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Animation Headline News

DUCK Inks Golden Lucky

Press Release from DUCK

DUCK has signed Brooklyn-based art and animation studio Golden Lucky, bringing a high-end animation studio onto its ever-expanding roster. The studio, led by Creative Directors Saiman Chow and Sean Dougherty, is known for churning out creative projects for multiple applications with their unique variety of animation, which involves blending music, storytelling, character development, and the creation of sets and artwork from various materials.

Dreamworks Headline News

Indian Billionaire Invests $825M in DreamWorks

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER is saying that Indian billionaire Anil Ambani has invested $825 million in DreamWorks Studio. The new movie production house will find Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider and Ambani as partners. The board will consist of Spielberg, Snider, Reliance's Amitabh Jhunjhunwala and Alan Levine, current JPMorgan entertainment advisor and former Sony Pictures CEO.

Years Headline News

Royale Turns Two, Celebrates Studio Defining Culture

Press Release from Royale

Los Angeles, CA -- (July 15, 2009) -- July 2009 marks the 2nd anniversary of LA-based motion design and production studio Royale. Drawing on 20+ years collective experience, Partners Jayson Whitmore, Brien Holman and Jennifer Lucero launched Royale with the mission of pioneering a studio whose culture would be its defining thread, from nurturing innovative creative and its intrinsic process, to delivering clients tailored solutions in a welcoming, collaborative atmosphere.

Headline News

Animator Union Makes Pact with Producers

Animation Guild Local 839 has reached a tentative three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, per VARIETY.

The unions covering Hollywood's 2,000 animators announced Tuesday they had made the deal, which will take effect August 1 if ratified by members. Negotiations began May 18 and concluded Monday night.

Local 839 is part of the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Film Headline News

WB Leaps Small Building in Superman Suit

Warner Bros. and DC Comics have received a positive ruling in the lawsuit filed against them by the heirs of SUPERMAN creator Jerome Siegel, according to VARIETY. U.S. Judge District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson ruled that the license fees WB paid DC for the SUPERMAN rights were not below fair market value, thus the heirs will only have the rights to go after DC's $13.6 million profits made on SUPERMAN RETURNS.

Games Headline News

WB Buys Up Midway Games in Court

Warner Bros. has purchased most of Midway Games' assets for $33 million in bankruptcy court, according to VARIETY. WB now owns MORTAL KOMBAT, SPY HUNTER and JOUST, among other game franchises. It opted not to buy two development studios owned by Midway in San Diego, California and Newcastle, England.

A bankruptcy court in Delaware gave the approval for the deal last week, adding that all objections to the sale had been resolved. Midway filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Digital Headline News

Digital Domain to Pay $2M in Termination Suit

Digital Domain has lost a wrongful termination suit from former president Christian Bradley Call, and was ordered by a jury to pay nearly $2 million in damages, reports VARIETY.

Call was awarded $659,500 for breach of contract and more than $1.2 million for wrongful termination. The verdict was handed down Thursday in Malibu Superior Court after a two week trial.

Game Headline News

THQ Takes Jakks Pacific to Court Over WWE Again

THQ is taking toy firm Jakks Pacific to court over their joint venture on the World Wrestling Entertainment games, reports Gamasutra.com. Jakks unilaterally renewed its contract with the WWE without consulting the game publisher. THQ claims that Jakks has no right to make decisions that affect both companies. THQ specifically disliked the provision in the contract that prevents the publisher to release any wrestling game for one year following the termination of the WWE deal.

Marvel Headline News

Marvel Ent.'s Stock Upgraded by J.P. Morgan

MARKETWATCH reports that analysts at J.P. Morgan raised their rating on Marvel Entertainment Inc. from neutral to "overweight."

The price target for the stock was hiked from $27 to $42, and analysts said in a note to clients that Marvel was their "top pick as we expect the company to continue to generate high margin revenue from exploitation of its library of characters and surprise the Street to the upside."

