This morning, user "Quexinos" (formerly known as Sonique) reported to Saturday Morning Sonic that Ben Hurst – Chief Writer and Director of ABC's Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-1995) – died several weeks ago after fainting and falling into a diabetic coma.

Ben has a page on Facebook, which will probably be made into a memorial.

In an hour long interview, the Nostalgia Critic celebrates the Animaniacs, with guests Tom and Nate Ruegger, Sherrie Stoner, John P. McCann, and Paul Rugg.

The Nostalgia Critic covers a fair amount of ground with the crew, including the abundance of freedom granted to the writers, sneaking jokes by the censors, the music, the differences between animating studios, creative influences, and Cartoon Stars' addictions. Unsurprisingly, there is also a lot of ribbing and joking around to be had.

Animaniacs ran to 99 episodes from 1993 to 1998, and one movie, Wakko's Wish, in 1999. The series also produced a spin-off: Pinky and the Brain.

Disney is to release Studio Ghibli's Tales from Earthsea (ゲド戦記) in just over a fortnight. [Joe Strike/a.f.f]

The movie reached #1 at the Japanese box office in 2006, but received mixed reviews. It was nominated for Animation of the Year, but ultimately won the tongue-in-cheek Bunshun Raspberry Award after failing to meet Ghibli fans' expectations.

The plot is ostensibly based on the Earthsea novels, including sections of A Wizard of Earthsea, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu. Author Ursula K. Le Guin called Tales "a good movie" but "not my book", and was critical of its PG-13 violence.

Earthsea's director was Gorō Miyazaki; his famous father was busy with Howl's Moving Castle.

Jennifer Shiman, proprietor of Angry Alien Productions, has announced an indefinite hiatus on the production of new episodes of 30-Second Bunnies Theatre (Wikipedia link).

Over the last 6 years, Shiman and her team have produced 68 flash videos of classic and current films, re-enacted by bunnies in 30 seconds. Many of the videos were sponsored by the Starz! cable television network. Shiman thanks all of her loyal fans for their kind words over the years, and states that Angry Alien will continue to work on other projects. She leaves open the possibility that there may be more bunny shorts in the future.

A new series of Thundercats is to be made (in a distinctly different style) by Tokyo-based Studio 4°C in collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation.

According to a press release, the series will retell the "grand origin story of Prince Lion-O's ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost."

The news comes just weeks after the suspicious death of ThunderCats writer Stephen Perry.

Missing comic book creator Stephen Perry, writer for popular 1980s animated show ThunderCats, was the victim of a homicide, police in Zephyrhills, Florida report.

Stephen's van was found 11 days ago, along with the remains of an arm. Friends say he went missing earlier this month. His roommates, James and Roxanne Davis, had also disappeared, but were recently arrested on separate probation- and drug-related charges.

Stephen is survived by his past partner Krystal Carroll and their 5-year-old son, Leo.

Alpha and Omega, to be released September 17, tells the story of two wolves of different social status, relocated to Idaho, who must find their way home. [TaniDaReal]

Canine fans hope for an equivalent of The Lion King, but some fear a My Little Wolfie instead.

Flash animator Tirrel (Cerberus) has created an Aztec-themed work that's worth watching. Check out the rest of his gallery while you're at it.

Disney is co-producing an animated CGI Bollywood film called Roadside Romeo which will be released in India on October 24th. Other than the Disney influence and similarities to Lady and the Tramp, it seems to be a mostly Indian production from Yash Raj Films, one of India's largest film companies. This is apparently their first foray into animation. In a recently-released trailer, Romeo acts out scenes from other Bollywood films.

The Orangina "Naturally Juicy" TV commercial, prduced by the Psyop TV commercial studio in New York for French and Quebec TV, is a Top Ten choice for animated TV commercials.

On October 15, the Cartoonbrew website posted this link to a complete animated commercial for Israeli TV showing MGM's Tom & Jerry promoting a milk drink, in top-quality computer graphic animation:

http://www.devilducky.com/media/52292/

During the year before his death, there was some publicity that animator Chuck Jones was creating a new cartoon character, Thomas J. Timberwolf. Not much was heard about him after Jones' death.

On October 7th the Cartoonbrew website posted this weblink to all 13 completed episodes: http://frededison.free.fr/timberwolf_cartoon/ It may not be up to Jones' classic Coyote & Road Runner cartoons or "One Froggy Evening", but animation fans can enjoy seeing that Thomas Timberwolf was indeed brought to life.