Similarly, Paris has become the center of much celebration for the 50th birthday of one of France’s greatest cultural heroes; a plucky big-nosed Gaul who likes nothing more than bashing a few Romans with his rotund superhuman friend.

But while the masses are clamoring for more Sesame Street, fans of Asterix around the world are generally agreed – enough, sadly, is enough.

While Sesame Street continues to evolve and entertain, Asterix seems to have run out of magic potion, however both brands continue to release new content. The difference lies in the fact that to countless Asterix fans, every new adventure book is a disappointment, gradually chipping away at the value the brand has built over the years.

So when, if ever, is it time to draw the curtains and put a brand to bed?

Some brands are in a constant state of expansion, keeping their core concept, but adapting to the times; Mickey Mouse might be digitally animated, but he’s still the same character. Similarly, Star Wars continues to explore a galaxy far, far away with a constant stream of video games, cartoons, toys and even an upcoming television series. Other properties may drift in and out of public conscience, but there are a rare few that are always at the fore, and seemingly untouchable when it comes to sustained popularity.

Then there’s the most unique of all brands; the one with a defined ending. The kind of book or show that finished with the audience wanting more, instead of eventually jumping the shark. Further products may still be released, but the core remains the same.

J.K. Rowling adamantly proclaims there will never be more Harry Potter books written, or movies made. Many people, myself included may find her integrity in telling a specific story admirable, but I’m left wondering if authors like A.A. Milne or J.M. Barrie thought the same thing about their creations decades ago. Both Peter Pan and now Winnie-the-Pooh have been given the sequel treatment, years after their original creators have passed away. Should their creations be left alone, with or without their estate’s approval?

Nowadays there is another element to consider – the fan created piece. Gone are the days when content was developed purely between dedicated creatives and the studios who funded them. The Web is absolutely heaving with videos and fan fiction, creating a dearth of new content. While it’s almost never recognized as an official component of the brand, the amount of content falling into this category is growing, and some brands even encourage it.

Of course the elephant in the room is the question, where are all the new brands being created? There are only so many re-makes that can be made, surely?

There are still many new ideas being explored, even more so as the technology involved in creating and delivering media continues to develop and become more accessible, however studios will continue taking the safest financial course by investing in a brand that already has a proven track record, be it securing younger new audiences with an already successful format, or luring back older audience with an existing emotional connection to the brand.

At the end of the day, profitability is going to define whether a brand continues to generate new material, but if we continue to creatively pursue new ideas, and tell new stories, it’s okay to accept a time when a character or series has finally ran it’s inevitable course. Or bashed it’s last Roman.

The Chicago International Children's Film Festival

For ten chilly fall days each year, the Windy City becomes the center of my children’s media world. Starting today, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival will celebrate, not just 26 years of world-class children’s entertainment, but 26 years of empowering kids to become media literate and aware of the influence television, magazines and the internet can have on their everyday lives.

I interned for the CICFF in 2004. It was my big break into the world of children’s media, and I’ve never looked back. When I started working there I was full of energy and totally on board with all the hopes and expectations of a typical fresh-faced little media darling; the glitz and the glamour and the chance to be creative for a living – cool!

But there was more to it than that. I started to hear all kinds of things about the impact on-screen violence has on children; about consumerism and pester-power and the general dumbing-down of a generation or two of kids.

I didn’t believe a word of it. In fact, I resented such a crazy notion. If you’re reading this and you grew up in the 80’s like I did, you’re probably thinking the same thing as me – I grew up with He-Man/G.I. Joe/Ninja Turtles, and I turned out just fine.

For most of us that’s true, but we didn’t spend our childhoods in an instant information world where every kind of media format, both good and bad, bombards us almost every minute of the day. Let’s be honest here, nobody’s quite sure what effect this state of being “always-on” has on growing children.

Before you say this is alarmist, I’m not asking for a blanket ban on any kind of media nastiness. I don’t believe our youth are doomed to become sociopathic vegetables, numbed to scenes of violence, or slaves to consumerism. As broadcasters, it’s our responsibility to share information, tell a story and entertain. I’m just asking you to think about what effect that ad your writing, the show your animating, or the online community your developing might have on impressionable minds.

Ok, enough with the serious eyebrows. This year the CICFF will be showing over 200 films from 40 countries and will also host 25,000 kids as well as a wide range of activities and interactive workshops to get involved with. There’s something for kids of all ages, and plenty of filmmakers and celebrities show up too. There I go with the glitz, again!

If you’re anywhere near the Windy City over the next few days, I can totally recommend taking the kids for a visit. Even if you’re not in town, take a look and see if there’s a film fest for children in your area. You’ll see the magic of the big screen in a whole new way.

Happy film watching!

Try explaining that to the elderly lady standing behind me in the check-out line.

“Someone’s in for a surprise” she commented with a friendly tone. Assuming she thought I was probably buying them for my little nephew, Timmy’s birthday party at Chuck E Cheese’s, I just grinned and said, no, they were for me. “What, you’re going to play with ‘em?” the lady asked, half bemused, half making sure I wasn’t some sarcastic wise-guy. Already feeling this was going to take way too much explaining, I told her I just wanted to have them on display at home. We didn’t say much more, but the elderly lady’s assessment was clear – either I was incredibly tall for a second-grader, or the woman next to me wasn’t my wife, she was my social worker.

Between the big-screen G.I. Joe adaptation being released last Friday, and the annual Joe-Con in Kansas City this weekend, I’m being treated to a rose-tinted renaissance of toy collecting and cartoon watching. Combine this with all the other nostalgic re-visits being lavished on people my age lately – new Transformer and Tron movies, Ninja Turtle anniversary celebrations, and talk of A-Team and He-Man re-makes (no doubt “more dark and edgy”) for instance, and you start to see a trend.