Technology Headline News

Digital Animation Studio Plastic Wax Announces Latest Projects

Press Release from Plastic Wax

Silverwater, AU -- July 1, 2009 -- Plastic Wax, a leading digital animation studio specializing in videogame production and premium entertainment, today announced another year of growth fueled by new projects involving top intellectual properties and serious investments in new technology.

Game Headline News

ZeniMax Media Acquires id Software

Press Release from ZeniMax Media Inc.

ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of legendary game studio, id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, QUAKE, WOLFENSTEIN, and its upcoming title, RAGE.

Headline News

ZDF Extends Partnership with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions

Press Release from ZDF Enterprises

ZDF Enterprises and Jonathan M. Shiff Productions (JMSP) have prolonged the agreement they signed in 2002 for further 6 years. The creative collaboration between the companies has already proven its winning partnership in various internationally successful live action series such as "The Elephant Princess", "Wicked Science" and "H2O - Just Add Water". Under the terms of this agreement ZDF Enterprises will co-produce JMSP productions and taking charge of worldwide sales of all associated rights outside Australia and New Zealand.

Games Headline News

THQ Opens Three New Units

THQ Inc. today announced a reorganization of the company's management team and business units in support of THQ's focused product strategy. In order to more directly align the organization with its previously announced strategy, THQ has formed three new business units: 1) Core Games; 2) Kids, Family and Casual Games; and 3) Online, and has promoted key executives to manage each of these units. Each unit manager will report directly to THQ President/CEO Brian Farrell.

International Headline News

MySpace International to Cut 300 Employees

Press Release from MySpace

LOS ANGELES -- MySpace today announced its intent to restructure its international operations and refocus personnel around a smaller number of territories, while retaining a robust global consumer presence.

Bent Headline News

Nando Costa's Nervo Becomes NANDO@BENT

Press Release from NANDO@BENT

International award-winning Creative/Director Nando Costa, founder of top industry leading design and animation studio Nervo, has teamed with Portland-based Bent Image Lab to form, NANDO@BENT. Costa brings his entire Nervo shop to BENT, including creative partner Linn Olofsdotter. Costa, age 30, will become the fourth partner of BENT which includes: Co-Founder/EP Ray Di Carlo, Co-Founder/Director Chel White, and Co-Founder/Director David Daniels.

Entertainment Headline News

Random House to Start New Production Company

Press Release from Random House Children's Books and Komixx Entertainment

RHCB and Komixx Entertainment have agreed to create a new company, Random House Children's Screen Entertainment ('RHCSE'), to produce animated and live-action children's and family entertainment for the cinema and television.

Headline News

ABC Entertainment Group Announces Reorganization

Press Release from ABC Entertainment Group

Completing a process begun in January, ABC Entertainment Group President Stephen McPherson today announced the Group's final organizational structure. Effective immediately, Business Affairs, Business Development, Casting, Program Planning, Scheduling and Distribution will be managed as integrated areas, while ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios retain separate creative teams, with each combining development and current programming roles.

Film Headline News

Old Boy Publisher Suing Korean Studio

Japanese manga publisher Futabasha is suing Korean film production house Show East over the rights to turn OLD BOY into a feature film in the U.S., reports ANIME NEWS NETWORK.

Show East produced a popular 2003 Korean version directed by Chan-wook Park. The suit was filed on Monday.

Futabasha is suing to confirm the lack of a binding contract between the two parties, due to an alleged breach. They allege that Show East violated the agreement, nullifying it, when Show East got Universal Pictures to sign on for a remake.

Headline News

NFB and Shorefast Foundation E-Cinema in English Canada

Press Release from The National Film Board of Canada and the Shorefast Foundation

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, June 17, 2009 -- have reached a partnership to deliver Newfoundland's first e-cinema installation and the NFB's first English-language e-cinema partnership in Canada.

Headline News

Russian South Park Lawsuit Dropped

On Monday, a Russian court dropped the lawsuit against adult cartoon channel 2X2 for their airing of SOUTH PARK, per VARIETY. A religious group had alleged the show stirs up national hatred.

Last year, the case was brought by the Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, who said one episode in particular, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics," "insulted the feelings of religious believers and incited religious and national hatred."

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