Robert McNeel & Associates will be releasing the final version of Rhino
3D, a powerful NURBS-based modeling package, this month. The software, which
has undergone an extensive public beta program (for the last 2 years), will
be available for Windows 95, 98 or NT, and is designed as a companion to
packages like 3D Studio MAX and Lightwave. Priced at $795 US, the package
boasts features such as 3D digitising support (for Microscribe 3D and Faro),
surface and solid modeling, an intuitive UI, and support for all major 3D
file formats.

By special arrangement with Nielsen Media Research, AWN publishes the Nielsen ratings for animated programs on a monthly basis in the Animation Flash. The ratings included herein are only for U.S. national network television. The following list of animated national network programs is ranked by Household Ratings. A Rating is the percentage of households that tuned into the program. This percentage can provide us with the number of households that tuned into the program on average during the month. The universe estimate for the 1997-98 television season is 98 million TV homes.

CARTOON NETWORK will debut two new "World Premiere Toons" shorts on November 6 at 8:00 p.m. "Mike, Lu & Og" by Chuck Swenson is about a girl named Mike who leaves her home in New York City and ends up on a remote island where the natives are friendly. "Kenny and the Chimp" by Tim Warburton is about an awkward 11-year-old and his best friend, a primate named Chimpy.

North-Hollywood-based FILM ROMAN has been hired as the production company for the WB's new prime-time cartoon, "The Downtowners," the first animated series to be developed by Castle Rock Entertainment's Television unit, whose live-action credits include "Seinfeld." Thirteen half-hour episodes of "The Downtowners" have been ordered, for debut on the WB network in fall 1999.

DreamWorks’ animated feature film, “Antz” has grossed over $36 million in the past 10 days since its U.S. theatrical release, topping two weeks’ box office charts. Reeling from this success, DreamWorks is developing a direct-to-video sequel to “Antz.” The film would, like its predecessor, be produced by computer animation studio Pacific Data Images (PDI). It is also being considered for theatrical release. Either way, a studio spokesperson confirmed that if the production is green lit, it would be 18-24 months before its release.

In celebration of Disney’s 75th anniversary, the Disney Channel will air a collection of rarely seen early films by Walt Disney. Films such as the 1920s live-action/animation shorts, “The Alice Comedies” will air October 16-29, nightly on the “Vault Disney” programming block, Monday-Saturday at 11 p.m., Sunday at 9 p.m. Although other studios had been putting animated characters into live-action environments, Disney, with “The Alice Comedies,” was the first to place a live-action character into a cartoon world.

The German broadcaster RTL has purchased four Nickelodeon animated series for broadcast in its weekend morning kids programming block. “Hey Arnold!,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” “CatDog” and “Angry Beavers” will be introduced to the network’s program line-up over the course of the next year. The sale comes on the heels of Nickelodeon’s withdrawal from the tough German market [AF 6/2/98] as a network. Nickelodeon ceased broadcasting on German airwaves in May, a decision motivated by weak ad sales and increased competition for viewers.

* Tuesday, October 13. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


The Goethe Institute of Los Angeles presents a screening of abstract animated films by German artist, Bärbel Neubauer. The artist will be in attendance and a wine reception will follow. A chronological selection of films will be screened, including her latest film, “Firehouse.” The Goethe Institute is located at 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100. For information, call (213) 525-3388.

The International Teleproduction Society (ITS) has issued its call for entries for its 20th annual International Monitor Awards, which will be presented in New York, July 24, 1999. The awards are mainly for the teleproduction and digital media industries, honoring excellence in various fields of production and post-production. The 20 categories include Short Subjects, Children's Programming, Commercials and On-Air Promotions. The early-bird deadline (discount entry fees) is December 11, 1998 and the final deadline is January 15, 1999. For information and entry forms call (703) 319-0800.

At its membership meeting on September 29, the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists and Affiliated Optical Electronic and Graphic Arts, Local 839 IATSE re-elected the following officers, who were nominated without opposition: President: Tom Sito, Vice-President: George Sukara, Business Representative: Steve Hulett, Recording Secretary: Jeff Massie, Sergeant-At-Arms: Jan Browning.