Here's some animation news:

Aardman Animation, the studio behind various Wallace and Gromit projects and the new CBS series Creature Comforts, is bringing its Shaun the Sheep series to the Disney Channel starting July 8. The series, aimed towards younger kids, focuses on a barnyard sheep who gets into crazy adventures with his animal pals.

Nahnatchka Kahn, a writer and producer on FOX's recently-renewed series American Dad, has been bumped up to executive producer on the series and will also be developing new projects for the studio.

Kahn previously wrote for such series as Recess, Unfabulous and Malcolm in the Middle.

As I said in my early review of the new CBS animated series Creature Comforts, I never saw the original Channel 4 version from the UK, so I couldn't compare and contrast, but I loved the pilot episode of the American version, which creator Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit) is also involved with.

Luckily, I found a video preview of the pilot episode via Animation Magazine, and I've placed it below for your viewing pleasure. I absolutely love the idea of putting the words of regular folks into the mouths of these animals, because in doing so, it makes the stories seem less personal and gives them a more universal appeal. It's one of the smartest and cleverest ideas for an animated series I've seen in a long time, and it's nice to see another animated series that, not unlike King of the Hill, doesn't rely heavily on random weirdness to be funny (not that I have a problem with "random weirdness," I just like variety).

Creature Comforts debuts on CBS this Monday at 8:00 p.m.

I have never seen the original Creature Comforts, neither the Oscar-winning short film by Nick Park and Aardman Animation, nor the British TV series, so I can't compare the new American version to them, but I can say that the upcoming CBS animated series Creature Comforts is one of the most engaging and charming things I've seen in a long time.

Don't expect something goofy and fast-paced like The Simpsons or Family Guy, because that's not the kind of laughs this series is going for. Instead, the series takes interviews with regular people and then sticks their words into the mouths of cartoon animals. For example: two men sniffing wine become two dogs sniffing another dog's butt.

Ah, you Brits are so lucky. Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office and Extras, is bringing his imaginary characters to life on ITV. The 'Flanimals', about which Gervais has now written two books, are ugly, little monster-like creatures with goofy names such as Clunge Ambler, Grundit, Puddloflaj... although it's much funnier to hear Gervais say the names in his accent. The Flanimals will be the subject of six 30-minute episodes that will air during primetime. Making the deal even better is the news that former Aardman Animations pioneers Charles Mills and Terry Brain are also on board. Aardman, by the way, is the brilliant claymation studio that created Wallace and Gromit.

Aardman Animations, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, are creating a Flash-animated series called Flowerheads aimed at two and three year olds. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until 2007 to see Flowerheads. Also, you'll have to move to the UK, because that's where the show will be airing. I mention it here because I figure Aardman is popular enough in the states that perhaps it might wind up here eventually. The series will chronicle the adventures of Daisy, Twig, and Poppy as they meet new friends in a magical land.

[via Cold Hard Flash]