January 2010: Michael Jantze and Jantze Studios, Inc. is busy with new projects for print and animation. Because of this, the online content portion of Jantze.com is winding down it's subscription-based areas. "We're focusing more and more on creating content for both clients and readers, but using established channels to distribute that content," said Michael Jantze, "In other words, I'm too busy to promise anything to paying customers before it's completed."

"We're currently working on two new shorts," added Michael, "One featuring the irrepressible Mr. Lux and another featuring a new character named Boog. The latter will be finished for the 2010 festival season."

Print projects are in the works as well and some new media print-on-demand books may be available this year. Presently, fans can purchase "The Norm" books through Amazon.com.

A daily email of archived "The Norm" strips continues for those who want a convenient daily fix. This year's theme is centered around work gags. "In this economy, I think the ups and downs of Norm's job life are more than relevant," said Nicole Jantze, Jantze Studios' executive producer.

The complete run of archived "The Norm" dailies and Sundays are rolling out at Universal Press Syndicate's goComics.com. The strips are ten years to the date of original publication.

August 2009: The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California will screen the "Weekend of Animated Shorts" festival November 7-8, 2009. The Jantze Studios short made for YouTube "The Birds & the will be shown at the festival. The November 2009 festival is being promoted on the Egyptian Theatre and AniMazSpot.com web sites. If you're in Los Angeles, attend the festival and tell all your friends!

August 2009: The Harvey Awards is one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. The Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories, ranging from Best Artist to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame. They are the only industry awards both nominated by and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.

Beginning in 1988, The Harvey Awards are presented annually to those creators and publications that receive the most votes from their peers in the comics industry. The top five nominees, plus ties, in each category are placed on the final ballot, which is mailed in the Spring. Final ballots are returned one month later and the votes are tabulated. Winners are announced each year at the Harvey Awards banquet at the Baltimore Comic Con.

Michael Jantze and Jantze Studios is honored "The Norm" is one of the "Best Syndicated Strip or Panel" nominations. Industry professionals may vote here. Ballots are due 29 Aug 2009.

May 2009: Three animated tests of Richard Thompson's daily comic strip "Cul de Sac" have been released by Ringtales. The animation was done by Jantze Studios using traditional and computer techniques to capture, respectfully, the spirit and line of Thompson's characters and artwork.

Jantze Studios worked with Ringtales owners Mike Fry and Jim Cox to create the tests. Contact us for more information.

April 2009: The first of 30 motion comic tests for King Digital appeared on newspaper websites across the United States as Comics Kingdom launches its motion comics test to client newspapers. A full press release from King is at http://www.kingfeatures.com/pressrm/PRel306.htm

Jantze Studios took existing comic strips, cast and directed voices and brought them to life mixing the film and comic strip languages [sample]. Creators and syndicates can contact Michael for more information.

March 2009: Jantze Studios has completed two more motion comics for corporate clients for guerilla marketing use. Jantze Studios makes life easier for companies by creating animated shorts to help ease the pain of this turd economy turn their customers into fans. In even plainer English, we make really funny new media shorts for all wallet sizes.

Bobarra: A one minute short was created to help bobarra, llc. promote it's new TSA-approved computer travel bag. Set in a museum, paintings come to life and demonstrate the time-saving features of the bobarra travel bag. The bobarra store is online at bobarra.com

Viximo: A second short was created for Viximo's first iPhone app, TrueFlirt. Viximo is online at viximo.com

Jantze Studios is the coolest animation studio on Earth, mainly because they're air-conditioned. Contact Michael Jantze to help you be cool.

March 2009: Michael Jantze, founder of Jantze Animation Studios and creator of "The Norm" comic strip, hosted a master class featuring a complete examination of the past, current and future markets for comic strip new media. Michael showed examples of animation and motion graphic work and walked attendees through Jantze Studios' process of converting traditional comic strips and comic books into attention-grabbing new media shorts.

The Cartoon Art Museum is located in San Francisco, CA. Future educational schedules can be found at cartoonart.org

December 2008: Jantze Studios's super-awesome, highly-intelligent Motion Comics solution is helping put the "up" in start up for Viximo.com.

Based in Boston, Viximo creates virtual gifts for Websites like Facebook.com. They're cool, they're hip, they're so very tomorrow.

Jantze Studios took existing assets and brought them to life with a fresh script and fast-paced presentation to explain the world of virtual goods to potential partners. Broadcast across the Web, you can view the first Viximo motion comic on the Animation page of Jantze.com. Please contact Michael immediately for more information. Help you, we can.

Jantze’s script was brought to life by a story team consisting of himself, David Andrews and Kelly McNutt. Jantze created the layouts and designs as well as directed McNutt’s animation. "We're excited," said Nicole Jantze, Executive Producer, "Mr. Lux is such a fun and infectious character in that grand old 2D animation style." The four minute short can be viewed on the Animation page of Jantze.com. Contact us for more information.

JANTZE STUDIOS partners with businesses to develop new media projects including webisodes, shorts, features, frequently asked questions (FAQ’s), games, print collateral, delivered across multiple platforms and to a variety of end user devices. Each project allows both the business and Jantze studios to explore the new media frontier with a bottom line on effectiveness and fiscal responsibility. The end result is Brand Narrative, a product that creates a non-direct, positive association with the brand’s identity through humor and adventure, character and story.