November is another packed, globe trotting issue as Animation World takes a
look at the exciting arena of animated feature films. Heikki Jokinen
reveals the health of the European feature market and its high hopes for
the future. Ilene Gannaway takes us inside the production of Sony
Imageworks' next wower, "Stuart Little." From story to technical
innovations, Ilene gives us the inside scoop on how Imageworks is turning a
CGI mouse, into one of the family. Andrew Osmond debates whether or not

Seven European animation companies have joined to form a company called the
European Animation Group, although its name is likely to change. The group
hopes to produce a minimum of one animated feature or series per year,
beginning in 2001 with its first feature, the $15 million ELFQUEST, set to
go into production in January 2000. The announcement was made at MIPCOM
held October 4 - 8 in Cannes, France. European Animation Group brings
together seven companies. From France, the partners are

United Kingdom's ITV Network Centre has commissioned a second series of 13
episodes of the animated series THE STORYKEEPERS from Dublin, Ireland-based
Monster Productions, an animation studio and distribution company formed in
1995 by former management and artists from the Don Bluth studios. The new
series, produced by Shepherd Films, and distributed by Monster Distributes,
will be delivered in Spring 2001 for broadcast on Sunday mornings. The new
series, which is a prequel to the existing series, is set in AD 8, and

MIPCOM: International Film and Programme Market for TV, Video, Cable, and
Satellite. Starting next week, thousands of producers, programmers and
broadcasters will converge on Cannes, France for the MIPCOM and MIP Junior
markets. From Reed-Midem, the organizers of MIP-TV, MIP Asia and MILIA,
MIPCOM is known as the place where international television deals happen.
Among the properties being offered are Sony Wonder's LION OF OZ AND THE
BADGE OF COURAGE, an animated musical prequel to THE WIZARD OF OZ;

On Monday, October 4 at 4 pm Jean-Marie Messier, president of Vivendi, a
French multimedia, communications and power company, will deliver the
keynote address for the special three day forum on convergence, TV Meets
the Internet @ MIPCOM. The address will be entitled "21st Century
Television: Visions for Next Generation Broadcasting.". . . Rome,
Italy-based RAI TRADE will offer BROTHER JACOB, an animated edutainment
series for children about a storytelling monk, as well as GONE WITH THE

The tradeshow for television programming producers and distributors takes
place October 4-8 in Cannes, France. Basque, Spain-based animation studio
IRUSOIN is nearing completion of KARRAMARRO (CRAB ISLAND), a made for
television animated feature with rights available for worldwide TV and
video release. The original story is about a group of kind, song-loving
pirates, focused on luckless Dimitri, a pirate who cannot sing, and a
parrot who is the only clue to tracking down a fabulous pirate's treasure.

This October MIPCOM and MIPCOM Junior will once again bring together the
television producers, distributors, buyers, and programmers of the world in
Cannes, France. MIPCOM Junior takes place October 2-3, and MIPCOM takes
place October 4-8. MIPCOM will also include for the first time a three day
conference on the convergence of TV and Internet from October 4-6.
Featuring special keynotes, strategic panels and case studies/workshops,
MIPCOM will bring together players from the TV industry, new media networks

The fledgling Fox Family Channel has added ten new animated series to its kid and teen-targeted daytime lineup for the 1999-2000 season. The lineup represents a major investment from Fox Family in creating original and entertaining animated programming. Animation World Network spoke to Joel Andryc, Senior Vice President, Programming & Development about this lineup and how they're working to create a unique identity in the already overcrowded world of cable.

Premiered at MIPCOM, Korean company Samsung Entertainment Group will again offer their newest animated series for adults called “Alexander.” Peter Chung, creator of “Aeon Flux,” is designing the characters for the fantasy-adventure show, which is set in 4th Century B.C. Macedonia, and is based on the novel “Alexander’s War Chronicles” by Hiroshi Aramata. The executive producer is Haruki Kadokawa, with Masao Maruyama producing, Rintaro directing and Yoshinori Kanmori supervisor directing. Animation is being produced by Mad House in Japan.

MILIA, the International Content Market for Interactive Media Conference will take place in Cannes, France, February 9-12, 1999. Entries for the fifth Milia d'Or Awards and the New Talent Pavilion are still being accepted. The event is organized by the Reed Midem Organization, the same company that puts on MIPCOM and MIP TV. For the second year, MILIA will present a conference called "Towards the Convergence of Animation and Video Games," the objective of which is to bring together publishers, producers and developers of interactive products to promote partnerships.