Animated action series
SOSOPHIE, currently in development at entertainment company
channelzero, has brought on Emmy-winning writer Peter Gaffney.
"Peter's body of work and list of credits speak for themselves," said
channelzero founder and creative producer Dave Warren. "I think he's
the finest writer in animation and I'm thrilled to be working with
him to bring SOSOPHIE to television." Described by its creators as
THE SIMPSONS meets THE DUKES OF HAZARD, SOSOPHIE debuted at NATPE in

The March 2002 Acrobat issue of Animation World Magazine is now online! In this issue, Greg Singer takes an in-depth look at Weta, Ltd., and uncovers the secrets of the company behind the Academy Award-winning visual effects for THE LORD OF THE RINGS. John Edgar Park explains how to build your own animation workstation, and the best way to learn Maya at home. John C. Donkin, Blue Sky's associate producer, reminisces about the studio's transformation from small boutique to major feature film competitor with the production of ICE AGE.

Each week, Animation World Magazine offers new articles, special features and theme-based coverage of the art, craft and industry of animation. New this week:



- Maya Training Solutions

Don't work in a studio or live next to a school but want to learn Maya? John Edgar Park offers a solution and reviews the best Maya training videotapes around.



- TV Review: "Tiny Planets"

Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana scored a slew of sales at this year’s NATPE show, including an output deal with Venezuela’s Venevision for four shows per year plus first look options. Other programming deals saw ABC-TV Australia license seven shows including FRANKLIN THE TURTLE, LITTLE BEAR and BLAZING DRAGONS and Panamanian broadcaster FETV has agreed to a package deal of over 100 half-hours of animation.

Silver Lining Productions Ltd. and Millimages have developed a script for a television holiday special based on I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, the most recent edition in the TOOT & PUDDLE children’s book series written and illustrated by Holly Hobbie. The production team is also in development on a 26-part animated series based on the complete collection of TOOT & PUDDLE books. The companies are seeking broadcaster interest at the NATPE 2002 show.

INITIAL D is the tent pole of several newly acquired properties international distributor TOKYOPOP will showcase at NATPE 2002. An unassuming tofu delivery boy becomes addicted to street racing in this Japanese import, which has already spawned a theatrical animated film and sold over 30 million graphic novels in its native country. Call it the animated FAST AND THE FURIOUS. TOKYOPOP will also present REIGN, a sci-fi fantasy take on the ancient world of Alexander the Great featuring character and concept design from Peter Chung, creator of MTV’s AEON FLUX.

Vancouver animation studio Atomic Cartoons is in Las Vegas for NATPE 2002 with a collection of proprietary properties. Their catalogue includes the original program ATOMIC BETTY and the Internet show DOG IN A BOX WITH 2 WHEELS, an offbeat animated comedy series about a randy little dog with wheels for hind legs. Dog has devoted his life to vigilante justice after a senile geriatric ruined his life in a freak oxygen tank/cigarette-smoking accident. The series is geared towards an older audience, teens and young adults, in an 11 x 26 format.

French producer Alphanim will be bringing several programs from their distribution slate to NATPE 2002 including SPACED OUT (26 x 26'), X-DUCKX (78 x 8'/26 x 26'), ROBOT BOY (52 x 13'), POTATOES & DRAGONS (78 x 8'), DELTA STATE (26 x 26') and RALPH THE RECORD RAT (104 x 1').

Alphanim's Julie Fox visited MILIA 2001 to report on the shifting sands of the Internet animation economy.

A&S Animation, Inc. is presenting their animated short series, TIMMY'S LESSONS IN NATURE at NATPE 2002. In the dialogue-free series, disaster prone Timmy demonstrates basic rules of nature. The one-minute shorts have won awards at six international film festivals including ASIFA-East's Excellence in Writing award.

KidsWebTv, a kids' entertainment content provider, will present the Flash-animated Web series, EDDY THE ECO-DOG UNLEASHED! at NATPE 2002. Aimed at tweens, the cartoon features the silly antics of Eddy and his pals on the planet Chachachawowa.