DAVID PALMER has been named vice president of marketing at COLUMBIA TRISTAR TELEVISION CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING, a new position. Sander Schwartz, the division's executive vice president and general manager, commented on Palmer's appointment, "We know he will play a vital role in designing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns for our current and future animation franchises." Palmer was previously vice president of marketing for MGM's consumer products division.

* Friday, October 2. Eagle Rock, California, U.S.A.


Occidental College hosts a free shadow puppet theater performance and concert by the company Bali & Beyond, called "Alice in the Shadows," based on stories by Lewis Carroll. The play is for an adult audience, although all ages are welcome. The show starts at 8 p.m. on the Thorne Hall Patio, 1600 Campus Road in Eagle Rock. For information call (818) 768-7696.

FOX KIDS WORLDWIDE has promoted YNON KRIEZ to president, Fox Kids Europe, a newly created position. As managing director of Fox Kids Europe since its launch in 1997, Kriez, based in London, has already overseen the launch of language-localized children's channels in the U.K., Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Poland, as well as a program block in Spain.

* Saturday, October 3 - Sunday, October 4. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.


The third annual Teen Comic Art & Animation Festival takes place at the Los Angeles Public Library in downtown L.A. Saturday's events include workshops, portfolio reviews and company presentations. Sunday is "Anime day" with screenings of Japanese animation from 1 to 5 p.m. For information call (213) 228-7510.

NICKELODEON plans to launch a 24-hour version of its network in Russia, per a recently-signed agreement with Metromedia International Group. Programming will consist of Russian-language dubbed U.S. shows such as "Rugrats." This will be Nickelodeon's sixth territory-specific network, following existing channels in Australia, Latin America, the Nordic countries, Turkey and the U.K.

The Ignatz Awards presentation took place on September 26, during the Small Press Expo (SPX) in Bethesda, Maryland. Named after Ignatz, George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, the awards aim to recognize outstanding work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. A panel of five cartoonists (Michael Cohen, Tom Devlin, Tom Hart, Marc Hempel and Dylan Horrocks) selected the nominations, and winners were voted on by SPX attendees. The winners are:

* Friday, October 2 - Sunday, October 4. Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.A.


The Neko-Con anime convention takes place at the Holiday Executive Center. Guests of honor include director Hiroki Hayashi ("Bubblegum Crisis"). For information visit www.eskimo.com/~nekocon/.

DreamWorks Pictures and Pacific Data Images' computer-animated feature film, "Antz" opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 2. The film's 78 minutes of animation (112,320 frames) took two and a half years and a staff of over 200 people to produce. Character voices featured in the film include Woody Allen, Dan Akroyd, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Walken.

* Saturday, October 3, Chatsworth, California, U.S.A.


Learning Tree University is offering a one-day seminar on "Writing for Animation" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jean Ann Wright, who also leads writing seminars for Women In Animation will be teaching the class. Enrollment is $95, plus a $10 materials fee. To register call (818) 882-5599 or visit www.ltu.org/enroll.htm.

Bonjourno, Mickey! The Italian version of THE DISNEY CHANNEL will begin broadcast on October 3, launching with the country's first TV broadcast of the animated feature, "The Lion King." All programming will be dubbed in Italian. The channel is being transmitted daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, as part of a digital bouquet of channels offered by Telepiu. Disney Channel Italy is headquartered in Milan and headed up by vice president and managing director Janet Scardino. The former Sunbow Entertainment VP joined the company in March 1998.