If you like a good conspiracy theory, it’s almost like the entertainment industry is wise to the fact my current demographic is at the peak of it’s money-to-burn ability and wants nothing more than to pay for the luxury of feeling eight-years-old again. I’m being sarcastic, but I do quite seriously believe that a lot of people in their late twenties/early thirties go through something of a post-college crisis.

From personal experience I can share that after several years of senior school, four years of exams, going to college, and then the pressures of getting a foothold in a career, the thought of taking a trip to Toys R Us to buy Nerf blasters, or sitting around in my P.J’s watching Saturday morning cartoons, sounds pretty inviting. Ok, so both of those activities could be classed as audience research in the industry I’m lucky enough to be a part of, but you get my point. Many of us don’t want to grow up.

When did this happen? Is it a good thing? Is it even healthy?

It’s easy to point the finger at rapid increases in consumerism, advertising and media outlets as proponents to this trend, but there’s something deeper. My Grandfather’s generation didn’t grow up with SpongeBob on the television, SpongeBob cereal in the shopping cart and SpongeBob: The Video Game under the Christmas tree, but they did have childhoods and I don’t recall ever hearing of anyone in their 80’s having the urge to build a tree house, shoot tin cans with a slingshot, or some other wholesome activity that doesn’t require activation codes or an extra gig of RAM.

Sure, the desire to look or feel younger is practically part of our genetic makeup; Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey to stay young, and nowadays there are a plethora of age-defying creams, lotions and potions available to turn back the clock. None of them promise to make you feel like you’re back in single digits though. Not yet at least. No, this isn’t necessarily about being in any kind of physical shape, it’s more of an emotional need.

Does this urge to mentally regress into a cozy, sugar-coated shell pose any kind of problem though? It’s difficult to say. Like with any hobby or interest, there’s always going to be people who take it to the extreme. I remember not-watching an episode of Dr. Phil about a woman who’s fiancé had taken over the house with his Star Wars toy collection. True, the guy was absolutely obsessed, but Dr. Phil had the same kind of condescending derision you’d expect a bully to level at a little kid who just peed his pants. He just. Didn’t. Get it.

For now, looking at the situation analytically I can see this kind of self-indulgence as a money-sink and the result of having too much time on one’s hands, but those are only relative. For now it seems the trend is here to stay and I expect twenty years from now re-makes of classics like Hannah Montana and High School Musical will be highly anticipated. Zac Efron will be pushing 41 by then, so he’ll be a shoe-in for a teacher cameo.

And I’ll still be collecting G.I. Joes.

Young Bond

These James Bond prequels are begging to be shown on the big screen, but writer, Charlie Higson wants to wait until he’s finished the series before thinking about it. Surely putting the written exploits of a film character icon on screen is inevitable, but in the meantime we’ll have to make do with Alex Rider in Storm Chaser.

Anything by Richard Scarry

File this one under nostalgia if you like, but the unique and instantly recognizable style of Richard Scarry’s classic collection of Busytown books would make for some fab animation.

The Adventures of Tintin

Yes, I know the coifred French reporter may have already caught the attention of Msr. Speilberg, who’ll be releasing a 3D rendition of Tintin next year, but I’m impatient. Hey if the on-screen adaptations stays true to the series of books (Ha!) there could be 24 of these films made. Blistering barnacles!

Dragonology

Pirates, Wizards and Vampires have all had their fair share of film and book attention lately, it’s high time dragons were the in-thing. And no, Eragon does not count. Dragons may not have the same depth as Harry Potter, or the coolness of Edward Cullen, but they’ve got lots of scales and can breath fire – see, the script writes itself!

Choose Your Own Adventure

This one takes a little explaining. Years ago I saw a spooky movie in a small theater in Sea World, where the audience had to vote on key points of the story by pressing a button on their seat – I guess the majority vote decided. I’m surprised this didn’t catch on more widely, and I think this style of collaborative storytelling would lend itself ideally to a film version of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series of books. Who’s with me in trying to create a script with a democratically evolving plot?

Where’s Waldo?

Or “Where’s Wally?” if you grew up in England, like me. I’m typecasting here, but Daniel Radcliffe needs to hold on to those specs for a few more years and play the part of the stripy-togged traveler, Waldo, don’t you think?

Thanks also to Matthew at Nugget Island for finding this list of 10 Kids Movies That Were Better Than the Book. Be sure to take a peek at that too.

This week has started off proving to be quite the book-adaptation-fest.

For starters, there’s been several gorgeously lavish pics released, revealing Tim Burton’s typically bizarre interpretation of Alice in Wonderland, or should I say, “Lewis Carroll’s, Tim Burton’s, Alice in Wonderland”?

And then secondly, it’s been announced that the BBC is making a small-screen version of The Gruffalo, in time for Christmas. Both of the aforementioned productions, coincidentally, feature Helena Bonham Carter.

What children’s books would you like to see translated to film or television? Ohhh I feel my very first list on Imaginary Eric coming on!

Arguably one of the biggest children’s film fests in the world, it has a whopping 70 films, 29 features and 41 shorts on offer this year, as well as a range of workshops and activities, aimed at teaching kids about media and the world around them. It’s an enlightening experience, so what are you waiting for? Get there now!

Okay, so hopping over to Canada may not be on your current agenda, but there are film festivals all over the place and I can’t recommend them enough. I’ve been to several on both sides of the pond, and have had always had a memorable time. See if there’s one in your area this year, and mark it in your calendar.

I feel a wild rumpus coming on…