Marvel brings its fans into the movie-making process

To build some early buzz with comic fans well before the spring 2006 release of Ultimate Avengers on DVD, Marvel Enterprises, Lions Gate Home Entertainment and MLG Productions have launched a contest that promises to literally put kids in the movie. Running until the end of November, the ‘Ultimate Voice Talent Search’ invites fans to send in a two-minute videotape of themselves speaking, singing or screaming like one of the Marvel superheroes from the Avengers, such as Thor or Captain America. Contest winners will actually get to voice some parts of the movie or have their audiovisual entries featured in the DVD’s bonus materials.

Cartoon Network Latin America opens its first family entertainment center

Family shopping excursions at the Alto Palermo Shopping Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina became a lot more fun with the opening of Cartoon Network World in October. The cable net joined forces with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Isla de la Fantasia, an amusement park management company, to design and build an interactive play area featuring Cartoon’s cadre of properties. In addition to offering photo opps with characters and themed snack bars, the indoor theme park includes a climbable Codename: Kids Next Door treehouse, a haunted mansion à la Scooby-Doo and a Flintstones car-based ride.