* Saturday, November 21. New York City, New York, U.S.A.


The Animazing Gallery is hosting a book signing with four animation authors - John Canemaker ("Tex Avery," "Before the Animation Begins"), John Culhane ("Fantasia"), John Grant ("The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney Characters"), and Stefan Kanfer ("Serious Business"). The authors will also share anecdotes and their experiences about the history of animation during the event which takes place from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. To RSVP or find out more about the event, contact Louis Albert Steidl or Nick Leone at (212) 226-7374.

RENEGADE ANIMATION animated "Fly the Friendly Skies," a 30-second commercial for General Mills Trix Yogurt featuring the Trix Rabbit introducing the snack to a couple of bored kids on a plane flight. The cel animated spot was directed by Renegade's Darrell Van Citters and produced through the Saatchi and Saatchi Agency in New York. The commercial's contemporary style incorporates sharp, angular features and quick fluid motion while combining black & white and color animation with live-action elements.

* Saturday, November 14. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


E.G. Daily (the voice of Tommy Pickles on "Rugrats" and Babe the Pig) will do a reading during the "Babe: Pig in the City Craft and Story Hour" at Storyopolis. The children's event, which includes craft making, starts at 11:30 AM and costs $6. To RSVP, call (310) 358-2512.

* Saturday, November 14. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


Keyframe '98 is a screening of computer-generated films by USC animation students and a number of guest artists. "Plug," a computer animated/live-action film about a futuristic society where people live their entire lives plugged into virtual reality machines will also screen. The event takes place at the University of Southern California (USC) in the Norris Theater at 7:00 PM and is free to the public. For more information, call (213) 740-3986.

* Monday, November 23 - Wednesday, November 25. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Toronto-based TOPIX/MAD DOG produced a 30-second spot for Ford of Canada which added a twist on the classic 'Three Little Pigs' story utilizing live-action integrated with cel animation. While the CGI work was done at TOPIX/Mad Dog, Chuck Gammage of Chuck Gammage Animation directed the 2D animation. In the ad, the pigs find refuge from the wolf in a 1999 Ford Windstar.

Motional Realms, LLC has released the ReelMotion plug-in for 3D Studio MAX, a real-time, physics-based procedural animation tool. The plug-in is designed for the professional animation artist and ideal for forensics animation, animating space and aerial dogfights, cars, helicopters and other rigid-body objects. It's possible to drive or fly a vehicle through a scene interactively using a mouse or joystick via a real-time display using QuickDraw 3D (Mac) or OpenGL (Windows).

On Saturday, November 14, the Los Angeles-based art gallery and book store, Storyopolis, presents a special book signing celebrating the publication of “Batman Animated,” a book with rare artwork, a detailed episode guide, and interviews with the creators and voice actors behind “Batman: The Animated Series.” Batman artists/writers Paul Dini, Chip Kidd, Eric Radomski, and Bruce Timm will be on hand to greet fans and sign copies of the book. This free event begins at 4:00 PM. To RSVP call (310) 358 - 2500 or to pre-order a signed edition, call (310) 358-2512.

Here is a look at some of the various marketing items related to Disney/Pixar’s massive advertising campaign for “A Bug’s Life.” The movie web site, www.abugslife.com, launched last week complete with Shockwave and QTVR games, behind-the-scenes information on the making of the film, sweepstakes, and the ability to purchase tickets for theaters nationwide.