San Francisco-based WILD BRAIN, INC. produced two new commercials for Ogilvy & Mather's Hershey's Kisses ad campaign. The two new 15-second spots were directed by Carl Willat, who has directed more than 15 Hershey's Kisses ads over the last decade. "Drag Racing," like all previous 15 spots, uses tried-and-true stop-motion. However, for the second spot, titled "Fishing," Willat used computer animation, marking the first time CGI has been used in this campaign. Willat insisted, however, that CGI will not replace stop-motion.

Every year since 1991, the organization CARTOON, with the support of the MEDIA program of the European Union, selects one short European animated film as the "Cartoon D'Or," or "best European animation film." This year's winner, announced at the Cartoon Forum in Greece (September 23-27), is "L'Enfant au Grelot" ("Charlie's Christmas") by Jacques-Remy Girerd (France), which also won awards at this year's Annecy and Stuttgart festivals.

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.

JOE ALONSO has been named international vice president of sales and marketing for CRATER SOFTWARE, creators of CTP (Cartoon Television Program), a 2D animation program for Windows 95 and NT. He will be based in the company's Montreal, Canada office. Alonso previously held sales and marketing positions with Toon Boom Technologies, Softimage and Discreet Logic.

Montreal, Canada-based PRODUCTIONS PASCAL BLAIS completed a 30-second clay-animated commercial for J. Walter Thompson's client Kraft/Oscar Mayer Foods and their product "Lunchables." The spot, titled "Kitchen Hoops" was directed by Pascal Blais, and is the third in a series of animated spots for this client. It portrays a boy and his father playing a game of basketball, and celebrating afterwards by breaking out the product, "All Star Burgers and Hot Dogs." The commercial is airing nationally in the U.S.

The Disney Channel has launched its annual "Create Story Magic" contest, inviting kids aged 6-12 to compete for the chance to have his or her original story turned into an animated short. Last year's winner was 12-year-old Ian O'Neal, whose story, "Dragon Friend" was selected from over 22,000 entries, animated by Walt Disney Television Animation and broadcast on Disney Channel this year. Every year, the winner also receives a trip for four to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. This year's contest is being promoted by Target Stores and Cable in the Classroom.

San Francisco, California-based computer animation studio Mondo Media has hired Douglas Kay as president. He was previously vice president of development for Berkeley Systems. Before that he was chief technical officer at LucasArts, following nine years at Industrial Light & Magic, where he was a founding member of the computer graphics department in 1985.