Dreamworks Animation has announced that it plans to release its 3-D animated feature Monsters vs. Aliens on May 15th, 2009.  Based on the classic 1950s science fiction movies in general and the comic series, Rex Havoc and the Ass-Kickers of the Fantastic that appeared in Warren's 1984 Magazine in particular, Monsters vs. Aliens is looking like Dreamworks Animation's major release of 2009 and appears to be a natural for merchandise tie-ins with its tale of an intrepid band of adventurers called upon to defeat an alien invasion that is disrupting cable TV. 

Monsters vs. Aliens was originally slated for a May 22nd release, but was moved up a week to avoid competition with James Cameron's Avatar, which is also being shot in 3-D and is scheduled to debut on May 22nd, 2009.  The head of the 3-D provider Real D told the Hollywood Reporter that his company will have at least 4,000 digital 3-D enabled screens available by the spring of 2009, but that would still apparently not be enough for the release of two major 3-D films (of course Cameron has not always managed to make his release dates in the past).

It may seem a little premature to be setting debut dates for 2009 films, but much of the prime real estate in the summer of 2009 is already taken.  Disney has claimed May 1st for Narnia 3 even though Narnia 2 is yet to be released.  Disney has also staked out July 10th, 2009 for the release of the video game-based Prince of Persia (see 'First Second Has Prince of Persia') and Pixar's Up is slated for June 12th.  Sony's Green Hornet is also scheduled for the summer of 2009 and Marvel is likely to release a couple of films during the prime summer season as well.