The first big news story to emerge out of the worldwide, TV-focused media conclave that is MIPTV is that Marvel Entertainment has greenlit a new Spider-Man animated series, which will be known, in a reference to the popular modernized chronicle of Spider-Man’s adventures that debuted in comic book form in 2000, as Ultimate Spider-Man.  The new series will chronicle Peter Parker’s transition from a wise-cracking teen to a hero with a definite sense of responsibility who can hold his own with other Marvel superheroes who will join him in this series of animated adventures that is set to debut on the Disney XD Channel in the fall of 2011.

The Ultimate Spider-Man series provides more evidence of the driving force behind Disney’s acquisition of Marvel.  Disney wants to replicate the tremendous success that it has had in reaching girls on cable with its boy-centric Disney XD channel (see “Toon Disney to Become Disney XD”), and the new Spider-Man series, like the previously announced Avengers cartoon that is joining the XD lineup this fall (see “Avengers Series on Disney XD”) is just the kind of programming that can accomplish the task.