The production of Max Steel went to Mainframe Entertainment in Canada for it's third and quite possibly, it's last season.  Sony has ordered only 8 shows to fill the time slot for Kid's WB.  A normal season of shows is generally 12 or so.  Considering that all the character models have to be translated into Soft Image, retextured and the bone structures redone from scratch, it will be quite a daunting task with the limited amount of time they have allotted themselves.  It just proves that often, people who make these decisions don't have much of an idea about how a 3D CG show is done.

I'm quite frankly, rather surprised that Sony went back to Mainframe after the "Heavy Gear" disaster, and that ME appears so willing to subject their people to what is clearly, going to be another painful production.  I guess they needed the funds after a rocky first quarter.  

The decision from what I understand, was due to some bean counter thinking that paying less for a show is better than sticking with proven, dedicated people who had not only salvaged the show, but drastically improved the content while meeting difficult production schedules and budgets.   Over 140 + US workers are now laid off because of it, not including people at Sony itself.  This is the second layoff I've been in that was directly due to a show going to Canada.  So much for gratitude and long memories.

An uncertain future:  Is CG production leaving the US?  Is 3D going the same way that 2D in America did years ago?

Random Ramblings...

Kid's shows have little or nothing to do with Art, but far more with corporate politics and mass marketing.  Is it any wonder that most of these shows suck and kid's today are numb and dumb?  The only things they learn, are how to be good consumers. Every horrible kid's show is another missed opportunity to elevate the genre, along with it's audience.