The Beeb’s kidnet CBBC is expanding its Cartoon Works online hub into a platform for premiering short-form content from the UK animation industry.

So far, CBBC has commissioned Muddle Earth from Hullabaloo Studio, based on the books by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.

Cartoon Works, which launched in 2008, will showcase new animation being created by everyone from under-18 Brit animators to established pros. All are welcome to make submissions and select works will be put in the spotlight at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc, then head to the airwaves on CBBC in spring 2010.

CBBC Producer Helen Brunsdon handles Cartoon Works, run by the CBBC interactive team with executive producer Rachel Bardill.

Additionally, CBBC has commissioned a second 20 x seven-minute series of Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep and has greenlit 26 x 11-minute eps of new toon Muddle Earth for the 2010 season. Complete with inept wizards, warrior-heroes and goblins, the series takes place in the up-side down world of Muddle Earth, a place where anything can happen.