denys Cowan) of the Emmy Award and Humanitas Prize winning cartoon, Static Shock. Cowan and McDuffie were co-founders of Milestone Media, Inc., the most successful Black-owned comic book company in history. McDuffie is also a producer and story editor on Cartoon Network’s Justice League, Editor-In-Chief of Milestone Media’s award-winning line of comic books, and has worked as an editor for Marvel Comics and Harvey Entertainment. As head of BET Animation, Cowan will oversee the development of all new projects and work closely with McDuffie.