Nickelodeon Europe has commissioned Prism Entertainment to produce local versions of its unique NICKELODEON FAMILY animation.

Jules Borkent, senior director, programming, acquisitions & development, Nickelodeon Europe, asked Prism to produce three localized versions of the NICKELODEON FAMILY for broadcast on its channels in Spain, Benelux and Scandinavia to air at the end of the year.

A while back, Bruce Shutan profiled Atomic Visual Effects of South Africa for VFXWORLD. Spurred by a letter to delve further into South Africa's thriving 3D community, Shutan recently interviewed several other vfx and animation studios and various artists to discover why Cape Town is on the verge of becoming the next Sydney, Australia.

Mark Endemano has joined Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) as vp, finance, Europe, Middle East & Africa. He will oversee all aspects of the international TV distributor’s financial operations including financial reporting, cost control, liaising with BVITV’s operations in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, and producer group support.

He becomes a member of BVITV’s senior executive team, delivering strategic, operational and financial input. Endemano will be based in London and report directly to Tom Toumazis, svp/md, EMEA, BVITV

Prague, Czech Republic-based Cenega Publishing has signed a deal with Altar Interactive to publish the forthcoming PC-CD ROM title, UFO: AFTERSHOCK, due to release in Q3 2005.

Buena Vista International Television kicked off the start of the L.A. screenings for some 1,000 TV buyers from around the world in high-spirited style, unveiling six new and seven returning primetime series, with most of the cast and key creatives from each show on stage of the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood May 23, 2004, followed by a party across the street at The Annex, which featured a live performance by rocker Cyndi Lauper.

Wieden & Kennedy’s Honda COG, a unique 120-second TV commercial, has walked off with this year’s Grand Clio for TV at this year’s International Clio Festival, held from May 15 - 18, 2004. In addition, DDB Chicago has, again, been named Clio’s Agency of the Year, and DDB Worldwide, Agency Network of the Year for the fourth year in a row.

Doug Miller has been appointed evp/md of Walt Disney International (Asia-Pacific), as well as svp/md of Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific), overseeing all Disney television activities in the region. Miller will continue to lead television development for the company in Asia and is based in Hong Kong.

Cindy Elfenbein joins DIC Entertainment (DIC), as exec director of Retail Consumer Products to serve as the company’s retail expert and liaison between the licensees and retailers. She will be responsible for building relationships with the retailers and developing support for DIC’s brand properties, including STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE and the recently announced TROLLZ.

EM.TV AG has signed a comprehensive pay-TV deal with Frontage Satellite TV, the Nigerian satellite distributor, to broadcast an English-language children's channel under the Junior brand on cable and satellite.

Following up DIC Entertainment’s recent acquisition of worldwide entertainment and licensing rights to the colorful-haired Troll character from the Troll Company (a.k.a. Dam Things), DIC has concluded partnership deals with key licensees Hasbro Inc. and Scholastic to launch TROLLZ, the entertainment and lifestyle brand for tweens, scheduled for U.S. debut in 2005.