Joss Whedon has finally confirmed what we'd all feared, that the Buffy animated series has been rubbed out.

"We just couldn't find a home for it - which will baffle me to the grave," announced Joss.

The project, boasting scripts from Buffy writers such as Jane Espenson, has been best by problems. Due to be produced by Whedon and top comic scribe Jeph Loeb - before the latter headed off to work on Smallville - Buffy: Animated was intended to be screened on the American Fox Kids network.

The cartoon fell foul of restructuring plans for the channel, however, and wasn't required as part of Fox Kids' Saturday morning line-up. In addition, Sarah Michelle Gellar had opted not to voice cartoon Buffy - despite the rest of the cast offering their vocal talents to the series.

Despite rumours that the team behind the animated Batman series would animate the show, no animators were ever officially attached to the project.

Looking on the bright side, that must mean that Joss has more time for Ripper now, right?