Though not anime per se, here are a few animation tidbits: Chelsea Boys

According to Press Pass Q, an online newsletter for the gay press, the gay-themed syndicated comic strip Chelsea Boys may be heading to television. Film Roman, producer of The Simpsons, has signed a deal with the strip’s creators, Glen Hanson and Allan Neuwirth, to develop it into a half-hour animated TV series. The title characters are three gay roommates who live in Chelsea, a gay-popular neighborhood of Manhattan. If it makes it to the small screen, Chelsea Boys will be the first-ever gay-themed animated series. For a fascinating look at Chelsea Boys, go to www.chelseaboys.com.

King of the Hill

Openly gay funnyman Charles Nelson Reilly plays neighbor Dale’s gay dad, who just happens to be in town for the gay rodeo! At press time, Reilly had not signed on the dotted line, so consider it only a rumor at this time. King of the Hill airs on Fox on Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m. For everything you’ve always wanted to know about King of the Hill, visit www.fox.com/home.htm.

Splat Boom Pow!

This exhibition examines the profound influence of cartoons and comics in contemporary art from 1970 to 2000. Tracing the current phenomenon of cartoon-referenced work by contemporary artists back to the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, it chronicles the evolution of this influence to the end of the 20th century. It features over 70 objects by more than 30 artists. The exhibition, which is accompanied by a 104-page, fully illustrated catalog, runs from October 26, 2002, through January 5, 2003 (yes, you read that right–the exhibition doesn’t even start for another year!), @ the Contemporary Arts Museum, 5217 Montrose Blvd. For more information, call the museum at 713/284-8250 or visit their website at www.camh.org.